BiPaap Not Working Properly
Hi! I am new to the forum, but I have been using a BiPap machine for 8 years now.
Recently I went away and brought my machine with me, of course, but when I set it up in the hotel room my BiPap turned on on it's own and every time I turned it off it would turn back on right away. I unplugged the machine and plugged it back in and that fixed that issue However, ever since then it doesn't cycle from exhale to inhale.
I haven't had a good nights sleep in 2 weeks and would really like to know if anyone knows what I can do to fix it. I have gone into the settings and everything seems to be at the correct setting.
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
You can take it to where you bought it and asked to have it looked at, but in reality, it is 8 years old.
Possibly it can be repaired, and you can keep it as a backup and acquire a newer machine.
Do you have insurance coverage? If not, Supplier #2 sells good used machines, also new zero hours open box units.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...plier-List
I hope you can get this resolved soon. Good luck.
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
@OpalRose Thanks for your reply. I will contact my equipment supplier on Monday, and see if they can look at it. I was hoping to avoid getting a new machine, I do have insurance but they want me to rent it to see if I need it for 9 months before flat out purchasing. I really think that having to prove that I use and indeed have apnea after 8 years on another machine seems ridiculous and more expensive. My Co-pay is a lot higher for rentals than it is for purchases.
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
(04-23-2016, 09:35 AM)SleepyElf Wrote: @OpalRose Thanks for your reply. I will contact my equipment supplier on Monday, and see if they can look at it. I was hoping to avoid getting a new machine, I do have insurance but they want me to rent it to see if I need it for 9 months before flat out purchasing. I really think that having to prove that I use and indeed have apnea after 8 years on another machine seems ridiculous and more expensive. My Co-pay is a lot higher for rentals than it is for purchases.
Most insurance (based on medicare) want you to use it for 3 months (actually 20 days for 4 hours per day or something like that) and then they will finance an additional 9 months rent at which point you own the machine. The difference from rent to own vs purchase varies. In my case it was about $100 more to rent to own, but since the insurance pays 80% of it, it only cost me less than $200 total from insurance instead of out right purchase.
The reason they want you to try it first is called compliance test, and while you know you have used it for 8 years, they have literally millions of clients and many would get the machine and not use it. In order to avoid all the investigation they would have to do for that many, they just say a compliance test for everyone. It does save money in the long run - or at least that is the idea.
I am not a Medical professional and I don't play one on the internet.
Started CPAP Therapy April 5, 2016
I'd Rather Be Sleeping
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
Hi SleepyElf,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Just curious, when you turn your machine on, are you getting any error codes?
Hang in there for more responses to your post and good luck to you with getting things straightened out with your CPAP therapy.
trish6hundred
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
(04-23-2016, 09:44 AM)FrankNichols Wrote: (04-23-2016, 09:35 AM)SleepyElf Wrote: @OpalRose Thanks for your reply. I will contact my equipment supplier on Monday, and see if they can look at it. I was hoping to avoid getting a new machine, I do have insurance but they want me to rent it to see if I need it for 9 months before flat out purchasing. I really think that having to prove that I use and indeed have apnea after 8 years on another machine seems ridiculous and more expensive. My Co-pay is a lot higher for rentals than it is for purchases.
Most insurance (based on medicare) want you to use it for 3 months (actually 20 days for 4 hours per day or something like that) and then they will finance an additional 9 months rent at which point you own the machine. The difference from rent to own vs purchase varies. In my case it was about $100 more to rent to own, but since the insurance pays 80% of it, it only cost me less than $200 total from insurance instead of out right purchase.
The reason they want you to try it first is called compliance test, and while you know you have used it for 8 years, they have literally millions of clients and many would get the machine and not use it. In order to avoid all the investigation they would have to do for that many, they just say a compliance test for everyone. It does save money in the long run - or at least that is the idea.
I have insurance through my employer. My doctor wrote a script for a new machine about 6 months ago, the supplier said that my insurance has a 9 month compliance test, during that time the bipap would be rented. I would have an $80 a month copay (20%) for 9 months. I didn't get the new machine cuz mine had been working fine and it didn't seem worth the hassle. I am sorry I made that decision now.
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
(04-23-2016, 01:52 PM)trish6hundred Wrote: Hi SleepyElf,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Just curious, when you turn your machine on, are you getting any error codes?
Hang in there for more responses to your post and good luck to you with getting things straightened out with your CPAP therapy.
No, no error codes. My BiPap usually turns it's self on as soon as the mask i in place and it is not even doing that. The history shows that I have not used it in 2 weeks even though I use it every night for about 5-6 hours.
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
(04-23-2016, 09:50 PM)SleepyElf Wrote: I have insurance through my employer. My doctor wrote a script for a new machine about 6 months ago, the supplier said that my insurance has a 9 month compliance test, during that time the bipap would be rented. I would have an $80 a month copay (20%) for 9 months. I didn't get the new machine cuz mine had been working fine and it didn't seem worth the hassle. I am sorry I made that decision now.
Call your insurance before you call your supplier, and ask directly what the requirements are and get a breakdown as to what they pay and what you pay. Suppliers/DME's are notorious for giving out incorrect information.
I've not heard of a 9 month compliance. Usually it is 90 days. It may turn out that you end up paying more than buying outright, but again, check with insurance first.
Yes, and I agree that having to prove compliance after being on therapy for years is crazy.
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
I was dispensed a new machine in February this year. My previous dispensed machine was a M-Series from 2008, much like SleepyElf. I have a compliance period that I'm in now, but since the machine sends compliance data wirelessly, it really isn't an inconvenience. Just use the machine like you always do, and it will work out. The other option is to buy your own unit. Lots of good deals to be had on much newer equipment than the M-Series you are currently using.
RE: BiPaap Not Working Properly
(04-24-2016, 06:14 AM)OpalRose Wrote: Call your insurance before you call your supplier, and ask directly what the requirements are and get a breakdown as to what they pay and what you pay. Suppliers/DME's are notorious for giving out incorrect information.
I've not heard of a 9 month compliance. Usually it is 90 days. It may turn out that you end up paying more than buying outright, but again, check with insurance first.
Yes, and I agree that having to prove compliance after being on therapy for years is crazy.
Thanks for the suggestion of contacting my insurance company. I would of never thought of doing this. :-)
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