CPAP setup fees

[alal0808]

I was charged for about $380 is it normal or a rip-off

[Pugsy]

Depends....was this above and beyond any fees for physical equipment or was the equipment included?
Also..depends on your insurance and where you are located like what country?

[Wulfman...]

I was charged for about $380 is it normal or a rip-off

Without knowing the specific details, I would call it a HUGE ripoff.

If a person can read, they can set up these machines with the provider manuals (which are available just about everywhere).


Den

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[alal0808]

additional comment:

equipment was paid by insurance...$380 was extra just for set-up
I guess they did not make money on the machine so rip me off on the setup fee.
they said set-up fees was no re-imbursed by insurance company.
I live in ca

[Stormynights]

I would call my insurance company and tell them about the extra fee you are being charged. My insurance company is very good about telling me what I actually owe.

[Pugsy]

Set up fees are not something that we see billed here in the US. It's a ripoff.
You are right...just another way to make more money but is isn't a common procedure.
You might check with your insurance company and find a different provider who doesn't charge the set up fees.
What machine did you get? What is your insurance? If Medicare...I don't think they can do that.
If at all possible I would be finding a different supplier and go tell this one to jump in the lake.

[Thewino]

Go jump in a lake? I like that one.

I was totally clueless to setting the machine up. Different posters on this forum showed me how to get into the clinician mode. In fact, one kind poster sent me the entire clinician booklet for my machine.

I had my brand new machine set up in five minutes easily. So, I have to agree: paying that much as a set-up fee is unbelievable.

No wonder people complain about healthcare prices with people like that out there gouging the patients.

Take care,

Thewino

[Pugsy]

Go jump in a lake? I like that one.

It's a nicer term than what I would really be tempted to tell them.
I have been accused of having a potty mouth...and it's true.
So I try to be a lady when I can. It's hard sometimes.

[Wulfman...]

additional comment:

equipment was paid by insurance...$380 was extra just for set-up
I guess they did not make money on the machine so rip me off on the setup fee.
they said set-up fees was no re-imbursed by insurance company.
I live in ca

Is that abbreviation for Canada or California?

Either way, you're getting screwed!


Den

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[StuUnderPressure]

I assume your machine was purchased through a DME (Durable Medical Equipment Provider).

Their prices for the equipment & supplies INCLUDES setting the machine up & fitting the mask, etc, etc.

I would be requesting a refund.
If they refuse, tell them your insurance company told you that the price the insurance paid INCLUDES the setup, etc.
The DME is less likely to want to have the insurance company on their butts for this, whereas they couldn't care less how you feel about it.

If you don't mind providing that information, could you tell us the name of the Insurance company AND the name of the DME?

[alal0808]

additional comments:

thanks everyone for responding so quick. I am so glad I did not provide my credit card # that quick so I do have common sense
the company I was referred to by my insurance (united healthcare) was apria healthcare (they are in California)

Calling apria now I am gonna tell them setup fee should be included with machine and I am going to check with my insurance company if they insist on the setup fees...

[Wulfman...]

I'm curious about which machine you're getting or have gotten.
I had an afterthought.......that if you insisted on an APAP/Auto, that extra "setup" fee may be their way of sticking you for an "up-charge" from a basic, minimum machine they would have given you. Since insurance is supposed to pay the very same amount for the E0601 code and they typically don't make as much profit on an APAP, the DMEs have contrived devious methods of getting the extra money out of the users. However, in reality, there is very little difference in the actual cost between the lower-end machines and the APAPs. They just want to maximize their profits.


Den

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[xdman911]

Most of these DME companies operate under contracts with health insurance companies. Your insurance company would be able to tell you if the are allowed to charge this extra fee or not. This should have been something that was disclosed to you in the beginning. That company sounds like they will scam every penny they can get from you. If they are doing it now, they will continue to do it. I just received my CPAP machine 3 weeks ago. Insurance paid 100% and there was nothing additional for me to pay. These companies know this is a long term thing. You will be constantly acquiring additional supplies, repairs and ect. That's where they get their money. LONGTERM. I just call and tell them what I need and they mail it out the next day. The lady told me that they won't mail me anything that's not covered unless I give them authorization to. When the therapist came and dropped my machine off, I asked for extra filters. She said she would see what she could do. A week later after they did not arrive I called and ordered them. Then 2 packages showed up. I called and asked if my insurance would pay for both packages and she said no, but because it was their error for sending out 2 they would no bill me for the other package of filters.

[chunkyfrog]

We had United Healthcare (HMO) it sucked--nuff said!
Personnel and the union both demanded we dump them ASAP!
Bad insurance company! (at least where we are; same goes for Apria: some good, some horrible)

[Sir NoddinOff]

I'd scream bloody murder to anybody who would listen to me. Bloody murder, in this case, means rip-off. I could see them slipping in a $38 fee and getting away with it, but $380... pretty audacious IMO.