Something fishy going on with Apria

[StephenP]

I checked my United Healthcare account online the other day and noticed there were two claims for Apria sent on the same day. The first one was for just over $1,000, which all checks out. I got my machine, mask, headgear, tubing, etc. But the second claim is for over $3,000. It has yet to be processed, so there's no explanation of benefits for me to view. I called Apria and asked for details on what that charge is for, and the foreign guy on the phone kept avoiding the question by telling me they have a contract with UHC to offer discounted rates. I asked to speak to a "level 2" (something the local Apria people told me to do if I get someone in India), and was put on hold for 20 minutes before it just disconnected.

Should I just call my insurance company to get the details, or is Apria required to tell me?

[jules]

you will be billed for machine, humidifier, mask, mask headgear, hose, filters (more than one charge on this - probably two as there are two kinds of filters) - I would doubt $1000 would be enough for their bill - might be all that is allowed but billing amount would be higher

[Tanna]

They can billl what ever they want your insurance is only going to pay the contracted rate. You would only be responsible for your copay based on the contract rate. In other owrds if your copay is 80% it would be 80% of the contracted rate. Hope this helps.

[jmelby]

Don't worry--UHC will catch anything beyond the ordinary charges. The initial unprocessed claim will show much higher amounts than will actually be paid--for some reason they always try to bill for higher amounts and just let the insurance company determine the contract rates. Wait until the claims are processed and check again.

[GTOJim]

I hate Apria.

I've been battling them for the past 3 1/2 years. My insurance covers supplies 100%. 2 weeks after each and every order Aperia phones to collect my 20% co-pay, stating my order will not ship unless I pay the 20% due them. I have to argue with then on every order.

The first time Aperia stated my insurance coverage changed the first of the year, which I first believed, learning later it was a lie. To make a long story short, at various times they came up with three different co-pays. This was the tip off, I called and verified with my insurance supplies were still covered 100%. Took 6 for 7 months of nagging to get the co-pay refunded. The amount I authorized over the phone was less than the amount they charged my credit card.

My wife recently joined me as a hose head, Aperia insisted they needed a credit card to cover the monthly CPAP rental/payments. Stated they can not bill it can only be paid via credit card. I said no, I'll come to your location and give them monthly checks. I told them after they charged my credit card a higher amount than I authorized over the phone I could no longer trust them with my credit card information. Turns out every month Apria mails us a bill.

Did I mention that I hate Apria.

Our heath insurance just changed so I might just pay out of pocket for everything in the future.

I could go on and on for hours about Apria, as far as I'm concerned they should not be allowed to dispense any medical equipment. My first CPAP was set to the wrong pressure, my second CPAP, Aperia didn't set the pressure at all, even though my doctor had prescribed my pressure setting on the prescription.

Did I mention that I hate Aperia????

[Guest]

gtojim,

your post has me confused, are you talkin about apria or a different company called aperia. also to the op, i have called aprias billing line many times and have never gotten someone in india.

[Tcamillemars]

Apria double billed my insurance for everything, and when the insurance denied it, they tried to collect it from me. They said I owed over $100 for the hose- and it went as far as collections. I sent a letter to the collections agency contesting it, and it was dropped. I sent Apria a letter stating that they were fired, yet they continue to call me periodically saying I qualify for a new mask. Never, never, never again will I deal with them.

[GTOJim]

your post has me confused, are you talkin about apria or a different company called aperia

Sorry, it's Apria.

[DreamDiver]

... your post has me confused, are you talkin about apria or a different company called aperia. also to the op, i have called aprias billing line many times and have never gotten someone in india.

Having been through similar gray and probably unethical-if-not-illegal escapades with Apria, as have many people from cpaptalk.com, and having just googled for 'aperia DME' with no success, I think we can safely assume this is a spelling mistake of the company name 'apria'. Whoever 'guest' is is likely trying to throw confusion into the fire.

There are a few fortunate people who have had good experience with apria in their town or city, but many of us at this forum have experienced runarounds, deceptions, down-right lies and incompetence at the hands of those who work at Apria. I will never go back to Apria. They lied and cheated me once too often. In my opinion, they are a perfect candidate for investigation by whatever federal insurance commission might turn their gaze in their direction. Unfortunately, like everything else federal, the money needed to wade through the ensuing paperwork Apria can afford to throw at investigators far exceeds the worker-hours any federal investigation could afford. Unfunded mandates mean Apria will continue getting away with their deception, thievery and rudeness to those who matter most: the patients suffering under their immediate 'care'. It might be more interesting if one or more insurance companies got together to create their own inquiry...

Can you tell how much I dislike Apria?

[blob]

you're better off going to another company. trust me, worked at apria for 8 years. they no longer care about customer service since they just fired hundreds of customer service people and outsourced their jobs to India. you will be better taken care of with another dme company. don't count on apria for anything other than headaches. as for your billing, UHC does have a contracted rate with apria and will only pay them that amount regardless of what apria bills. your initial cpap and supplies claim would have been $1000 or more since UHC purchases cpap machines instead of monthly rentals. the patient pay dept is now in India. you can no longer call your local branch and get someone in customer service. you will talk to another person in another state who has no idea who you are and i assure you they do not care. run as fast as you can away from apria

[Wolfhound668]

When I went on cpap my first time a few years ago I had a pretty good DME (can't remember the name offhand). The guy that came out to set up the machine brought out a (at the time) top of the line M series and showed me how to use everything. Hell, he is the one who originally sent me to this site.

Fast forward a couple of months and my insurance dropped that provider and made me switch to Apria, no choice. I sent the original machine back to the orginal DME in a pre-paid box and Apria brought me out the cheapest machine Respironics made. Not data capable and they tried to tell me I didn't need a humidifier. I complained and got the humidifier but they refused to give me a data capable machine. Never got a follow-up call from them. After a year and a half, when I decided cpap wasn't working for me and went the surgery route Apria made me drive 45 minutes to a pretty bad area to return the machine. They tried to bill me for three months after the machine was returned.

When I went back on cpap my sleep doctor handed me a sheet with six different DMEs I could use. I glanced at it and said, "well, definitely not Apria". I must have caught him offguard because he did a little laugh/snort and said "well, I'm not allowed to say anything to stear you towards a provider but, um, yeah. I hear that a lot".