| You have been diagnosed wit sleep apnea for the | | | | remotely. The remote compliance also allows changes |
| most part you are dependent on your doctor, lab | | | | to your machine without someone having to come to |
| technicians, the equipment company and your | | | | your house. |
| insurance for which machine you will have the ability to | | | | Now that you know about what factors are involved |
| get. But if you know what machines are on the market | | | | with choosing a machine let discuss what some of the |
| and what they offer you can choose a machine that | | | | machines on the market have to offer. |
| will help you while keeping your needs in mind. | | | | As far as size on the average the newer machines |
| The first think you need to consider is cost. What really | | | | weight between 2.5 and 3 pounds and are quite small. |
| is the issue is not so much the cost of the machine, | | | | They have built in humidification systems, although |
| because they all run about the same price, but what | | | | some are better then others. The newest machines |
| you are willing to pay for and what you are willing to | | | | are also more aesthetically pleasing. Resmed's new |
| accept if you have insurance. Insurance companies | | | | machine the S9 has a sleep look and resembles a |
| have different ways of paying for durable medical | | | | book shape sitting on the night stand. Most of the other |
| equipment. Some treat as a regular part of insurance. | | | | machines are either shaped as a cube or shaped like |
| So if you have a deductible of $500 and then they | | | | and alarm clock. They all have a hose and a mask to |
| pay 80% for care once that deductible is reached then | | | | attach the machine to the patient. If however you plan |
| you know what your expense will be. This is not all | | | | to travel the Everest has the ability for you to |
| insurances. | | | | purchase a rechargable battery that fits over the |
| You may have an insurance hat has a durable medical | | | | bottom of the machine. This allows for a stacked cube |
| equipment rider. In this case it will have its own | | | | shape that is still faily light weight. |
| deductible that you will have to meet and then it will | | | | The cost can be a big consideration for a person |
| pay a percentage after it is met. The third type of | | | | especially if they have a high deductible or no |
| program is an HMO program. Usually they have a | | | | insurance. Some of the basic machines like the |
| specific copay of $50-$100. They also require the use | | | | Everest, the Tango and some of the older models do |
| of a specific durable medical equipment company and | | | | not have as many of the newer comfort measures |
| will limit what equipment can be used including | | | | but they do allow for good basic therapy at an |
| machines, masks and if you get a home visit or if you | | | | affordable price. For those with no insurance and |
| receive the machine from a UPS box. If you are | | | | limited income many of the DME companies work with |
| paying cash then you will have the most say over | | | | the manufacturers to get discounts of no cost |
| what type of machine you will receive. However if you | | | | machines based on income. |
| have a big deductible and know it you might get a | | | | If you have trouble with drying during the night then one |
| better deal paying cash and submitting the claim | | | | of the machines with a heated wire tubing system |
| yourself then you would using your insurance. | | | | such as the Resmed S9 or the Fisher Paykel |
| Once you have determines what you are willing to | | | | machines will pprobably be your best choice. Fisher |
| spend and what your insurance will cover then next | | | | Paykel is the leader in this technology having initially |
| decision is to figure out what is the most important | | | | created it to help with ventilation of neonatal patients |
| aspects of the machine for you. If you travel a lot it | | | | who were being ventilated. |
| might be the size of the machine. If you like to camp it | | | | If you wish for the newest, quietest machines with the |
| might be that you want a back up battery. If you know | | | | most comfortable software so that the machines |
| you have a great deal of problems with nasal | | | | allows the pressure to work with you both the |
| congestion in might be a machine with the best | | | | Respironics PR series and the Resmed S series of |
| humidification system. Whatever issues you face it is | | | | machines have been upgrades to be the quietest on |
| important to know them up front so when you are | | | | the market. They have also created software for their |
| working with the therapist who is setting up you new | | | | machines that will work to make these machines more |
| machine they know what is important to you. | | | | like natural breathing then breathing on a machine. Both |
| The other issue is something that many patients are | | | | of these machines also have th eability to have a |
| not aware of but is vital to getting insurance to pay for | | | | modem added for closer following of compliance and |
| the machine. Many insurances including Medicare | | | | for changing of pressures without having to go visit the |
| require documented compliance of the use of the | | | | patient's house. |
| equipment. This is usually done one of three ways. A | | | | When choosing a CPAP machine you should always |
| person comes to your house reads the hours of use | | | | listen to you physician but with a little education you |
| on the machine. The second way is that the machine | | | | might be able to avoid some of the problems that |
| has a card that you either plug into your computer and | | | | many new patients have. Decide for yourself what |
| download and send to the DME company or your | | | | issues are most important to be met and then discuss |
| physician. The third, and newest way, is that your | | | | your options with a professional. Look at these |
| machine will have a modem that will allow the DME | | | | machines and try them out at your local DME |
| company and your physician to follow you use | | | | company before you make a final decision. |