This company starts the process by sending you a postcard selling you on the idea that you will receive an ED vacuum pump for FREE via Medicare if you have been diagnosed with ED. I was, so I applied. All the paperwork they send suggests that Medicare will pay the amount requested. It is shipped with the device and I signed and returned it. There is no mention of copay amount or anything else. Nor is there any mention of what they are billing medicare for the device.
The device is available over the counter for $85.00 from Amazon.com - I didn't know this until I received it and searched for a similar device.
I received my EMOB from the insurance company and found out that Medicare was billed $585.00. The Medicare approved amount is $493.66 and they paid $345.56 leaving a copay of $148.10 which they proceeded to bill me for 9 months after I received it and at least 6 months after they were paid by Medicare.
When I called LQHCS about it they offered to reduce the amount today to 50% or $74.05. I told them they were crazy, but I had to admit it is a legal scam and Medicare is skinny, dumb, and unhappy and Medicare refuses to figure out why. Basically, they buy a device for ~$50.00 and sell it for 10x what it is worth.By hiding what you are actually getting so you can't comparison shop, lying about what the cost to you will be, then bill you 9 months later.
The sad thing is, there is no one in Medicare, the insurance company, or the OIG who cares, so it is perfectly legal for them to run this scam and they will keep on doing it.
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