Pitiful Experience at a DME

[Hydrangea]

That beats my local experience. I went into two locally owned cpap shops.  I just wanted to get a fitting nasal mask. I wanted to pay cash.  I had my prescription. Nope, they wanted all my insurance info. I said this was a CASH deal, no insurance involved and you cost more than online and I'm willing to pay that to get it today! She insisted they had to have it.  So, I just said "you lost a potential customer" and walked out. Ordered it online.  I am still annoyed.  TWO places!

I think I would have told them. "I don't have insurance".

I had contemplated what I'd say if the convo got to that point. So now I will be prepared!

[Apnea Infant]

Yeah but at least you guys have DMEs to get frustrated with.

Here we do get equipment from the NHS but trying to get an appointment with the Sleep Clinic is a marathon. I am lucky in that I can make an appointment with Resmed being in London but even so, it is an appointment. One can't just walk in off the street.

I am waiting for an invitation to my annual visit but have ordered pillow replacements online from EBAY.

[Phill]

Yeah but at least you guys have DMEs to get frustrated with.

Here we do get equipment from the NHS but trying to get an appointment with the Sleep Clinic is a marathon. I am lucky in that I can make an appointment with Resmed being in London but even so, it is an appointment. One can't just walk in off the street.

I am waiting for an invitation to my annual visit but have ordered pillow replacements online from EBAY.

Ah! another NHS sufferer, personally I don't believe that our American friends would tolerate what we have to accept from "Our NHS".

Like you I am waiting the invitation for my annual, should it ever arrive, last time I told them the whole performance was rubbish, and the only reason I bothered turning up was to keep my driving licence.

I suggested that it would be better if I posted my SD card down to them and then I would only need to go to the clinic if there was a problem. They said we like to bring you in to make sure you are looking after your machine, at which point I lost the little restraint I had been maintaining.

I also made a formal complaint to the hospital management shortly after I started out on their dismal journey, lot of good that did me.

[Hydrangea]

Yeah but at least you guys have DMEs to get frustrated with.

Ah! another NHS sufferer, personally I don't believe that our American friends would tolerate what we have to accept from "Our NHS".

It is interesting to learn how other countries do their healthcare.  I saw in another thread how Canada gives no option. 

Although my health insurance covers a decent amount of things, I still tend to prefer to use doctors whom I pay out-of-pocket (because they tend to think outside-the-box and be more helpful).  I would not be happy if that was not an option for me.

[pholynyk]

Actually, in Canada the health systems are run by each province, and each is different with respect to coverage of drugs, procedures, and cpap machines. Saskatchewan will loan you the machine of their choice, Ontario will pay a chunk towards the machine, but with limits on who gets an APAP, and not for ASV, and I think most other provinces don't contribute beyond the sleep test.. In Ontario, to get the ADP subsidy the machine must be purchased from an approved vendor, with a prescription from an approved sleep specialist after an in-lab overnight PSG.

[Apnea Infant]

Ok

I want to update on my post this morning. Am off work to tend to life and called the Sleep Clinic. I actually got through pretty quickly and have been really lucky this time as I got my first annual appointment fixed as well as an order for new pillows. What a difference a few hours take. The lady at the end of the line was really really helpful and told me to phone up sooner in order to get replacements before they get yucky.

Guess I got lucky today.