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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> O2 ripoff?
        
(Message started by: Callico_Kid on Apr 24^th, 2003, 3:45pm)

Title: O2 ripoff?
Post by Callico_Kid on Apr 24^th, 2003, 3:45pm

Finally got in to see a Neuro last night and was able to get a scrip for Oxygen. today I tried to find a supplier and was told $90 a month to rent a 2 H tanks plus $42 for the oxygen or $700 to purchase one tank. Is this reasonable? Welders oxygen has been mentioned. Can I just use an oxygen bottle from an acetylene system instead? I can get one of them free. Any help would be appreciated.

jc

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by Roxy on Apr 24^th, 2003, 3:54pm

I found out just this week how much more expensive the medical 02 is than the welding 02. I have two large welding tanks, and a small one. I got the medical E tank on Monday. It and the reg are $50 a month rental, with refills costing $14.00. I can fill my large welding tank for $14.00.

You can use the welding tank very easily, the instructions in how to convert a medical regulator to fit a welding tank are on the new 02 page.

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

I don't even use a medical regulator on my welding tanks, just a good brass one will work. I just adjust it to where it keeps the bag on the mask full.

Only difference I've noticed between the two, is that the E tank and reg are vitually silent. My welding rig makes quite a bit of noise.

Hope this helps,
Tracey

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by jonny on Apr 24^th, 2003, 3:59pm

You need a medical 02 regulator that goes up to 15 LPM, you can get one on E-Bay pretty cheap.

Once you have that all you have to do is got a gas house and tell them you want a 1/4" NPT stem for a 02 welding tank, you also need a CGA-540 nut. When you have those you just need to unscrew the medical connector on the reg and screw on the new stem (Make sure you wrap the threads with teflon tape) and your good to go. :)))

NPT = National pipe thread

Let me know if you need more help.

.......................................jonny

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by Callico_Kid on Apr 24^th, 2003, 4:25pm

Thanks much! You guys are awesome!
jc

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by Not4Hire on Apr 24^th, 2003, 5:11pm

....holey buckets!!.... i sure hope ya got yer insurance payin' the freight on this SCAM!!... 'cuz IM*N*SHO yer gettin' ripped off like a cheap bandaid....

from the o2 page (soon to have it's OWN button...)

Quote:

As far as co$t: YMMV........I got a used, certified 2 gauge regulator for $75---new is about $125. The small "E" types are probably $70 new.

from the archives: (and MY personal experience...)

Quote:

I rent my "S" tanks (FIVE+ TIMES as many cu.ft. as an "E" tank) --$9/month and $24/tank to fill (I get a discount for cash and FrequentFlyerMiles=$18 ) and the "E" tanks are about $6 to rent and $15 to fill. I bought my "E" tank--about $35 if I remember correctly. "Size DOES matter...."

I have heard all kinds of horror stories about paying like $115 for "E" tank refills and other abuses, depends on your Insurance Stealer........Be careful!!! I think most Med Supply houses will be helpful--I recommend NORCO if yer in the Northwest US......hope this helps.....

...all of these charges are for MEDICAL GRADE o2, BTW... my supplier would not let me get welder's o2... but MY supplier's gotta HEART....

...it's ABUSE like this that just burns my ASS!!!!.....I can provide documentation of what *I* pay.... contact me for help/info.....

I remain(REALLY PISSED OFF) yr. helpful o2 rower....Steve(N4H)

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by cootie on Apr 24^th, 2003, 7:35pm

Good gawd.....that is one heck of a rippoff scam I agree.....Brad got his first O2 tank from onea them medical supply stores in town that rents out wheelchairs and walkers and stuff like that and sells stuff to I believe....but he never paid NOTHIN close to what you were told.......CRIPES !! Problem is tho he didn't really know how to use it properly so it didn't exactly work for him. Don't let em rip you off Pam

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by Woobie on Apr 24^th, 2003, 9:55pm

Hey Callico -

Check your IMs...ok?

That's about what it is here, too.. we get ours from a medical supply company in Rockford
.. but we have awesome insurance, so our insurance pays 100% of it... we are lucky in that respect.

Check your IM's.. ok??

Tina :-*

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by Not4Hire on Apr 24^th, 2003, 11:50pm

....what-the-fuck did i say?.....:
Quote:

i sure hope ya got yer insurance payin' the freight on this....

sorry, i forgot (for a minnit) that when the *InsuranceCompany* fucks ONE of US.... WE ALL get fucked..... in higher premiums, in stupid rules about how much *relief* we can have, in how many more fucking forms we have to fill out at the ER, before they SELL/give us a SHIT-HAMMER of narcotics ......(which only gives us a reason NOT to kill ourselves...temporarily)

well, excuuuuuuuse ME....but this just SUCKS........ and if ya don't get up on yer FEET, you will surely take IT...on yer knees.......

(i'm ranting at the CHOIR...i know.....)
http://home.earthlink.net/~carpediem56/_uimages/howsmart.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~carpediem56/_uimages/fuckit.JPG

....rant mode OFF....temporarily........

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by BruceD on Apr 25^th, 2003, 9:02am

Big-time ripoff! I can't comment on the welding equipment prices, but you can buy new medical O2 equipment for prices like this:

Medical E-tank	$82
Bourdon Guage (15 lpm regulator)	$95
Non-Rebreather mask	$1.50

I'd say that those rental prices are screwin' you. I'm also sure that somebody else can get prices lower than these, but I found these just as a guideline.

Take care
BruceD

Title: Re: O2 ripoff?
Post by NotH20 on Apr 25^th, 2003, 9:09am

It's been a while since I had to purchase O2 tanks. My last cycle, my doc provided documenation to my insurance company that I needed an O2 concentrator at my house so I never ran out. I was able to keep that for 6 months FREE of charge! ;D Yes I was a happy camper.

Callico - have you talked to your insurance company? Are those figures what you have to pay for out of pocket? Call your doc and see if he can write your insurance company. Just a suggestion for ya.

Mia