Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Hi Joyce,It's not much better here in Phoenix, I am in the process of checking out who Humana will pay for and then I'm gonna interview them. My supplies seems to think if I need over 5lpm then I shouldn't be working and driving all over, I should be home with my concentrator. I'm not about to curl up and die and I know its worse being in Prescott. Probably lucky ya got them new fangled in door outhouses LOL let alone oxygen suppliers! Keep up the good fight!Dyane Phoenix IPF 02>> I just called the two other Oxygen supply companies and one of them said they will only give the portable Marathon if you work. No one else can have one. I said what if your doctor is in Phoenix? She said it doesn't matter- you can take tanks. They wont give their Marathon's out accept to working individuals. That sucks. So, lots of people on liquid oxygen can't go many places because these suppliers won't give them the necessary equipment. I know Bruce said they HAVE to but they WON'T and the reason they won't is because they are very expensive. I guess they expect you to haul tanks if you go to someplace else. They don't care one bit that your lifestyle is very active and you are away from home many hours when you go out. Meanwhile my Marathon is in the shop and I miss it terribly! I have run out of oxygen because I was unable to get home and fill it and the one I have the thing that shows how much 02 you have is broken. I don't think they would supply me with a small liquid tank for the back seat of my car if I wanted to travel to CA or anything. It really sucks being on 02 sometimes! Joyce Rudy AZ Birds> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Ok what you can do if you want to travel is get a small inverter and just take your concentrator with you keep your long chord in a bag and only put the short cannuala it will work at least it did for me. I have an airsep portable concentrator to that plugs into cig lighter also runs off batteries and wall plug its wonderful to travel with it. but it needs to be worked on and my supplier doesnt handle it anymore. I called my insurance and they said that the suppliers if we had a prescription for them they had to supply them...so check again.. hugs merry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 That is the problem I had with my old providers they thought becuase I had the concentrator with the fifty foot umbilical I was in hog heaven. no way!!! I asked them if they were going out friday night they said sure I said not then told them to take a box put if about three feet from an outlet and then tie fifty foot of rope and that was all the futher they could go...they didnt like that so I said well thats is what you want me to do. so I fired them and went out and got my own tanks and found a place that only charged me nine dollars to fill them and never looked back then I filed a complaint with insurance company and they finnally after so many complaints let us go to another company which just happened to be the one I was dealing with and they were awesome. Now I have been told they will pay 80/20 for a new regulator and the same for a portable concentrator if I get prescription from the doctor saying I have to have them. I am on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas ( and I am in California go figure) a PPO which is sooo much better than the BCBS of California HMO had at husbands olde job...anyone have any suggestions on portables that go over 5lpm as I am already at 3. Merry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Merry, Your post makes me want to stand up and cheer!!! I'm so glad you stand up for yourself to the O2 suppliers. We can't just lay down and let them dictate to us what we are allowed to do. It's absurd. One great tip that was in your post is something we've talked about previously but not too recently. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for the specific piece of equipment that you need. Be it an Helios Marathon or a specific kind of regulator or conserver. It's much easier to get something without a huge fight if your doctor is backing you up. Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 To: Breathe-Support Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:22:28 PMSubject: Re: Portable Oygen That is the problem I had with my old providers they thought becuase I had the concentrator with the fifty foot umbilical I was in hog heaven. no way!!! I asked them if they were going out friday night they said sure I said not then told them to take a box put if about three feet from an outlet and then tie fifty foot of rope and that was all the futher they could go...they didnt like that so I said well thats is what you want me to do. so I fired them and went out and got my own tanks and found a place that only charged me nine dollars to fill them and never looked back then I filed a complaint with insurance company and they finnally after so many complaints let us go to another company which just happened to be the one I was dealing with and they were awesome.Now I have been told they will pay 80/20 for a new regulator and the same for a portable concentrator if I get prescription from the doctor saying I have to have them. I am on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas ( and I am in California go figure) a PPO which is sooo much better than the BCBS of California HMO had at husbands olde job...anyone have any suggestions on portables that go over 5lpm as I am already at 3.Merry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Merry Oxygen suppliers often tend to think they are just delivering a product and forget they are in the medical field and providing us a prescribed treatment for a medical condition. The answer is not to accept such. Sometimes that is tough though. I live in a market which at one time had 200 oxygen suppliers so many to choose from. However, sometimes you don't have others and sometimes insurance have exclusive contracts such as Cigna with Apria. One thing to also keep in mind is that just as insurers will sometimes come to your aid with the supplier, so will medicare. I've known more than one person to call them and they quickly take care of a vendor blaming it all on them. A last thing. Have the doctor write the prescription specific. Even to the form of equipment you want. That way they can't decide what they want. > > Merry, > Your