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AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
#1
Question 
AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
I am between the rock and the hard place. Because of year change, medical groups and services are being discontinued. I have finally found out that no matter what - I must do a new study as my Sleep center won't work with my insurance! Why my PCP(former) sent me there is beyond understanding but he was a dumb ass. A nice guy but a dumb ass nevertheless.
I never have thought that stupid things like this could happen then I realized Obamacare happened. Anyway, I am doing a new study soon but what about buying a backup machine? Most folks here have one. The backup would serve me to bridge over until my study and machine is delivered.
#2
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
I'm all for having a backup machine. I still don't understand why you don't have a copy of your last sleep study and prescription?

That's all you need unless there's a valid reason for another study like changing to a Bipap or ASV machine.
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#3
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
Where do you the idea? I have given my study and initial home test to my new PCP. The old PCP is part of a research hospital yet they sent me to a 3rd party sleep doctor I have never even met. I suspect that the doc was getting some juice from this outfit because it is unconscionable to have sent me there - OK perhaps he did not know? UC Davis Med center has a serious sleep lab why was not I sent there I have no clue. My new doctor is Dignity health and they have a great sleep center few minutes away. I am having and appointment on Friday and I will give my Sleepy head data as well as they can transfer all data from my ex sleep center. This is insurance cluster-f*** that the US healthcare is well known for. The bottom line as of Jan 2018 that even if I had stayed at my old PCP, the new study would have been required. UC Davis does no longer accepts my insurance yet they make it available to employees.
#4
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
I guess there is something involved in this I'm not understanding. Anyway I'm guessing you know a APAP will treat you and don't have to worry about Centrals based on your prior treatment. So like I said before I think buying a backup would be a wise move.

I myself got tired real quick of dealing with DME's and Sleep Centers and went and bought my own. So I can understand your frustration.
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Advisory Members serve as an "Advisory Committee" to help shape Apnea Board's rules & policies.

Membership in the Advisory Members group does not imply medical expertise or qualification for advising Sleep Apnea patients concerning their treatment.



#5
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
(12-12-2017, 07:30 PM)Walla Walla Wrote: I guess there is something involved in this I'm not understanding. Anyway I'm guessing you know a APAP will treat you and don't have to worry about Centrals based on your prior treatment. So like I said before I think buying a backup would be a wise move.

I myself got tired real quick of dealing with DME's and Sleep Centers and went and bought my own. So I can understand your frustration.

Well, I had plenty of events based on Central but the doctor said many people react to the CPAP machine first time. So, I do not mind a second opinion. Central Apnea usually signified that CPAP does not work, (AHI stays high) my data showed marked improvement from 55 AHI to around under 5 in 60 days. Thank you for your feedback, I cannot spend a 1000 USD when I have insurance and a teenage daughter who takes all my money... Too-funny
#6
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
I did my initial sleep study at the UC Davis Sleep center in Sacramento. I was not very tolerant of the clinical environment and instead of doing a titration study, they recommended auto CPAP and self-titration. That was 2008. I retained my sleep study summary and prescription, and it has worked ever since then.

I have always had insurance, but for a while didn't think the hassle or co-pay was worth it. My first machine was a M-Series Auto form Apria. In 2013 to get an updated machine since the old machine had 19,000 hours. I had relocated and had different insurance so I bought a System One 560 Auto on Craigslist for about $250. The following month I bought a BiPAP 760 for $350. Then in February 2014, I got the Aircurve 10 Vauto through insurance at no cost to me. I sold the M-series and 560 for $25 and $250 respectively.

