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How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

aphyr.com

51–60 of 273 posts

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#51
post #39

Yeah try importing a CPAP from the states into Vietnam if you want a real adventure. A $650 cpap machine costs well over $2K here. So I thought I'd import one. Apparently you need a prescription in the states? Ok, get a "prescription" from an online service that basically just asks you if you snore over a video call. Amazing. Buy machine and have it sent to a freight forwarding service. They fuck up the paperwork. It…

I feel like you were expected to pay a gratuity several times in that process and they were baffled you didn't.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#53
post #39

Yeah try importing a CPAP from the states into Vietnam if you want a real adventure. A $650 cpap machine costs well over $2K here. So I thought I'd import one. Apparently you need a prescription in the states? Ok, get a "prescription" from an online service that basically just asks you if you snore over a video call. Amazing. Buy machine and have it sent to a freight forwarding service. They fuck up the paperwork. It…

I feel like you were expected to pay a gratuity several times in that process and they were baffled you didn't.

Who's an expat who knows sliding some cheese? Not this guy.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#54
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Though it’d probably take 666 days to see a sleep specialist and get your first CPAP machine… (which I suspect you’d agree is part of the stealth dissolution plan)

Depending on how defunding worked so far in one's area, but NHS generally prioritised potentially dangerous issues. Means it's easier to be frustrated waiting and then getting a 10 minute talk when it's flu or something similar, but get seen to in 10 minutes after arriving at a walk-in centre because you're worried of bine fissure in leg (turned out to be inflammation fortunately)

I went to A&E with symptoms of appendicitis. They took me in, put me in a bed, next day I was operated on, stayed one night and out the door. Everyone was great and seemed very competent.

This was on a three-day business trip to the UK, which was extremely unlucky, but the NHS was fantastic.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#55

Are there any studies estimating the cost of this kafakasque nightmare? End of the day users pay for this via higher premiums. I am sure doctor's offices also face something similar.

Not to mention Aphyr spent lots of (expensive) time on the other side. I think Anthem should have to compensate him for all the time that he had to waste.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone should start a SaaS that just automates this process. Thinking about it, the only moderately difficult part would be compiling a list of small-claims courts and understanding the different paperwork each one requires. After that, the whole thing could just be a single page with a few form fields (email, insurance company info, upload purchase receipt), a credit card form for the SaaS to collect its fee, and a…

A use of AI/LMM I could support: read the policy documents and produce (or execute) the exact steps to get the insurance company to honor their obligations.

Hell, even reading the policies and responding whether I'm covered (and where it says so/hints towards) would be a worthwhile service.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#58

Please folks remember that it isn't compulsory to use a companies byzantine process. Instead, check your insurance policy wording that you are covered, spend the money on a new machine, send a single letter to the insurer asking to be reimbursed, and when they don't reimburse within 30 days file in small claims court. They'll pay. They don't want to physically show up in court or have you send bailiffs to their HQ ov…

Someone should start a SaaS that just automates this process. Thinking about it, the only moderately difficult part would be compiling a list of small-claims courts and understanding the different paperwork each one requires. After that, the whole thing could just be a single page with a few form fields (email, insurance company info, upload purchase receipt), a credit card form for the SaaS to collect its fee, and a…

> the only moderately difficult part would be compiling a list of small-claims courts and understanding the different paperwork each one requires.

In reality the difficult part would actually be getting your service in front of people like OP at the right time. How do you imagine the guy in this post finds you and pays for your service? Have you ever looked for a similar service yourself when you faced similar issues?

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#59
post #39

Yeah try importing a CPAP from the states into Vietnam if you want a real adventure. A $650 cpap machine costs well over $2K here. So I thought I'd import one. Apparently you need a prescription in the states? Ok, get a "prescription" from an online service that basically just asks you if you snore over a video call. Amazing. Buy machine and have it sent to a freight forwarding service. They fuck up the paperwork. It…

I recently read the book "Gaming Behind the Iron Curtain." It's about the former Soviet satellite states trying to play video games inside the Czech Republicb in the late 80s. They had to smuggle in computers hidden inside suitcases from England. This feels almost like the same thing.

I'm stuck in thinking that someone smart could break apart these CPAP machines and bring in necessary parts, then find other parts from China and hand carry those in. Then reassemble them inside Vietnam. A price differential of $1500 seems like an interesting arbitrage opportunity, maybe better than drug dealing. And there aren't chip sniffing dogs in the airport.

What a nightmare.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#60

Please folks remember that it isn't compulsory to use a companies byzantine process. Instead, check your insurance policy wording that you are covered, spend the money on a new machine, send a single letter to the insurer asking to be reimbursed, and when they don't reimburse within 30 days file in small claims court. They'll pay. They don't want to physically show up in court or have you send bailiffs to their HQ ov…

Does small claims court work in some states and not other ones? I'm assuming you are us based? And my understanding was that small claims courts are very different in each state.
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