post makes me want to stand up and cheer!!! I'm so glad you stand up for yourself to the O2 suppliers. We can't just lay down and let them dictate to us what we are allowed to do. It's absurd. > > One great tip that was in your post is something we've talked about previously but not too recently. Ask your doctor to write a prescription for the specific piece of equipment that you need. Be it an Helios Marathon or a specific kind of regulator or conserver. It's much easier to get something without a huge fight if your doctor is backing you up. > > Beth > Moderator > Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Drisana Merry drisanamerry@... > To: Breathe-Support > Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:22:28 PM > Subject: Re: Portable Oygen > > > That is the problem I had with my old providers they thought becuase I had the concentrator with the fifty foot umbilical I was in hog heaven. no way!!! I asked them if they were going out friday night they said sure I said not then told them to take a box put if about three feet from an outlet and then tie fifty foot of rope and that was all the futher they could go...they didnt like that so I said well thats is what you want me to do. so I fired them and went out and got my own tanks and found a place that only charged me nine dollars to fill them and never looked back then I filed a complaint with insurance company and they finnally after so many complaints let us go to another company which just happened to be the one I was dealing with and they were awesome. > > Now I have been told they will pay 80/20 for a new regulator and the same for a portable concentrator if I get prescription from the doctor saying I have to have them. I am on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas ( and I am in California go figure) a PPO which is sooo much better than the BCBS of California HMO had at husbands olde job...anyone have any suggestions on portables that go over 5lpm as I am already at 3. > > Merry > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 I read these posts and I thank my lucky stars that I am where I am and chose the supplier that I did...and it is Apria! When I was first put on oxygen my pulmonologist said he would write the prescription and fax it to the supplier. He gave me two choices, and since the Apria location was more convenient to where I live, I chose them...thank goodness!!!! First of all, my doctor did write a very specific presription - one that specified a Helios Marathon. I got the Marathon. He also wrote a prescription for an oximeter, and I got that. All paid for by insurance. Now, above and beyond that...I am now on my second Marathon unit, after the first one had to be replaced because it started malfunctioning. Despite the fact that Apria doesn't buy themn anymore, the logistics manager at my local office put out a companywide email and found one and had it shipped to him. When that one, in turn, started to have some problems he was able to fix it, but at the same time sent out another email and got another one from some other office. That second one he had delivered to me as a backup...so now, I have two Marathons!!! In addition, they have also given me a 50lb tank to use when traveling. They fill it every other week when they also fill my big tank. With my recent downslide in lung function, I now need 8-10 liters when exercising, so my home concentrator wasn't cutting it any more. My pulmodude wrote a new prescription for the home oxygen and presto, my good friends and Apria came with a new concentrator and swapped it out for my old one (which only went up to 6L). An additional bonus...althought the old one can go higher flow, it's quieter!!! So...as you can see, I have been fortunate to have a great relationship with my local office...we are on a first name basis! One two occasions when my travel tank didn't have enough for my trip, they just had me stop by and they filled it for me! I can't say enough about my supplier...I just wish all of you were as lucky!!! Steve aka...Knip UIP/IPF 9/07 VATS 12/07 57 Plymouth, NH > > > > Merry, > > Your post makes me want to stand up and cheer!!! I'm so glad you > stand up for yourself to the O2 suppliers. We can't just lay down and > let them dictate to us what we are allowed to do. It's absurd. > > > > One great tip that was in your post is something we've talked about > previously but not too recently. Ask your doctor to write a prescription > for the specific piece of equipment that you need. Be it an Helios > Marathon or a specific kind of regulator or conserver. It's much easier > to get something without a huge fight if your doctor is backing you up. > > > > Beth > > Moderator > > Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Drisana Merry drisanamerry@ > > To: Breathe-Support > > Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:22:28 PM > > Subject: Re: Portable Oygen > > > > > > That is the problem I had with my old providers they thought becuase I > had the concentrator with the fifty foot umbilical I was in hog heaven. > no way!!! I asked them if they were going out friday night they said > sure I said not then told them to take a box put if about three feet > from an outlet and then tie fifty foot of rope and that was all the > futher they could go...they didnt like that so I said well thats is what > you want me to do. so I fired them and went out and got my own tanks and > found a place that only charged me nine dollars to fill them and never > looked back then I filed a complaint with insurance company and they > finnally after so many complaints let us go to another company which > just happened to be the one I was dealing with and they were awesome. > > > > Now I have been told they will pay 80/20 for a new regulator and the > same for a portable concentrator if I get prescription from the doctor > saying I have to have them. I am on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas ( > and I am in California go figure) a PPO which is sooo much better than > the BCBS of California HMO had at husbands olde job...anyone have any > suggestions on portables that go over 5lpm as I am already at 3. > > > > Merry > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Merry- the Marathon goes over 5 but I believe after 5 you have to use it continuous. Joyce Rudy AZ birds Re: Portable Oygen That is the problem I had with my old providers they thought becuase I had