Hi,

I have been on CPAP for 6 months and am wondering how often does your DME replace your various CPAP equipment.  My replacement schedule so far has been:

mask cushion and CPAP filter - every month
mask and hose - every 3 months

Does this sound right?  I am using a Mirage Quattro full face mask and a Resmed VPAP III.

Thanks

BTW - Thank you to all who have responded to my previous questions - you have been a huge help!  I am 100% compliant, sleep for 8+ hours a day with my CPAP and feel a lot better and have more energy.  I was a severe apnea case with AHI of 94 and my O2 saturation was dropping to 65%.  My AHI's (per CPAP) are under 5 on avg and my AI .01!

Congratulations on your CPAP therapy success!!! You're fortunate. Medicare (and thus most insurances) replace a mask every 3 months BUT the headgear only every six months and thus most local DME suppliers will replace a mask AND headgear every 6 months telling you your insurance will only replace the mask every 6 months. Medicare just changed their hose replacement policy from one a month to one every 3 months.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

I have Medicare/Medicaid and get new pillows each month, a new mask (the other parts other than headgear) every 6 mos and new headgear (complete change out of everything at that point) each year. There's also the hose which I think is every year or 6 mos.

Somewhere I have a copy of the schedule. Somewhere....

Either at the Respironics website or the Resmed website there is a schedule of Medicare replacement policies. Medicaid is somewhat different in many things than Medicare. Anyone on Medicare can register and access info on their benefits, etc. at http://www.mymedicare.gov. I dont know about Medicaid.


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Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

from my experience, masks can last for years, if you have to pay for them


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respironics comfort gell mask,resmed S6 lightweight CPAP, pressure 10 no humidifier
NO DOCTOR EVER ASKED ME IF I SNORED

I'm with Kaiser Permanente and this is my first year. I just got a new mask and some new filters (I started last June). Have the same machine, hose, etc., I did run out of filters, so ordered some online. My old mask was working fine, but got the new one because it "was time" according to the DM.


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ResMed S8 Elite / ResMed Quattro Mirage full face mask
Pressure 19
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Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep.
Fran Lebowitz

I asked my insurance company if they had a replacement schedule.  They responded that the don't have a schedule, they only replace, "when medically necessary."  Whenever that is . . . . .  -Philomath, a small town in western Oregon

Thanks for all of the feedback - I appreciate it!