Senior Citizens using Medicare for CPAP Machine in Texas: the following is my experience in Texas dealing with Apria, Private insurer # 1 & Medicare #2 insurer. Had sleep study, prescribed CPAP, private insurer # 1 accepts Apria. When making appointment, Apria asks our age, insurance & if we had Medicare. Private insurer # 1 HMO pays Apris @ $750 for CPAP machine. Apria is billing Private insurer # 1 HMO @ $64/month for unknown services. WE WERE FORCED TO SIGN CONTRACT that if we did not meet "compliance" required by Medicare, WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING @ $100/MONTH TO APRIA. From researching online, it seems Apria is "leasing" the CPAP with Medicare for a certain # of months [12? ]. During this time we have a "smart card" which keeps track of the hours of usage. IT IS NOT EASY GETTING USED TO SLEEPING WITH A MASK BLOWING AIR IN YOUR NOSE & takes quite a while to accomplish a full nights use of CPAP.
RECAP: Private insurance # 1 HMO pays for CPAP machine & is still being charged a monthly fee for? Medicare/Apria have a leasing contract for which Medicare pays Apria an unknown amount for leasing me the machine. I have to be in "compliance" or I will be charged @ $100/mo for? Months. I have contract with Apria [which I should have never signed]. Apria is in control of our life with the CPAP machines. Senior citizens should not be dicated in this manner by our government or any company.
I've read that compliance is necessary because senior citizens do not use much of the equipment paid for by Medicare. I regret getting involved with Medicare/Apria. Apria & it's employees are very poor communicators with no customer service skills.
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