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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

#201

Post by failingslowly »

Solvency wrote: post #153
appplication wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My friend does export/import into SEA. You don’t just have to know who/when to bribe, you have to have an insider set up already. They used to have a guy in customs who would take a monthly payment to forward all her packages through without a second look. He disappeared and then trying to find the next one took months. Nothing was getting through customs, and showing up at the office they would deny any attempts to…

It's always a guy with a gun. Fact of life. Border crossings? Find the guy with the biggest gun and bribe him. South America, Eastern Europe, etc. Import/exports have armed security too.

I love this tip, but I sincerely hope I never have to use it.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#202

Post by prepend »

elric wrote: post #196
_qua wrote: post #183

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who treats people with CPAP, it’s absurd how many people get them and then don’t use them hardly at all. Yes there’s an adaptation period where you need to get used to using it, but you do need to use it for it to do anything. It doesn’t seem crazy for insurance to want to not keep paying for something that is sitting under a pile of clothes in the corner.

I don't know. I feel like the compliance checks are more expensive than the machines at this point. They retail for around $/€ 500. I suspect that sleep centres (or whoever hands out CPAP devices to patients where you are) get significant volume discounts. Say they last for 5 years. That's a near zero cost. Of course, someone is upcharging somewhere, but that's hardly the patient's fault.

I went through this with my provider and insurer, Aetna.

They had me rent the machine for 30 or 60 days. The machine had a cell modem that reported data to medresair, the manufacturer, and my sleep clinic checked that. A nurse called me twice to check in, sent the something to the insurer and after 60 days submitted a new claim.

It was actually one of the most efficient processes I’ve ever had with my insurance.

Like everything in the US health system, experiences vary depending on provider and payer.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#203

Post by logbiscuitswave »

seattle_spring wrote: post #180
dmazzoni wrote: post #170

I use Kaiser Permanente as my health care provider. For those who aren't aware, it's one of the few "integrated care" providers in the U.S., meaning they act as both the health insurance and health care provider. Now, Kaiser is FAR from perfect - they have their share of problems. But....this sort of nightmare is not one of them. With Kaiser, doctors are free to prescribe whatever they think is medically necessary, a…

I'm a Kaiser member and have to get CPAP supplies through a company called Apria. It has been the absolute most godawful experience I've ever had dealing with a company. Worst than a thousand Comcasts. I genuinely don't understand how you could be a CPAP patient with Kaiser without dealing with Apria?

My DME used to be Lincare was equally terrible. They were awful. They never had replacement consumables in stock, and I had to deal with months worth of delays to get things I needed. That’s why I went to CPAP.com (like OP) for a time. It was annoying having to coordinate with my insurance company to get reimbursements since they didn’t direct bill, but at least I would always have my equipment on time. (As a bonus, it was cheaper than Lincare to boot.)

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#204

Post by logbiscuitswave »

_qua wrote: post #183
NelsonMinar wrote: post #147

"Compliance" is the other half of the US insurance nightmare with CPAP. Often insurers demand access to logs of the machine to verify you are actually using it before they will reimburse you. CPAP machines have an elaborate tamper-proof logging mechanism including a cellular modem for data uploads outside your control. Largely to enable surveillance by US insurance companies. In addition to the surveillance being off…

As someone who treats people with CPAP, it’s absurd how many people get them and then don’t use them hardly at all. Yes there’s an adaptation period where you need to get used to using it, but you do need to use it for it to do anything. It doesn’t seem crazy for insurance to want to not keep paying for something that is sitting under a pile of clothes in the corner.

How do you feel about the new surgical options like Inspire Sleep as an alternative for people who can’t tolerate CPAP?

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#205

Post by xboxnolifes »

dangus wrote: post #88
thfuran wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>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'm pretty sure I've never heard of a worse idea for a law. Removing any possibility of regulating the quality or efficacy of medicines and medical devices will injure and kill far more people than any resulting improved access would help.

Funnily enough, we have a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to own machines that are designed with the singular purpose of killing people. How could a “medical device second amendment” be worse?

The right to bear arms doesn't stipulate the right to buy any possible configuration of arms. The equal comparison is the right to use medical equipment as seen fit, not the right to purchase.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#206

Post by bethekind »

Solvency wrote: post #154
aniforprez wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've dealt with this many times as a South Asian person and it is very possible they still do actually want money. Most people will not ask in a straightforward manner for money and when you offer to pay them, they act all offended. This is a stupid game that I have no idea how it started where they will pretend to not want the money but will still very obviously want it. This has stumped me, being mildly autistic, f…

It's their culture of saving face. The solution is extremely simple. You tell the person "I was told I had to pay this to release my package but I don't know who or where I pay" while waving the cash around cluelessly. The person will 100% then offer to take it and "handle it from there" under the stupid guise of plausibility.

Asian culture never ceases to confuse me. Nothing is ever straightforward.

I tried giving a gift to some, as thanks for letting me sleep on their couch. They told me no no no. I asked my friends about it, they told me it's about face.

Omg, I get that honor is a big thing, but it makes normal interactions way more complicated.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#207

Post by bethekind »

lolc wrote: post #73
forinti wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know Vietnam, but to my South American sensibility, it looks like they were fishing for a bribe.

Fishing is not the phrase I'd used. Insisting on, maybe.

I think "searching for a bribe" or "seeking a bribe" might be closer

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#208

Post by jedberg »

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…

They'll pay and then drop you at the next anniversary. Can only use that trick a few times.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#209

Post by mcculley »

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.

Other common terms are “broker” or “agent”. I pay the agent. He deals with the local bureaucracy. He knows what things should cost.

Re: How to Replace Your CPAP in Only 666 Days

#210

Post by samstave »

mcculley wrote: post #209
Roritharr wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

Other common terms are “broker” or “agent”. I pay the agent. He deals with the local bureaucracy. He knows what things should cost.

AKA; ...'eeeeyyyyy, IgottaGuy..."
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