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CPAP Prescriptions for CPAP Masks, Machines, and Supplies


We pride ourselves on providing you with the best equipment at the lowest prices with superior service and support. 1800CPAP.com would like to offer you some advice about using insurance for CPAP supplies and what every CPAP user should know about their equipment options. Ask yourself this, "Do I want to save money?" If the answer is yes, keep reading. If the answer is no, you should consider invest money with Madoff Investments.

Misconceptions and Myths: What Your Medical Equipment Company Isn’t Telling You About Replacement CPAP Supplies.


Every day we are flooded with CPAP patients that call in or come to one of our stores and have been misled that they will need a prescription for certain replacement supplies such as CPAP hose tubing, CPAP filters or CPAP mask headgear (even had one ask me if they needed it for the water chamber). The simple answer is no, you do not need an RX for these items and why their home medical equipment company tells them that leaves them scratching their heads in disbelief.

It’s the razor and the razor blades theory when it comes to replacement CPAP supplies and equipment for most home medical equipment companies. They know that right off the bat they are going to make a little money off of your initial CPAP set up but the real money will start to roll in once they have sunk their teeth into your replacement supply schedule. It’s not surprising for us to hear that every month or every 3 months, a new CPAP mask, headgear, CPAP filters, cushions, water chambers, gaskets, tubing and whatever other billable code for CPAP supplies they can find arrives at your door step.

So is this a bad thing? Yes and no. 1800CPAP.com recommends replacement of all of these components once they begin to show signs of wear and tear or performance becomes an issue; in most cases that is between months 3 and 6.

The real problem comes when they keep billing you and your insurance for supplies you don’t necessarily need replaced at the time. Before you know it; you have 14 humidifier water chambers piled up in your junk cabinet. Why is this a bad thing? Well, if you have a higher deductible, you may be paying for all of these unnecessary items out of pocket before your insurance even kicks in.

CPAP users are also misled into thinking that their CPAP machine must be rented (and some think for an endless monthly rental). The truth is that your CPAP equipment provider can, in most cases, request the CPAP machine be dent direct to purchase by your insurance. So why would the equipment company choose to rent it rather than have it purchased outright? Are you ready for the million dollar answer? Because it they select it as a rental, they can insist that you return it to them if 1.) you stop using it or 2.) you can no longer afford the monthly rental, plus all those replacement supplies they keep billing you for and you have to return it. They, in turn, will send that unit back out on a new patient and do it all over again.

If you take away anything from this blog, it should be the following :

  • You do not need a prescription for replacement supplies such as CPAP mask cushions, CPAP hose tubing, headgear, water chambers, or CPAP machine filters.
  • 1800CPAP.com is able to sell you CPAP machines, masks, and supplies at a much lower rate because we are not obligated by insurance contracted rates.
  • When using your insurance, you have the right to own your equipment at the end of the rental if direct to purchase is not an option.
  • You have the right to stop the endless stream of replacement CPAP supplies that you keep getting overcharged by your local home medical equipment company for and start ordering from us when YOU feel you need new supplies
  • Most people with high deductibles or poor coverage spend about 40% less on CPAP supplies when they self pay versus using their insurance.