Apria/ can i keep masks that i have already tried

I have no good things to say about apria. I am new and just got my cpap a week ago and need advice or knowledge.

I called and spoke to someone at my local apria telling them I need a different mask as I just got my equipment last week and full face mask is darth vaderish need a different mask that is not full.

The guy told me I could keep my old mask as it is not a rental, I have used it and it is mine.

The salesman / RT calls me bk to set the appt up and says I need to bring in the mask that they can use it as a demo. I hate this guy .. no I dont hate him ... I very much disaprove of his SALES tactics. He is a fast talking "oh your insurance wont pay for..." I am sure he gets perks and bonuses when he saves Apria money and couldnt care less about my health.

Anyway, anyone with the know how on dealing with apria ... I need the info on how to get by thier crooked "sales" tactics so that I can be healthy and get what I need out of them instead of them getting what they need outa me!

My appt is today so any advice great. I am going to "forget" to bring my old mask that is already paid for today and if he doesnt give me another one due to not bringing it in ... I will cause a riot. USUALLY I AM LOW KEY AND NICE but after going there and being treated like a fool ... i am having to get serious with these folks which is what i shouldve done in the first place. I didnt know they were how they were though then !
thanks in advance!

############################
OK THIS IS THE DISCLAIMER: This is the first time I have ever joined a board and vented the first day of posts. Sorry if I offended any ... just not being able to breath and then being treated like _____ kinda gets to ya!
############################
_____________



CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

May I suggest that you go and fill out your profile so we can see what your equipment is. You will find your profile link up at the top.

What type of cpap do you have? Apria is bad about giving you a bare bones machine without many features that most of us feel that we need in order to be compliant.

You may need to get your doctor in on this as well. When I was having problems with my mask the insurance company said to have the doctor write me a script for a new mask and to put on there it was necessary in order to be compliant with treatment. Apria should then have to accommodate you -- but I have heard so many negative things not sure how much of a fight it will be.


Good luck.

Whether you can keep a mask from the DME supplier that you've tried and isn't working out for you is totally up to that DME supplier. (Unless your insurance is willing to pay BOTH for that unsuccessful mask AND a new one).

Resmed, Respironics and Fisher & Paykel all replace FREE TO THE DME any mask a patient has tried and been unsuccessful with IF the DME supplier fills out a form and returns them to the manufacturer. They obviously can't return the mask if they let you keep it.

Nonetheless I know there are DME suppliers that you let you keep a mask you've tried unsuccessfully but that may have to do w/the particular mask and other factors I haven't the slightest idea of and may not hold true w/every style mask that they carry.

dreamR wrote:I am going to "forget" to bring my old mask that is already paid for today

That would have been my suggestion. If s/he still insist, I would ask to see the manager or whoever is in charge.

Apria sent me my first machine in the mail - well ok UPS. No set-up, NO Training, NO One to ask questions too. The CD that came in the "brand new" box was scratched and refused to work.

When I called Apria to ask how I could get another CD, I expected she would tell me a website I could go to & watch it. Instead the girl said she didn't know what to do & would call me back. That was 10 months ago.

So maybe you could take the same approach - tell them you will bring it in later??

Good Luck - let us know how it works out for you!!
GumbyCT - who is NO longer an Apria customer, it was just a phase I was growin thru

DreamR, have you looked at the price of masks at cpap.com?? Do you really think that it is reasonable to expect these DME suppliers let you take 3,4, or more masks home, try them, decide you don't like them, and ask for yet another BUT STILL KEEP THE 3 OR 4 OR MORE you've already tried?? Are you willing to PAY to keep these masks that didn't work out, to BUY them yourself? If so, all well and good. If not ....

I realize that so far we are only talking ONE mask you want to keep, yet want to try another. But since your insurance is only paying for one, its a bit unreasonable to EXPECT that you can get to keep that one and yet get another one for FREE.

Another thing is that if the mask doesn't work for you and you need a different mask, why keep the one that isn't working?
The only way you should be able to keep it is if you or the insurance will cover them both.

That is why I needed the additional script. Insurance said it would cover the second mask if it was a medical necessity and all I had to do was get a script from my doctor. She obliged without batting an eye. In this way the insurance covered both of my masks.

Got Cigna, don't you?

They dictate policy on how CPAP setups are handled, the branch can't do anything without Cigna approval, and your bare bones machine is Cigna dictated, unless your doctor specifically prescribes something different.

If you recieved a full face mask, it's because your sleep lab ordered it, or you'd have gotten a Respironics Comfort Select nasal mask with all 3 cushion sizes.

