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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> O2 tanks being picked up
        
(Message started by: marlinsfan on Sep 30^th, 2005, 2:04pm)

Title: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by marlinsfan on Sep 30^th, 2005, 2:04pm

I've been PF since July 12th ;;D, so I haven't used my O2 for almost 3 months. My provider called me yesterday to ask why I had not refilled my 3 E-tanks for such a long time, and I told them that I haven't used it because my CH was taking a break.... So, they're coming to my house on monday to pick them up.

When you are in remission, do you send your tanks back to the supplier? They reassured me that they can get tanks to me overnight once the beast comes back next year.

Any thoughts?

Thanks and PF wishes.
Jose

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by lionsound on Sep 30^th, 2005, 2:08pm

I wouldn't send them back.

Keep a few and explain that anytime you could need them again. Which we hope isn't true.

Hope your PF times continues! :)

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by E-Double on Sep 30^th, 2005, 2:20pm

on 09/30/05 at 14:08:16, lionsound wrote:

I wouldn't send them back.

Keep a few and explain that anytime you could need them again. Which we hope isn't true.

Hope your PF times continues! :)

Ditto!

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by Mr. Happy on Sep 30^th, 2005, 2:25pm

Mine went back.......$60/mo charge, plus $25 per refill.

That's why I'm buying my own crap. (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1127345030)
RJ

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by ozzy on Sep 30^th, 2005, 3:10pm

My co=pay for O2 is $0,. I keep them. Actually at the end of my PF Kudzu time ( a month prior actually) I sent them back. Sure enough Kudzu stopped working and I went into "cycle" full blast.

I have my H tank and a whole bunch of E's. They're my good luck charms.

ozzy

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by Bob P on Sep 30^th, 2005, 3:15pm

Since I know my remissions will be pretty long, I send them back. Mine went back the beginning of August.

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by Jonny on Sep 30^th, 2005, 4:38pm

on 09/30/05 at 14:25:24, Mr. Happy wrote:

$60/mo charge, plus $25 per refill.

Who was bending you over?

Those prices are a damn crime!!

Nothing says Boy Scout like owning your own rig ;;D

Marlin dude, if you have another abortive send them back, no use paying for something your not using. Plus, they said they could get them back to you over night (Dont wait...go get them yourself)

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by SteCo on Sep 30^th, 2005, 5:22pm

on 09/30/05 at 14:04:57, marlinsfan wrote:

My provider called me yesterday to ask why I had not refilled

They reassured me that they can get tanks to me overnight once the beast comes back next year.

Quote:

Nothing says Boy Scout like owning your own rig

LMAO! that was good!

My O2 company did the same thing. My monthly bill is ridiculoulsy cheap with new ins. carrier. Told them I was just going to keep it (gotta a brand spankin' new regulator ;;D ) My old ins. carrier was substantially higher /mo. so I returned them when I was sure the beast was gone.

Get this....same O2 company, same service etc. that I had with both ins. carriers. It was explained the new carrier had some sort of exclusive agreeement for volume discounts or something like that.

I did have issues getting my equipment as promised time-wise this go round, so another reason I want to keep it (I did offer and want to go pick it up myself, but the O2 guy said why? We deliver ON TIME guaranteed...yeah right-read on), plus my cycles did a changeup on seasons this year - so not sure when next cycle is. They finally got it to me at 11 pm. on a Friday night after many pleading calls. Got the same response ea. time.."its on the way Sir!". The last call I made they asked if I could just wait till Saturday AM for delivery. WTF?? I went insane and explained I was F**ing afraid to go asleep and why.....the guy was at my doorstep 15 minutes later! He thought I was going to rip him a new one when I anwered the door (the afterhours dispatch said I was a very "PO'd" customer and give me whatever I wanted)....but I was so glad to see him, I almost hugged him. I even offered to help him bring in the bottles. He was very relieved, as I was relieved to see him, and we both had a good chuckle LOL

SteCo

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by marlinsfan on Sep 30^th, 2005, 8:25pm

Thanks for everyone's input. I called the ins. co, and they were pretty firm about bringing the tanks back if I'm not refilling them.

Jonny: good idea about me picking it up.. The supplier will let me pick up. They told me they need 3 hour notice before I go get them. I do still have trex, in case the beast makes an early return.

My employer is changing insurance companies in January. I hope the new one is as good as the last.

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by jon019 on Oct 1^st, 2005, 2:27pm

Oh man, it's all so arbitrary, life, ch, o2 suppliers, insurance companies....

