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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> CANT GET MY O2 HELP
        
(Message started by: hurtinunit on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:01pm)

Title: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by hurtinunit on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:01pm

:'( i finally saw my new neuro yesterday and got a scrip for o2 well i called around today and found out my insurance wont cover it, well i offered to pay for it and heres the kicker they said they cant charge me for it since i have insurance, one place said that the other two are trying to find out how much it costs because "they never had anyone pay for thier own" but they think it will be expensive, anyone pay for theres , how much is it? I don't care at this point anyone know of any other way to get it Oh yeah they said even if the doctor says its medically necessary i need a blood gas report showing my o2 saturation is low which of course its not i don't have emphysema or whatever- i want my o2! ranting and raving...........

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:06pm

Go on yellow pages and look for medical supply stores, that's how I found mine. The first 3 I called didn't sell O2, but the 4th referred me to one that did.

Sorry I can't be of more help. Where are you? If you tell the group your location, maybe one of your neighbors can give you better advice [smiley=huh.gif]

Jose

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by cazman on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:12pm

damn insurance compaies wish i could give ch to all there stock holders then see what they think i dont have insurance and to be honest i dont want it after reading some of the stories here why pay out your ass to be told they wont pay i think its nothing less than fraud that they do this to anyone

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by maffumatt on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:20pm

Go to your welding supply company. I think the bottles run about 100 dollars a year, and the refills are cheap. My bottles at work (torch) cost 15 bucks to refill. I have mine through Airgas, its funny I see their truck at lincare. Hell of a profit.

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by hurtinunit on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:20pm

i am from mass called medical supply stores most said they only deal with insurance if anyone from mass pays for o2 let me know--thanks

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by hurtinunit on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:28pm

matt i dont mean to sound like an idiot but i don't get it welders use oxygen i had no idea what do you say that you just want to buy some oxgen?

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by Jonny on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:34pm

on 06/21/05 at 17:01:03, hurtinunit wrote:

:'( i finally saw my new neuro yesterday and got a scrip for o2 well i called around today and found out my insurance wont cover it,

Have the Neuro write a letter that says you NEED the 02...that should do it.

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by Bob P on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:36pm

Jonny's right as usual. Most insurance companies will cover it if the doctor provides a letter of medical necessity.

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by SteCo on Jun 21^st, 2005, 5:42pm

on 06/21/05 at 17:28:21, hurtinunit wrote:

matt i dont mean to sound like an idiot but i don't get it welders use oxygen i had no idea what do you say that you just want to buy some oxgen?

What maffumatt was saying is what the welders use is the same stuff as the "medical" grade..no difference. Check out the button/link on the left "oxygen info", it explains it all. Some important items to take note of: high flow regulator and non-rebreather mask.
SteCo

edit for additional info: I originally had some issues with getting it too. I called some of those ambulance places and they told me they would sell me everything I needed and do refills (can not recall $$), IIRC the only thing they not provide me with was the non-rebreather mask as it could only be dispensed with a script (yeah.made no sense for a piece of flimsy plastic and a bag). So with that script you can get that too, if that same applies to your area. But the welders stuff is the way to go for the best $$

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by maffumatt on Jun 21^st, 2005, 6:41pm

I use a regulator on my torch bottles at work and I have a 10lpm O2 condenser at home. I was able to adjust the flow on the condenser up to 13 or 14 lpm ( I think ). It was donated to me, it costs about 1400 dollars new but you can find used ones. Insurance only paid 60% of my O2 so I still paid $70 a month. Well worth it at the time but even with refills my work bottles is alot cheaper. I wouldn't tell the supplier anything other than you want to rent an O2 tank. No one has ever questioned me about it, there is nothing illegal about it.

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by Jonny on Jun 21^st, 2005, 7:45pm

on 06/21/05 at 18:41:12, maffumatt wrote:

I use a regulator on my torch bottles at work I wouldn't tell the supplier anything other than you want to rent an O2 tank. No one has ever questioned me about it, there is nothing illegal about it.

Bingo!......BUT! a welding 02 supplier will not rent to you if they know you are going to breath it.....for insurance reasons.....so, tell them only that you want it...if they press tell them "My husband sent me" ;;D

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by hurtinunit on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 7:45pm

good point--i will def try that

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by cheNY on Jun 24^th, 2005, 9:03am

If you get your doctor to call the insurance company & harass them usually they will budge. Lot of times they just give you a hard time initially to discourage you from trying but with repeated calls from you & your doctor they just might give in. Also try presenting them with evidence that proves its medically necessary, then tell them that if they don't they will just keep paying for ER visits everytime you get headaches, because its the only thing that works for you. Many times all it takes is showing that in the long run it'll be cheaper than other means. Good luck.
p.s. where are you located
Also, if you need NRB (non-rebreathers) or even regulator I can get them for you no problem.

Title: Re: CANT GET MY O2 HELP
Post by maryo on Jun 25^th, 2005, 10:18pm

I am a paramedic and carry oxygen so have ready access, but I can use a lot of oxygen during a cluster and didn't want to deplete the supply or get into trouble! So I had my healthcare provider arrange for medical home oxygen. My insurance did NOT cover it but it was ony twenty some dollars for one E tank. The guy at the oxygen company was a cluster sufferer and gave me a price break. Oxygen flow meters are a little over $100 but medical oxygen comes with one. Non-rebreather masks are pretty cheap.