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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Question about Oxygen and Insurance
        
(Message started by: findjoshua on Nov 30^th, 2005, 8:07pm)

Title: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by findjoshua on Nov 30^th, 2005, 8:07pm

HaPPily my doctor has prescribed O2 for me FINALLY! Also I got verapamil. My question though is about insurance and O2. In ppl's experience here, did their insurance cover the oxygen? I stopped in a place on the way home and they told me a tank was $350. Now, my insurance is Cigna, and they're closed until tomorrow for questions, so the impatient side of me is wanting to know if anyone has any experience with being reimbursed for this or if $350 is RIDICULOUS or par for the course.
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This site has been a lifesaver after too long of doing the cluster thing alone.
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Thanks to all who reply and even those who just read :)

Joshua

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by marlinsfan on Nov 30^th, 2005, 8:16pm

Congrats, Joshua. O2 is great for us.

I have Aetna open access HMO. I pay $5 copay to take up to 5 E tanks home, with a non-rebreather mask and one regulator, and one cart with wheels for the tank. Then I pay $5 copay every time I refill the tanks. If I refill one or 5 tanks, it's always $5 bucks.

I got it easy. I've read many posts here where people complain about insurance and O2.

keep us posted!

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Mr. Happy on Dec 1^st, 2005, 12:41am

1. If insurance covers it, your golden.
2. If not covered, you have to get it on your own, as economically as possible.
3. If you can't afford it, you get to whine a lot.

Some insurance companies are pretty cool about it, and you get what you need. Mine told me to Piss Off. I've had to procure my own stuff, but that's beside the point.

CH is a long term curse. O2 is a front line defense, so take a long term approach to having it on hand, insured or not.

Never buy or pay your medical supply company $350 forf a filthy E tank. I bought MM tanks (3,500 liters, 80# weight) for about $200 new. (http://www.cramerdeckermedical.com/product.php?product_id=20) Got an E tank on EBay cheapish, and use is solely for it's portability. Found a cool device (again, on EBay) to transfer O2 from a large tank to the E tank. And this doesn't even get into the realm of welding O2. There are all kinds of ways to whip this O2 dilemna, where bigger IS better. It's good to be impatient; it's the first step to Satisfaction Guarenteed or Triple Your Money Back.

Actually, the first step is to go buy a Clustermasx (http://clustermasx.com). After that, all you need is a regulator (I got a box full, most or which are for sale) and the proper TANKS.

You're welcome.
RJ

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by findjoshua on Dec 1^st, 2005, 8:03am

The store I went to yesterday says they don't deal with insurance, that I have to pay and then get reimbursed. I will try to find a place that actually does the whole thing and I only pay the co-pay. regular drug stores wouldn't be able to do this right? I need to go to some medical supplies places I would guess.
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I just ordered the Clustermasx so I have it whenever.
>
Thanks,
Joshua

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by findjoshua on Dec 1^st, 2005, 8:23am

YAY! They pay 100% It's being delivered Monday at 4pm :) The bad news ( i think ) is that it's only 5 to 7 litres/min. Hopefully it will still work and the next time I get the prescription I'll have to ask for more.
.
Joshua

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by marlinsfan on Dec 1^st, 2005, 8:27am

5-7 LPM won't work, or if it does it will take 30 minutes. You'll never know if the O2 killed the headache, or if just went away. Believe me, bro, you need at least 10 LPM, 12-15 is better. If you can't find a regulator, call PM Mr. Happy and buy one of his. Or go on e-bay. It's only $20 or so.

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by findjoshua on Dec 1^st, 2005, 8:34am

Ok, the purpose of a regulator just hit me. So with a regulator I can up the litres per min. of my tank to more acceptable amount?
Wow... ;;D

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by marlinsfan on Dec 1^st, 2005, 8:37am

Bingo. The regulator controls the flow of the O2 out of the tank and into the mask. The higher the LPM setting on it, the more O2 you breath in. However, the higher the setting, the faster you will use up your tank. You should get more than one tank so you never run out.