Insurance seems to be a huge problem, and you have to really persist to find out if they really need a new test, or if that is the invention of your DME or doctor. Usually, any evidence of a diagnosis in a sleep center will get you out of doing another sleep test. If it's helpful to you, do it. Otherwise, most sleep and titration tests are a waste of time. Sleep apnea does not cure itself, and most of us can self-titrate better than a clinic can do.
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#7
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
First, Obamacare has nothing to do with it. This is a commercial insurance company that apparently wants to pay out another $1500 for an unnecessary study. Stupidity reigns. I know a guy who has to have a doctor verify that he has no leg and thus qualifies for repairs on his $30,000 fake leg (Aetna - and Aetna PAID for the fake leg in the first place!). So a $200 appointment just to reconfirm, yes, he still has no leg.

Backup - I couldn't wait to get a machine any longer and bought a used S9 Auto on Craigslist for about $300. That was my backup for the first 2 years. I have since bought a zero usage Airsense For Her via OfferUp (astounding $150). I sold the S9 for the same that I bought it for to a guy whose 9 year old machine quit. It's pretty easy to find low usage machines because many of these bariatric centers require patients to get machines and they quit using them the day they get home from the hospital and resell them.

There are some threads with tips, but I highly recommend that you use Paypal if having something shipped. Protects both you and the seller. I bought both of my used machines from out of state and Paypal worked perfect for that. I picked an Auto primarily because I think it's the best therapy out there AND because it worked with Sleepyhead.
#8
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
(12-13-2017, 04:26 PM)Mosquitobait Wrote: First, Obamacare has nothing to do with it. This is a commercial insurance company that apparently wants to pay out another $1500 for an unnecessary study. Stupidity reigns.  I know a guy who has to have a doctor verify that he has no leg and thus qualifies for repairs on his $30,000 fake leg (Aetna - and Aetna PAID for the fake leg in the first place!).  So a $200 appointment just to reconfirm, yes, he still has no leg.

Backup - I couldn't wait to get a machine any longer and bought a used S9 Auto on Craigslist for about $300.  That was my backup for the first 2 years.  I have since bought a zero usage Airsense For Her via OfferUp (astounding $150).  I sold the S9 for the same that I bought it for to a guy whose 9 year old machine quit.  It's pretty easy to find low usage machines because many of these bariatric centers require patients to get machines and they quit using them the day they get home from the hospital and resell them.  

There are some threads with tips, but I highly recommend that you use Paypal if having something shipped.  Protects both you and the seller. I bought both of my used machines from out of state and Paypal worked perfect for that.  I picked an Auto primarily because I think it's the best therapy out there AND because it worked with Sleepyhead.

Thanks for the feedback. I know THIS has nothing top do with Obamacare, BUT I know a guy (Chinese) who likes bicycling in Oakland, MANY people warned him not to)  had Obamacare and someone hit him apparently with no insurance, he was in hospital for 4 month and his bill was ONLY $200,000. It took his house away in Oakland. US healthcare is not my favorite even so I have insurance. We spend the most in the industrial world and have the most convoluted, confusing cluster F (Obama just made it worse)
#9
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
(12-12-2017, 07:42 PM)TimtheEnchanter Wrote:
(12-12-2017, 07:30 PM)Walla Walla Wrote: I guess there is something involved in this I'm not understanding. Anyway I'm guessing you know a APAP will treat you and don't have to worry about Centrals based on your prior treatment. So like I said before I think buying a backup would be a wise move.

I myself got tired real quick of dealing with DME's and Sleep Centers and went and bought my own. So I can understand your frustration.

Well, I had plenty of events based on Central but the doctor said many people react to the CPAP machine first time. So, I do not mind a second opinion. Central Apnea usually signified that CPAP does not work, (AHI stays high) my data showed marked improvement from 55 AHI to around under 5 in 60 days. Thank you for your feedback, I cannot spend a 1000 USD when I have insurance and a teenage daughter who takes all my money... Too-funny

Why did my doctor not send me to the UC Davis facility? (unless he was getting kickbacks?)  I am glad I left him.
#10
RE: AirStart 10 CPAP as a backup machine
This is my opinion . This is an apnea forum not a political fourm. Again thisvis mynopinion


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