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Where to buy, where to buy...
#1
Question 
Where to buy, where to buy...
Hi all. I have recently been diagnosed with severe sleep apnea - stopped breathing an average of 61 times / hour, average oxygen level was 89%, with a low of 75%. I was able to take a ResMed S9 Autoset home for a week long trial from my local Vital Aire clinic and have rented it for a couple weeks since then while I figure out where best to purchase my machine.

My question is this:
The machine / humidifier / mask from Vital Aire is almost twice as expensive as I have found it online from Ontario based businesses. I understand that with Vital Aire being local I will get service and help from them whenever I need it (at least for the first year), but is it really worth paying over $1300 more for the machine? Am I missing some important details that really do make it worth the extra money? As much as I want to buy locally that's an awfully big difference to swallow.

Thanks.
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#2
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
Holy cow. That's ridiculous.

Go to the Supplier's list. Check out all the machines in the various suppliers. Since you are paying out of pocket, check out Supplier #2.
http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...plier-List
PaulaO

Take a deep breath and count to zen.




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#3
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
Hi brucehaas, What PaulaO2 said! and WELCOME! to the forum.!
trish6hundred
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#4
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
BruceHaas Welcome
So if I read this right, you did not say $1300, you said $1300 MORE! Whoa! Since Secondwind has new (open box..like who cares?) same machine for $749.00! Oh, you may have to pay some shipping (I would guesstimate $50.00) and you would need to buy your mask from someone, either online or locally, but, seriously...NO! They are ripping you off! Okay, this is my uneducated opinion and has nothing to do with apneaforum, and officers, members or people with good sense! But really! Geez that just irritates me!
As always, YMMV! You do not have to agree or disagree, I am not a professional so my mental meanderings are simply recollections of things from my own life.

PRS1 - Auto - A-Flex x2 - 12.50 - 20 - Humid x2 - Swift FX
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#5
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
(08-30-2012, 05:17 PM)brucehaas Wrote: I understand that with Vital Aire being local I will get service and help from them whenever I need it (at least for the first year), but is it really worth paying over $1300 more for the machine? Am I missing some important details that really do make it worth the extra money? As much as I want to buy locally that's an awfully big difference to swallow.

Thanks.
No it is not worth it. You could buy spare back-up machine and have some money left over
ResMed products cannot be shipped outside US but you can try supplier # 2 and #10.
PRS1 Auto 550 (Not 60 series with the heated hose) supported by SleepyHead software, cheaper and is discounted right now (see Supplier #1 and #2). The only local service might be helpful is trying different masks but you don,t need to buy the machine from them for that.
Don,t worry about not supporting local products...The machine is not made locally
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#6
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
Well. Good to know. Thanks everyone for the responses.

Yes, mjbearit it is $1300 MORE. Their total price is over $2500. I have coverage through health insurance, but only for $1200. Funny thing is I called another place in Edmonton and their price is about the same.

So it sounds like I don't really have a need for local support in setting up the machine and getting the parameters set properly for me. If that's the case I won't worry about paying extra for it. I mean... I wouldn't have any issue if it was an extra hundred bucks or something, but $1300??? nah... I work too hard for my money. :-)
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#7
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
(08-30-2012, 08:44 PM)brucehaas Wrote: Well. Good to know. Thanks everyone for the responses.

Yes, mjbearit it is $1300 MORE. Their total price is over $2500. I have coverage through health insurance, but only for $1200. Funny thing is I called another place in Edmonton and their price is about the same.

See now this is why I believe we should bring back public flogging! That is just a total rip off! What they are doing is getting paid twice for the same machine! Once by you and once by the ins company! Total crooks!
As always, YMMV! You do not have to agree or disagree, I am not a professional so my mental meanderings are simply recollections of things from my own life.

PRS1 - Auto - A-Flex x2 - 12.50 - 20 - Humid x2 - Swift FX
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#8
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
I Am in Winnipeg And the Unit is Covered under Manitoba health

Are you sure in Alberta you are not covered

In Manitoba You see A Doctor He refers you to a specialist you have the Tests then a mth later you get a loner machine for home

Then your prescription is filled by a outside provider free of charge check in to it there can not be that much difference between provinces
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#9
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
they'll over charge you and likely have the attitude that they know better than you -well they don't know. Look around you can find deals in the 3-5 times less expensive range..
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#10
RE: Where to buy, where to buy...
In Ontario, Vital-Aire is who I use, and not because I'm happy with them. They, and the others in Canada are ripping off the health care system by charging double the price for the machines and masks. OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) pays a certain amount on each type of machine, which by the way is about the same as any on-line- retailer in the US. BUT it must be a Canadian supplier for this to be approved, and my personal insurance company is no better. They want everything to be approved , and paid for by OHIP before they will pay any outstanding charges.

So the way I see it, the Canadian suppliers charge double and know that the Government (read taxpayer....me) and the personal insurance companies will cough up all of the loot, making them huge profits on the backs of the taxpayers and insurance companies to which we pay premiums. I asked my insurance company if I could save the taxpayer $1400 on my last machine by buying it from supplier number one, but they said that they would only pay after OHIP had paid their share.

So, if you are really paying for it yourself, buy it on-line. I bought a second machine from supplier number one and and had it shipped to my US post office, and brought it over the border to Canada myself showing customs my prescription and explaining what the machine was, and it is tax free. No problem, and I saved 50%.

Good luck!
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