cpap medicare question

[bobbyr]

just started medicare - does my cpap equipment (specifically mask replacement) get billed through part d (prescription) or medical or is it even covered?

 

[Sarah S]

Medical. It isn’t medication.
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/oxygen-machines/does-medicare-cover-cpap-machines/

 

[Teacher Terry]

My cpap supplies have always been covered.

 

[Sue J]

It's covered by Part B, as DME Durable Medical Equipment.

It's been very nice to be on Medicare with the CPAP. My supplier calls every 3 months and asks if I need the supplies and then sends them right out. Nasal pillows and filters come 6 to an order, I get a new headgear and tubing and in the last shipment they even sent a new water container.

I also got a new CPAP machine last October. My previous one was past its useful life (I had it for 8 years) and was giving me a message that it was time to replace. I got a new machine and they bill it as a rental for 13 months and then I will own it. They bill Medicare and all the monthly payments have been covered by Medicare and then my Supplement policy.

 

[bobbyr]

thanks all -- i remember that i had to get a prescription to replace my machine a while back, so I wasn't sure...

Appreciate the guidance

 

[qwerty3656]

Does anyone know if you can use a really old prescription? I got a sleep test many years ago and have just been buying replacement parts online (CPAP.com) because it was so much cheaper. I assume when I go on Medicare it will be worth my while to run it through Medicare (and not just pay for it myself)

 

[youbet]

My cpap supplies have always been covered.

I'm relatively new at the game as I only started about 9 months ago. But, so far, the cost of the machine, supplies and periodic doc (breathing specialist) visits have been covered 100% by Medicare + Supplement. The equipment supplier walked me through the requirements for Medicare to pay and I'd suggest anyone with questions find a local supplier and get in touch with them. They want you as a customer and will help you understand the rules and get started.

 

[Masquernom]

I've used a CPAP for 10 years, and recently moved to Medicare from my company insurance. The company that provided my supplies went out of business at the same time I went on Medicare.
All the local suppliers told me I had to have a Face2Face meeting with my doctor and a new prescription or they couldn't sell me supplies any longer. After about 6 months, and a few mistakes with my family physician, I discovered the F2F has a special form and is easily completed by a sleep doctor. After a short visit with the sleep doctor, they sent the correct form along with a new prescription to a new supplier for me, and everything is now working well. I had the notes from my original sleep study (original data no longer available), and they were all the new sleep doctor wanted to see. Also took the data chip from my CPAP machine for him to read.
The sleep doctor said I should see him every year from now on, but I don't believe that. I never saw another sleep doctor after the first review when originally starting use of the CPAP. Over the years, just a prescription from my family doctor was fine to buy supplies.

 

[Teacher Terry]

I only go to the sleep doctor when they threaten to not renew my supplies and that usually takes years to happen).