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How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

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Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#111

Post by dhc02 »

MrBuddyCasino wrote: post #77
verytrivial wrote: post #16

You can now understand why the UK is holding on the its NHS with white knuckles despite the Conservative push to dissolve it by stealth.

The NHS is a failed system that absolutely nobody is envious of, except brits because for some weird reason, they seem to think that the alternative is poor people dying in the streets. Similar systems as the NHS have been introduced and subsequently canned in favor of more sane approaches in other European countries, which now have better (but still socialized) healthcare as a consequence. There is no central europe…

"The NHS is a failed system that absolutely nobody is envious of"

...except people in the US.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#112

Post by gorbachev »

I had a similar story once on an medical insurance coverage situation, which only resolved itself when I dug up the contact information of an employee at the insurance company from Google/LinkedIn and directly contacted the person.

Going through the official "process" was just handing me from one department to another until it went back to the original department, and the cycle started again.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#113

Post by brnt »

Roritharr wrote: post #82
gwd wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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".

That's why these services are usually provided by "expat services agencies" that do these things intransparently to your knowledge.

It's amazing how based on the label, people are fooled.

At least people in Vietnam don't kid themselves and call a bribe a bribe.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#114

Post by xyst »

Have had similar experiences with UHC for some very expensive injectables. Fortunately, my doc’s back office handled the appeals process to get it approved. Keep in mind I am paying a higher premium for a PPO plan vs an HMO plan offered by employer.

Doc’s back office submitted 3-4 “appeals” to get it covered. Each review was reviewed by UHC personnel. Probably someone like this guy [1]

I fucking hate private insurance. It’s a useless middleman that is driving the costs of healthcare up. We can have the most advanced healthcare available but it’s largely inaccessible because of health insurance industry. They will make it as difficult as possible so you either give up or end up paying out of pocket.

[1] https://m.youtube.com/shorts/YF6MDTvZlNA

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#115

Post by gorbachev »

dralley wrote: post #85
robmccoll wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have terrible news about systems built on private health insurance (USA): it will still take 666 days to see a specialist, and you will need a referral from your PCP who may also decide they want to see you in person first. This may be its own scheduling nightmare. Then you may find out that your preferred specialist is out of network for your private insurance. The waits are a generally a supply and demand issue m…

I've never had to wait more than a month to see a specialist in the US

I couldn't find a single specialist who were taking new patients within 100 miles for my chronic condition when it was first diagnosed.

This sort of thing depends heavily on where you live, what your insurance coverage is, and the specific condition you're seeking care for.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#116

Post by patja »

londons_explore wrote: post #108
genocidicbunny wrote: post #41

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.

In most places you can at least get back the court fees (which are typically a few hundred bucks). Unfortunately sometimes you can't get back the court fees, and in situations like that, rather than spending $3000 on some new medical gear and battling insurance I would be very tempted to go to eBay, buy it 2nd hand from someone for $150, and just use that. Better time/effort/money/result tradeoff IMO.

eBay is pretty good at enforcing their policy banning sales of medical equipment requiring a prescription. They yank any listing for a CPAP very quickly.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#117

Post by Waterluvian »

londons_explore wrote: post #33

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…

> and when they don't reimburse within 30 days file in small claims court

The very nature of having to be adversarial and “guard up” on everything is what exhausts people and sours a culture. It’s also inaccessible to many who are already exhausted and just don’t have another manual process and battle in them.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#119

Post by jawngee »

nimos wrote: post #62
jawngee wrote: 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.

Yes they wouldn't accept it.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#120

Post by jawngee »

EdwardDiego wrote: post #51
jawngee wrote: 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.

I tried but they wouldn't accept it.
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