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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
        
(Message started by: Ming on Apr 19^th, 2007, 6:49pm)

Title: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Ming on Apr 19^th, 2007, 6:49pm

A company called Dependicare is charging me $310 / month. Between my co-payments and the insurance payments they have been paid over $4,600 for this single tank of oxygen. That seems ridiculous.

How much do you pay? Do you lease? Is it possible to just purchase a tank and have someone refill when needed?

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by E-Double on Apr 19^th, 2007, 7:12pm

$25 copay covers as many tanks as I need until next refill

You are getting shammed

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Ming on Apr 19^th, 2007, 7:42pm

on 04/19/07 at 19:12:19, E-Double wrote:

$25 copay covers as many tanks as I need until next refill

You are getting shammed

Do you know how much they are billing your insurance?

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by pattik on Apr 19^th, 2007, 7:51pm

The last time I needed O2 ( a year ago), I paid out-of-pocket instead of going through my neurologist. I have my own regulator and mask, and I paid $22 for the initial "M" tank rental and $22 per refill.

Pat k

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by E-Double on Apr 19^th, 2007, 8:31pm

out of pocket was 200 initial rental then 25 for refills

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Skyhawk5 on Apr 20^th, 2007, 2:01am

We have M-Care (Univ of Mich.) and I pay $.00 out of pocket. I did buy 2 E-tanks regulator and cart back in 1989 for $289.00. I still have them but they are not needed. It did save me on renting.

For my M-tank and 4 E's they charge my insurance almost $400/mnth. Yeow. PFDN's, Skyhawk5

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Samiam on Apr 20^th, 2007, 7:45am

I went through Praxair and I was told it's 250.00 a month no matter how many tanks you have. No out of pocket co pay for me either. I had 1 M tank 3 E tanks and 2 compressors. I would deal with Praxair again in a heart beat they were great with me. The guy even dropped off about 6 non breathable masks to keep on hand just in case I needed them.

Sami

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by clavers on Apr 20^th, 2007, 9:23am

rather than deal with the damn insurance companies, I just pay $11.50 per e tank. The cost is well worth avoiding the aggrivation.

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Ming on Apr 20^th, 2007, 11:35am

What is the difference between E & M Tank? Does anyone know the phone number for a nationwide provider at those lower rates? Would love to get rid of the people I'm using now, as it sounds like I'm really overpaying.

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Samiam on Apr 20^th, 2007, 2:36pm

An "E" tank is a small tank that you can take with you or leave in a car. A "M" tank is about 4 feet high and most of the time it's kept in a house. I used this for back up in case the Electric went out. I also use high consintrator O2 machine that pluges in and I don't have to worry about any refills.

You can call 1-800- Praxair I believe they are worldwide. I'm in Philadelphia and they were great with me.

Sami

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Skyhawk5 on Apr 20^th, 2007, 4:07pm

Apria Healthcare is who I use and are Nationwide. Also I think Lincare is. Good luck, Skyhawk5

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Guiseppi on Apr 20^th, 2007, 4:55pm

I use Apria now cuzz insurance covers it. Last year I was renting E tanks, 5.00 a month per tank, 16.00 per refill. I bought a regulator because they are expensive to rent. I was renting my equipment through a place in San Diego called PMS.........Professional Medical Supply. It does sound like you are getting hosed just a whisker.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by TxBasslady on Apr 20^th, 2007, 5:54pm

I have Gov't Employee's Insurance....I pay $2.00 co-pay on an E-tank, amd $5.50 for my H-tank.

My insurance co paid the lease on my tanks for about 4 months, then refused to pay for tank lease. They purchased the tanks from Apria (my 02 provider).

I would tell ya what my insurance co paid for those tanks, but you'd never believe me! They'd been better off to pay the lease.

No matter to me, I spose....I'm the proud owner of 3 beautiful E tanks and 1 big old H tank...LOL.

Jean

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Apr 21^st, 2007, 1:17am

Holy shit, dude, you are getting screwed.

My O2 company wants to charge $80 per month, but my insurance will only allow $30. My monthly co-pay is $6.02.

I have 3 regulators, 15 tanks with unlimited use.

If you can not get O2 for very little money, I would just buy or lease a tank. Some others here can tell you where to look, what to buy and how to get it filled.

PF wishes.
B$

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Kirk on Apr 21^st, 2007, 2:50am

When I ran short in Dutch Harbor. I paid $25 each to refill my M-125 tanks.

[smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by rolo65 on May 23^rd, 2007, 12:37am

Allina charges me $25 per cyl. My Ins. is 80-20, $5 my final cost per cyl. At $4,600 we would all be opening our own O2 bar to defray the costs. I use 2-4 M tanks a week, so sometimes its $80 per mo. Well worth it to me.

It takes a lot of elec. to run a home unit, about 12-15 amps. I was thinking about geting one till I found out that the unit I looked at could only supply 10 Lpm max.

There's got to be a cheaper vender than $310 per mo.

Call around, and PF day's to you.

Roland

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by billyjoe on May 23^rd, 2007, 10:45am

You need to find out who your insurance company deals with in your area. It makes a hugh difference. In my area, UnitedHealthCare has a deal with Apria Healthcare and the cost is $124 month, but my cost is $12 a month! This is for an unlimited amount of O2. You basically rent the regulator. They will give me as many tanks as I want. They prefer to come to my house once a week, so I get 2 M tanks delivered every week. It's a great deal!

Bill

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Linda_Howell on May 23^rd, 2007, 11:52am

Ming,

Switch your supplier to either Lincare or Apria. Like someone said they are nationwide and you live in Chicago so I KNOW you can find one near you.

I, too was getting ripped off by getting the Ins. co. involved. I sat down with the manager and asked them to leave the Ins. out of it completely and I now have a deal with them for 10.00 per E-tank.

Linda

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by artonio7 on May 23^rd, 2007, 12:08pm

I paid $189.00 for an Welders grade M tank and $25.00 for the first fill up minus 25%. Each additional fill-up will cost $25.00.

with warm regards,
Tony

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by barry_sword on May 23^rd, 2007, 12:35pm

$100 a year "M" tank rental and $37 each fill Canadian funds.

Barry

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by swimchica623 on May 24^th, 2007, 4:56pm

umm I win...absolutely NOTHING! Maryland Blue Cross/Blue Shield, I'm not sure what O2 supplier the drug store works through but I don't think it's Apria could be wrong though, I think its the other big one. I just get E tanks now but I go through about 2 a day so we might be changing that soon though so we don't have to keep changing the tanks and annoying the O2 man calling him every other day....at least its free though. ;;D
Lisa

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by marlinsfan on May 31^st, 2007, 9:55am

$5.30 copay for up to 5 E tank refills, no limits on how many times/month I fill them. Aetna HMO.

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Racer1_NC on May 31^st, 2007, 7:26pm

12 bucks...billed every 3 months......total of 5 tanks. Insurance pays the rest...

Bill

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by mcf69 on Jun 3^rd, 2007, 12:07am

Holy cow Ming, i think you're getting ripped off, time to find a different company. I paid $150 for the initial setup and $15 apiece for E-tank refills through my local DME. I have no clue what the average price is, I'll have to check with my "oxygen experts" and get back to you.

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Bert on Jun 5^th, 2007, 6:46am

I'm happy to live in the Netherlands. Everything my neuro prescribes is 100% covered by the insurance company ( they're obliged to do so by Dutch Government). Trying to chase the devil is free over here.

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by Mike_E on Jun 7^th, 2007, 5:07pm

I have Motion Picture insurance in LA and keep 6-8 E tanks on hand. It's a little hard to tell my out of pocket per tank, but whatever it is, it's peanuts. Like maybe a buck or two. My supplier is Apguard located in the San Fernando Valley.

michael

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by TomM on Jun 14^th, 2007, 5:50pm

After 15 years of CH, I recceived my first O2 tanks an hour ago. I have Unicare Insurance and Apria Healthcare deliverd one M and two E tanks for $15.52. I live in Bowie, MD.
TomM

Title: Re: How Much Do You Pay For Oxygen?
Post by fjleonard on Jun 27^th, 2007, 4:43pm

a lot of folks getting screwed here!! I have used Apria for years. When I lost my insurance, I got much more interested in the cost and was able to negotiate a rate very similar to what my prior insurance was paying them directly. I am paying about $32.00 per month for all I need. That includes not only the reg, masks, as many E-tanks as I need, and weekly re-fill delivery to my home, but they also set up and provide whatever I need out of town any time I travel (usually fly).

My suggestion is sharpen your negotiation skills, and call your provider. I think Apria is pretty much nationwide in the US...

JL