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by findjoshua on Dec 1^st, 2005, 8:47am

Just got off the phone with them. Have to find out what the deal is on refills, etc. Turns out it comes with a regulator they said, so I should be able to adjust to what I need. I may order another just in case.
>
This is like the most anticipated delivery in years.. what does THAT say!? lol.

Joshua

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by BlueMeanie on Dec 1^st, 2005, 6:33pm

Josh,

You should be able to call your Doc and have his office call the 02 supplier. They will then be able to give you a higher 15 lpm regulator. Don't forget the non-rebreather and the moisture cup too.

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Sandy_C on Dec 1^st, 2005, 7:49pm

OK, I've got my clustermasx, and mr. Happy's regulator, all I need to do is get my tank. My doc is let's just say, not forthcoming, so I'm going to bypass him and go somwhere else. I've got a friend who is a welder. I think I can get tanks from him. How big a tank should I get? In liters?

I need all the info I can get.

Sandy

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Mr. Happy on Dec 1^st, 2005, 9:52pm

Commercial O2 folks don't do the H, E, etc, tank classifications, nor do they use liters (US.) (http://www.generalair.com/gas/cylsizechrt.htm)
#2 tank is equivalent to an H tank. 7,000+ liters/250+ ft³, 130#
#4 tank is equivalent to an MM tank. 3,500 liters/125 ft³ 75#
#7 tank is close to an E tank with 550 liters/20 ft³ 20#

The #2 or H tank is a pisscutter to handle.....heavy when loaded.
The #4 or MM tank is still heavy at 75#, but manageable.

No matter what welding O2 tank you get, it will (or SHOULD) have a 540 adaptor. The size of the tank isn't as important as the immediate availability of refills. Ya just don't wanna run out on a Saturday afternoon. Scratch that. Ya just don't wanna run out.

How much wood would a wood chuck chuck.....
RJ

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Kevin_M on Dec 1^st, 2005, 10:36pm

on 12/01/05 at 08:23:06, findjoshua wrote:

The bad news ( i think ) is that it's only 5 to 7 litres/min.

Turns out it comes with a regulator they said, so I should be able to adjust to what I need. I may order another just in case.

The prescription usually has the Lpm on it. If it is low-flow you can see about changing that with a new script or just asking for a high flow regulator from the supply company. The person I talked at the supply company happen to be familar with clusters and obliged with a high-flow regulator even though the script said 8Lpm, but don't count on that.
In any case, the regulators Hap can help with will achieve the 15Lpm, which I also have so a second "E" tanks is set up and ready when the one being used is half full. No middle of the night changeovers. Getting high-flow won't be a problem.

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by E-Double on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 12:07am

http://www.chhelp.org/mhni.html

From the newsletter Headliner, 2004, Issue 33, published by the Michigan Head-Pain & Neurological Institute. Reprinted with permission.

"High Oxygen Flow Rates for Cluster Headache"
by Todd D. Rozen, M.D., Neurologist

As discussed in previous issues of the Headliner, cluster headache patients require effective abortive therapy due to the extreme intensity of their pain. The two most effective cluster abortives are injectable sumatriptan and inhaled oxygen. However, since a large percentage of cluster sufferers are cigarette smokers and at high risk for coronary artery disease, many cannot be treated with the various triptan medications. In these cases, oxygen therapy becomes the preferred option.

Oxygen, the safest of all cluster therapies, is usually prescribed based on a landmark study by Dr. Lee Kudrow. In this study, patients were instructed to use 100% oxygen via a nonrebreather face mask at 7-10 liters/minute. Although usually effective, a certain subset of cluster patients do not achieve relief from this treatment. The author hypothesized that treating patients with higher flow rates of oxygen, up to 15 liters/minute, might provide relief to those sufferers who had not responded to standard oxygen therapy regimens.

