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How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

aphyr.com

61–70 of 273 posts

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I learned recently that you want a fixer that knows and bribes people where it's customary and expected. Going through lengthy processes deaf to the trigger phrases will make your life, which could be incredibly easy, unbearably hard in many countries.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#62
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…

Did you not try to pay some coffee money? Do you have local Vietnamese connections?

Seems like something you could have paid 500-1000k (20-40USD) and been done with.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bingo! As someone with multiple "pre-existing conditions" who cares for a stroke survivor (my wife) and a stage 4 chronic kidney disease patient (my mother-in-law,) I suggest we do the following: 1. make private health insurance illegal 2. pass a Constitutional amendment allowing every human the unlimited and absolute right to buy, make, modify, and sell medical things including importing and exporting those items. I…

The problem is most Americans don’t have these types of chronic health issues, so it’s not an issue for them. I have a type 1 diabetic son, the amount of money we have spent on health insurance and medical equipment/supples is criminal.

I feel sorry for you, man. I have T1D as well, but pump supplies + CGM work out to something on the order of $200 a month in Poland. I am not even sure how much exactly, because I don't bother to count since it's not big money for me. Still a lot given the median pay, and you still have to buy the pump out of pocket, but nowhere near what's going on in the States.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#65

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…

Thinking about that I really start to love the Swiss version of health insurance where (with most providers) you'll just provide your insurance card and they'll pay first and then decide whether to get reimbursement from you.

Much more easier to fight than if you'll have to bring them to pay something you paid first.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#66

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…

Unfortunate that you cannot get additional damages against them. That sort of behaviour really needs to be heavily punished -- say, forcing them to cover every single CPAP prescribed for the next year for free, with the executives having to personally pay if the company can't afford to. Byzantine processes when dealing with medical issues should be punished with Byzantine punishments.

Byzantine punishments were more along the lines of castration and facial amputation.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I learned recently that you want a fixer that knows and bribes people where it's customary and expected. Going through lengthy processes deaf to the trigger phrases will make your life, which could be incredibly easy, unbearably hard in many countries.

Honestly I don't think most people need a "fixer" - just any local friend. Either they will know the expected bribe amount or they can figure it out. Also you might be able to get them to do stuff for you where all of the sudden the bribe is 1/10 the amount because they are local.

Maybe if you are doing more serious stuff like business or real estate it makes sense.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#68
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unfortunate that you cannot get additional damages against them. That sort of behaviour really needs to be heavily punished -- say, forcing them to cover every single CPAP prescribed for the next year for free, with the executives having to personally pay if the company can't afford to. Byzantine processes when dealing with medical issues should be punished with Byzantine punishments.

Byzantine punishments were more along the lines of castration and facial amputation.

Who's to say we can't get a little retro?

Little late for the new year's stuff, but let's party like it's 499!

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#69
post #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 fro…

Sounds like the zx spectrum was almost built perfectly for that.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I learned recently that you want a fixer that knows and bribes people where it's customary and expected. Going through lengthy processes deaf to the trigger phrases will make your life, which could be incredibly easy, unbearably hard in many countries.

It is worth pointing out that (at least according to the corporate training I have to take every year) this is considered illegal by the US government for a US citizen to do even not on US soil; if the Feds get wind of it and feel like making a point they could throw you in jail, even with an intermediary "fixer".
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