The first time I went to an o2 supplier, being young and naive, I didn't know you needed a script. I patiently explained ch to the young, blond, pretty girl, who got a dazed look on her face and didn't get any of it. That's when I started lieing (well, I was desperate, so it's ok right?) Anyway, it was the best sales job I ever did, and I aint in sales. She eventually took pity on me (although come to think of it, turns out I went to school with her uncle) and gave me a shorty tank. One of those half e tanks that you all know are basically worthless. Got me started though and eventually got the script and moved to e tanks.

Anyway, to move on, to my surprise, insurance co actually covered rig rental and o2. Pleaded with them for years to buy me the rig instead of renting the damn thing for ridiculous monthly amount. Eventually agreed after having paid for it multiple times over. Then the worm turned...

Suddenly, they no longer covered 02 for this use. WTF??
I fought this one for years. They would not give me an explaination despite reams of science (it was principle, not money, see below). Thank God I had the rig!!!! (See Mr Happy, "Buy your own crap") So now I had to purchase o2 on cash basis from supplier and lo and behold it was cheaper than with the copay. I can't figure this s**t out!

Through it all, o2 supplier has been blithely complacent (and they are a national chain) . They seem to have no idea nor care what i use the 02 for. Doubt they know what ch is or have any other ch customers. They care not whether i pick up or need delivery or keep tanks for months or return them.

Personally, i think the key is that since I am not on insurance company radar i really dont exist. Can anyone say big brother? Plus, if I don't show up for a while, their computer system drops me out. Used to annoy me, now I see the benefits.

If you can, keep your tanks, if you can, pick up/drop off your own, if you can, buy your own o2.

Jonny keeps me laffing and he's right: "Nothing says Boy Scout like owning your own rig"

Sorry if this is disjointed. On "dopeymax" right now but just had to comment.

Regards

Jon019

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by Cooked Brain on Oct 2^nd, 2005, 5:21pm

First delivery took more than a week so NO,

I don't send them back 8)

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by ClusterChuck on Oct 4^th, 2005, 3:48am

I agree. DON'T send them back!

If they want you to refill them, fine, do it. Set the tank outside, and open the valve. Presto-chango !! Empty tank! Do that every other month, to one tank, and then get it refilled.

Chuck

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 5^th, 2005, 11:34am

When my DME company called to get the tanks back, i told them over my dead body. My O2 costs $31 per month for unlimited O2 and tank rental, i only pay $6.
Granted, i dont need to have 10 tanks when i am not in cycle, but i keep 2 full tanks around just in case. And sometimes it takes quite a while to get the O2 from the DME people, and of course they charge extra if you need it on a weekend.

Jonny, how do you get the equipment? Is it medical grade or welders grade? How do you get it refilled? The regulator is more expensive than the tank, right?

Do you have to worry about pressure testing the tank and getting certification and stuff? I know with other gasses, the vendor wont refill them if the time has expired on the tank.
BMonee

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by Jonny on Oct 5^th, 2005, 2:26pm

on 10/05/05 at 11:34:49, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

Is it medical grade or welders grade?

Theres no such thing, welding tanks are filled from the same main 02 tank that the medical tanks are filled from.

The only difference between medical and welding tanks is that medical tanks are inspected and a shitload of paper work is done, welding tanks are inspected just to make sure they will hold pressure.

All tanks are pressure tested before each refill, I dont think the place filling them would want one to blow when they are filling 50 of them at once.....LMAO ;;D

BOOM!!!!

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by BlueMeanie on Oct 5^th, 2005, 4:51pm

Quote:

My went back.......$60/mo charge, plus $25 per refill.

on 09/30/05 at 16:38:32, Jonny wrote:

Who was bending you over?

Those prices are a damn crime!!

LMAO jonny.... my "H" tank was $350 month. Luckily for me insurance paid. [smiley=laugh.gif]

I kept my 02 for one extra month just in case. For what insurance was paying, I couldn't see wasting that kind of cash even if it wasn't mine.

Title: Re: O2 tanks being picked up
Post by Mr. Happy on Oct 5^th, 2005, 6:51pm

The more I read, the more I Praise Wotan that there are several thousand liters of O2 on my six. Having it covered by insurance is a wonderful thing, but I hated being dependant on people who have other customers first and weekends off.

There's nothing like owning your own crap, available on demand, which can be backed up by medical/commercial deliveries as time allows.........but when minutes count, it's a marvelous thing to own your own.

As long as you keep the shit _filled_.
RJ