Because MHNI has many intractable cluster patients, it was decided that a higher dose of oxygen therapy would be utilized in a few patients. Several important cases recently reported in the medical literature, found this therapy to be quite effective in patients who previously did not respond to lower dose oxygen inhalation.

MHNI's experience indicates patients who do not respond to the standard flow rates should be given the opportunity to use up to 15 liters/minute. However, prior to initiating this therapy, patients must obtain clearance from their primary care physician since serious lung disease and other conditions can make oxygen therapy unsafe or inappropriate. In addition, such oxygen therapy should not be used for more than a maximum of 10-20 minutes at a single setting.

The basis by which oxygen turns off a cluster headache is unknown at this time. Oxygen's constrictive effect on cerebral blood vessels may play a significant role.

Further study and a larger sample size is needed to provide conclusive evidence regarding the usefulness of high oxygen flow rates for difficult-to-treat cluster headache patients.

Headliner is published and privately distributed by the Michigan Head-Pain & Neurological Institute for informational use by our patients and friends. Rights to reproduction belong exclusively to Michigan Head-Pain & Neurological Institute. For additional copies or further information contact:
Jeffrey Pingel, Ph.D., or Scott Madden, Editors, Headliner
Michigan Head-Pain & Neurological Institute
3120 Professional Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Last modified: 2004

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Sandy_C on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 8:58am

RJ

Thanks. That was exactly the info I needed to get to my welder friend. Now, let's see if he can help me. Otherwise, I'll be all ready to rock and roll with masx and regulator, but no juice :-/

I gotta find a more accessible doc.

Sandy

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Redrum on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 9:15am

In my case the PPO pays for the O2 with no problems but the O2 company was no help when I was trying to get extra tanks and a higher flow regulator. When I mentioned this to the delivery guy he went back in his truck and got me a 15 lpm regulator, a couple of NRB masks, extra tubing, and more E tanks ( I keep 10 on hand) :D

If your having your O2 delivered talk to the driver, mine is my best friend now.

PS: any xmas gift suggestions for him?

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Bob P on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 9:46am

You're going to run into 2 different types of setups. Many medical oxygen tanks come with a straight valve and a yoke type regulator that slips over the valve:

medical tank
http://www.portablenebs.com/oxygenproducts.htm
medical regulator
http://www.specialty-medical.com/page/SM/CTGY/oxygen-regulators

The other setup, the industrial one, comes with a pipe thread valve and the regulator screws on with a compression type fitting. I think this is what Happy's regulator does.

You can't mix the two.

I'm with Blue Shield of California and they cover the complete cost of the tanks, regulator and mask. I usually get 4 "E" tanks and an 8 lpm regulator with a non-rebreathing mask. This setup completely knocks out an attack in 10 minutes and holds the pain to 3-5 during that 10 minutes (BTW - I'm 6'4", 230 lbs.)

If they didn't cover the cost, my med supply charges $20 to refill an E tank. At $300+ it sounds like they are selling you the tank not just the O2 inside.

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Mr. Happy on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 11:11am

on 12/02/05 at 09:46:04, Bob P wrote:

You're going to run into 2 different types of setups.
You can't mix the two.

540 or 870. 540 or 870. 540 or 870.

http://mushys.com/pix/540870a.jpg

Cylinder 870

http://mushys.com/pix/870.gif

540 or 870.
RJ

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Bob P on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 12:04pm

Hey, you're a real fart smeller Hap. I'm gonna have to break down and get one of them turbo hookas with the tiparillo mouthpiece for my next go round.

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Jonny on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 6:55pm

on 12/02/05 at 12:04:31, Bob P wrote:

Hey, you're a real fart smeller Hap. I'm gonna have to break down and get one of them turbo hookas with the tiparillo mouthpiece for my next go round.

Gotta love Hap not giving any credit to the Dude that taught his ass.....LOL ;;D

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Bob P on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 7:04pm

Got a bid in on E-Bay right now, an 870 that goes to 24lpm and 3 non-rebreathers.

