Programs for Donation/Redistribution of CPAP Equipment

Are there any programs (preferably tax deductible) that collect and redistribute gently used CPAP machines to others who cannot afford them? Replacement of CPAP provides me a new machine, but the previous machine would be totally of value to someone else who doesn't do anything about their sleep apnea because they can't afford it.

Forget Goodwill. They destroy them!

you might look on your local Craigslist .... there is usually someone looking for a free cpap there .

trurae wrote:Are there any programs (preferably tax deductible) that collect and redistribute gently used CPAP machines to others who cannot afford them? Replacement of CPAP provides me a new machine, but the previous machine would be totally of value to someone else who doesn't do anything about their sleep apnea because they can't afford it.

Try this link:

http://sleepapnea.org/resources/cpap-as ... chine.html

Nice of you to do this by the way.

49er

The problem with giving it to someone off craigslist, is you really don't know if a needy person is getting it. I take donations to a local church and I asked what they do with the items. They said they sell them like Goodwill. I asked why they didn't just give the items for free. The said they found out people were taking donated items and them selling them at garage sales. They had to price the items just high enough so they equaled garage sale prices to prevent re-selling.

Our local Goodwill said they take them, but they end up being trashed. Try calling your local churches, VFW, or food pantry. They may know of someone in need.

Sometimes forum member Pugsy takes usable stuff that still has some quality life left in it and gives it to people in need. Send her a PM and ask if she's still doing that.

You might also try the sleep clinic as I am sure they know of people who need them and can't afford them as well as a free clinic in your area.

Womens' shelter? Red cross?
Employees' bulletin board at Wal Mart (they have lousy insurance)
Any church that has an ambitious local charitable outreach.

chunkyfrog wrote:Wal Mart (they have lousy insurance)

Where do you get that information?

I have a friend who had breast cancer/chemo/radiation and she told me her Walmart insurance paid for everything except some small copays.

I don't know about medical equipment.

I have a friend who worked there, and he had to pay for his Bipap completely out of pocket!

CowFish wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote:Wal Mart (they have lousy insurance)

Where do you get that information? .

in the news.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman ... ker-broke/

palerider wrote:

CowFish wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote:Wal Mart (they have lousy insurance)

Where do you get that information? .

in the news.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman ... ker-broke/

There is no information in that article that says Walmart has "lousy" insurance. In fact, the article says,

The problem isn’t unique to Walmart. In fact, according to consulting company Mercer, Walmart has been among the last to cut part-time insurance coverage. Many retailers offer even thinner coverage.

No matter how high your medical costs are, Walmart's insurance will pay everything except for $5,000 out-of-pocket. This is typical of any medical insurance policy these days.

Now if you want to argue that many Walmart employees have "lousy" education, "lousy" skills and "lousy" career plans, you got something there.

Although it must be noted that many of their employees are there to supplement a family income, earn some cash while furthering their education or earn some extra cash for a period of a few years.

Chevie wrote:

palerider wrote:

CowFish wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote:Wal Mart (they have lousy insurance)

Where do you get that information? .

in the news.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman ... ker-broke/

There is no information in that article that says Walmart has "lousy" insurance.

NO insurance is pretty lousy, and that's what lots of walmart victims have.

palerider wrote:walmart victims

There is a simple solution. Don't take a job at Walmart. (I seriously doubt they would hire you anyway.)

Chevie wrote:

palerider wrote:walmart victims

There is a simple solution. Don't take a job at Walmart. (I seriously doubt they would hire you anyway.)

I have seen news article about many Walmart openings. There is always a photo of people lined up around the block applying for jobs.