Here's your wording for Apria. "I understand that per Apria policy, there is a 30 day satisfaction program. I really am unhappy with this mask, and I'd like to try something different."

Now, since you have already made the appointment, when you go, say, "I'd like my mask replaced under your 30 day satisfaction program, and I am told that under Apria policy, the masks are not to be returned."

Cigna sucks. It's our insurance too. They dictate the absolute cheapest things there are, no matter what, unless a doctor prescribes a specific piece of equipment, and very few things are handled by the branch. I don't care if I have a person standing in front of me who lives 200 miles away, I can't help him if the referral center doesn't give me the ok.

BUT, you have a plus right now, that 30 day satisfaction program is through the vendors, not through insurance, and doesn't require any ok from Cigna, just making sure your branch understands that you know what you're talking about.

Oh yes, and this is at no cost to you. So don't let them tell you otherwise.

Just make sure it's inside that 30 day window, and you should be covered.

This is one time when I have to agree with the DME. If your mask isn't working for you, why would you want to keep it? Why should your insurance company pay for both masks if you can only use one? If the insurance company doesn't pay for it, why should the DME?

Like Slinky said, these are not cheap items, especially not the full face masks.

Susan

You want to keep it, because you already purchased it, when you get a different one, the manufacturer is going to reimburse Apria for the one you got, and why on Earth would you give them a demo mask?

You own it, and it's single patient use.

If they want a demo mask, all they need to do is contact their rep and order one.

They probably want it for parts, or something.

You might find you need a full face after all, you might as well hang on to it.

I've read the suggestion by others that hanging on to previously unsuccessful masks is a good idea, because what works at one time can become intolerable, and what wouldn't work once can become tolerable with more experience and after the newness of this all has worn off. Just a thought.
Kathy

Do I think it is reasonable to get 3 or 4 masks, while that was not my intention .. lets seee eeee... yeah ... since they charge me and my ins a total of 1700 plus for a mask and a cpap M series PLUS .. then sure I think it is reasonable! ESPECIALLY since I have to buy outa pocket for a real machine. As to why I would want to keep the old one... kteage and fidget put it more eloquently and thorough than I ever could. SEE ABOVE THREE POSTS of theirs ... frankly ... I just wanna be able to get better!

I could care less about the clutter of a bunch of apnea devices. I would like to keep the full face mask until I get something that Im sure is gonna work better especially after being told that since I bought it ... its mine BUT again ... my main concern is getting a good mask that I can sleep with and not feel like yanking off completely.

Also, I read on another board and even here that at times some DME's do let you keep the mask and get another during the initial 30 day period. (hense my asking over here to give me the 411) No biggie ,... I just thought I could ask here since I am a newbie and get answers. I have spent many a waking hour scouring over boards re apnea and devices and thought I could ask here since I ran across that topic on both boards but remember nada of the facts. BTW, I had just spent a morning and afternoon on the phone getting NO CUST SERVICE re the whole apnea issue so I was frustrated when I opened the thread,
Pardon, por favor.

PS In the event that apria could get me something that I could handle and IF I was going to be able to keep the full face mask ... the thought had crossed my mind of asking if any of you kind folk needed it ... I was thinking Id rather gift it to a fellow hosehead than have apria take it bkto use for a demo as he told me he would use it for. AND again .. I had read the info that Fidget posted above somewhere else, so I knew that it wasnt an unheard of situation! Also, I am well aware of how much the masks cost (lil thingy called copay and browser friendly fingers) and I may be purchasing one if the DME doesnt carry what I need. I know I will be purchasing a fully data capable machine since APRIA sold me and my ins a PLUS.
No worries ... the sun will come out tomorrow ,,, betcha bottom dollar ... and here I lay looking like darth vader in a breeze of fresh airflow! Thank you for your replies! I knew this is where I would find the answers and help and welcomes I needed. This is a great site and I have already gained so much knowledge my first hosehead week! cheers!






_________________

feelurl=cpapedia.php?mode=view]CPAPopedia[/url] Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): newbie, DME

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, newbie, DME

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, newbie, DME

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, newbie, DME

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): breeze, newbie, CPAP, DME

I understand about purchasing an autoPAP out of pocket! I did the same thing, despite my sleep lab scripted a fully data capable straight CPAP and that is what my DME supplier provided. It wasn't anyone's fault I didn't sleep for beans for either titration but it was pretty obvious we didn't find "my" pressure during the titrations (how could they when I only slept 42 minutes the first and only 98 minutes the second?). At least I had the cooperation of my sleep lab and sleep doctor in seeing to it that the DME provided me w/a fully data capable straight CPAP!

I'd do exactly what fidget suggests, word for word.