I know who the king of the chrome blow controller makers is Jonny.

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Jonny on Dec 2^nd, 2005, 8:00pm

Um Bob, blow and jonny should never be said in the same sentence. ;;D (No matter what the meaning)

Thank you.....LMAO

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Mr. Happy on Dec 4^th, 2005, 8:42pm

on 12/02/05 at 19:04:45, Bob P wrote:

Got a bid in on E-Bay right now, an 870 that goes to 24lpm and 3 non-rebreathers.
I know who the king of the chrome blow controller makers is Jonny.

No doubt about it......Jonny's been blowing the O2 horn since I can remember, and longer.

Don't go too crazy on the bidding for that particular 25 lpm/masks offer (http://cgi.ebay.com/O2-Oxygen-Regulator-Gauge-Valve-Tubings-Masks-NR_W0QQitemZ5642397364QQcategoryZ3193QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem); that dude has a lot of them, and constantly gets premium price. You should be able to score a 25 lpm for $25 (del'd) or less if yer patient. Here's another one to keep your eye on. (http://cgi.ebay.com/OXYGEN-REGULATOR-BRASS-CONSTANT-FLOW_W0QQitemZ5642957258QQcategoryZ75080QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) Once in a blue moon you can come across a cylinder style 870 that will take a bubbler AND put out 25 lpm.

Some of these hosers kill you with S&H charges.
RJ

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by E-Double on Dec 4^th, 2005, 8:53pm

25 lpm????? wow!

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Roxy on Dec 4^th, 2005, 10:12pm

I have four #2 tanks, three #4 tanks, and five E tanks.....and I have still run out of 02. The ability to refill quickly....and the ability to remember to refill is paramount. If you need to, in a pinch, you can just use the welding regulator on a welding tank.....it blows like a SOB. Just remember to turn it down, and a bubbler won't fit on it.

Thankfully RJ sent me a nice little regulator that goes over 15lpm and fits on my welding tanks....I can't suck enough air at 15lpm or less.

Right now I'm stuck in Houston without any 02 for three days. I'm just a little bit paranoid right now.

Roxy 8)

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by findjoshua on Dec 5^th, 2005, 6:36am

Ahhh, the night time... the time of rest, the time of dreams.. BUT NOT LAST NIGHT :P I can't wait for my oxygen (due today.) I woke up last night with the pains, I had to do a little debate with myself over whether or not to weather it out or take my last Imitrex nasal spray which I knew would abort it, but would leave me with only some Max. melts for the next few days which a) don't work for me and b) i don't wanna mix with. In the end guess who won out? Yeah, the trex is gone but thankfully, so was the headache very quickly.
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I wonder what kind of music my oxygen tank will like. Do you think it will mind eating with me at the table? :) As I've said before, it is the most anticipated guest in my house in a long time.
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;;D
.
Joshua

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by marlinsfan on Dec 5^th, 2005, 12:42pm

My tanks are coming today too, sadly. Been PF since July, sent my tanks back in August. I shadowed most of the weekend, so I know the beast is approaching..... I don't remember every having a cycle so close after the last one ended.

My tanks live in the guest room. In there they have a futon, a TV with a DirecTV box, a closet. They also get a guest bathroom all to themselves, but they never use it ;).

When I'm in cycle, the tanks are not guests. They are family!

Title: Re: Question about Oxygen and Insurance
Post by Digitalfilm43 on Feb 17^th, 2008, 6:04pm

You know, that gets me wondering...what does everybody have for tank setups?

My tanks have had their own spare room, with a double bed and cable TV for the last couple years. But now with a new roommate situation, I'm making my own Cluster Panic Room. A 6x8 walk-in closet (no windows), soundproofed (no more worrying about the neighbors) with double bed and my Oxygen Army. I'll be able to close the door and ignore it when it's not needed, but know it's always ready and waiting when needed!

-Todd