the concentrator with the fifty foot umbilical I was in hog heaven. no way!!! I asked them if they were going out friday night they said sure I said not then told them to take a box put if about three feet from an outlet and then tie fifty foot of rope and that was all the futher they could go...they didnt like that so I said well thats is what you want me to do. so I fired them and went out and got my own tanks and found a place that only charged me nine dollars to fill them and never looked back then I filed a complaint with insurance company and they finnally after so many complaints let us go to another company which just happened to be the one I was dealing with and they were awesome.Now I have been told they will pay 80/20 for a new regulator and the same for a portable concentrator if I get prescription from the doctor saying I have to have them. I am on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas ( and I am in California go figure) a PPO which is sooo much better than the BCBS of California HMO had at husbands olde job...anyone have any suggestions on portables that go over 5lpm as I am already at 3.Merry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 Merry, I don't have aw concentrator. I am on liquid. I understand that there are small liquid tanks that can be used in the car but I really doubt my supplier will get me one. There are only 3 suppliers here and they don't offer much at all. Joyce Rudy AZ birds Re: Portable Oygen Ok what you can do if you want to travel is get a small inverter and just take your concentrator with you keep your long chord in a bag and only put the short cannuala it will work at least it did for me. I have an airsep portable concentrator to that plugs into cig lighter also runs off batteries and wall plug its wonderful to travel with it. but it needs to be worked on and my supplier doesnt handle it anymore. I called my insurance and they said that the suppliers if we had a prescription for them they had to supply them...so check again..hugsmerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2009 Report Share Posted August 11, 2009 steve sounds like a great supplier are yu on a transplant list? if so , hope everyrthing goes well Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: Portable OygenTo: Breathe-Support Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 8:54 PM I read these posts and I thank my lucky stars that I am where I am and chose the supplier that I did...and it is Apria! When I was first put on oxygen my pulmonologist said he would write the prescription and fax it to the supplier. He gave me two choices, and since the Apria location was more convenient to where I live, I chose them...thank goodness!!!!First of all, my doctor did write a very specific presription - one that specified a Helios Marathon. I got the Marathon. He also wrote a prescription for an oximeter, and I got that. All paid for by insurance. Now, above and beyond that...I am now on my second Marathon unit, after the first one had to be replaced because it started malfunctioning. Despite the fact that Apria doesn't buy themn anymore, the logistics manager at my local office put out a companywide email and found one and had it shipped to him. When that one, in turn, started to have some problems he was able to fix it, but at the same time sent out another email and got another one from some other office. That second one he had delivered to me as a backup...so now, I have two Marathons!!! In addition, they have also given me a 50lb tank to use when traveling. They fill it every other week when they also fill my big tank. With my recent downslide in lung function, I now need 8-10 liters when exercising, so my home concentrator wasn't cutting it any more. My pulmodude wrote a new prescription for the home oxygen and presto, my good friends and Apria came with a new concentrator and swapped it out for my old one (which only went up to 6L). An additional bonus...althought the old one can go higher flow, it's quieter!!!So...as you can see, I have been fortunate to have a great relationship with my local office...we are on a first name basis! One two occasions when my travel tank didn't have enough for my trip, they just had me stop by and they filled it for me! I can't say enough about my supplier...I just wish all of you were as lucky!!!Steve aka...Knip UIP/IPF 9/07 VATS 12/0757 Plymouth, NH> >> > Merry,> > Your post makes me want to stand up and cheer!!! I'm so glad you> stand up for yourself to the O2 suppliers. We can't just lay down and> let them dictate to us what we are allowed to do. It's absurd.> >> > One great tip that was in your post is something we've talked about> previously but not too recently. Ask your doctor to write a prescription> for the specific piece of equipment that you need. Be it an Helios> Marathon or a specific kind of regulator or conserver. It's much easier> to get something without a huge fight if your doctor is backing you up.> >> > Beth> > Moderator> > Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08> >> >> >> >> > ____________ _________ _________ __> > From: Drisana Merry drisanamerry@> > To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. com> > Sent: Tuesday, August 11, 2009 7:22:28 PM> > Subject: Re: Portable Oygen> >> >> > That is the problem I had with my old providers they thought becuase I> had the concentrator with the fifty foot umbilical I was in hog heaven.> no way!!! I asked them if they were going out friday night they said> sure I said not then told them to take a box put if about three feet> from an outlet and then tie fifty foot of rope and that was all the> futher they could go...they didnt like that so I said well thats is what> you want me to do. so I fired them and went out and got my own tanks and> found a place that only charged me nine dollars to fill them and never> looked back then I filed a complaint with insurance company and they> finnally after so many complaints let us go to another company which> just happened to be the one I was dealing with and they were awesome.> >> > Now I have been told they will pay 80/20 for a new regulator and the> same for a portable concentrator if I get prescription from the doctor> saying I have to have them. I am on Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (> and I am in California go figure) a PPO which is sooo much better than> the BCBS of California HMO had at husbands olde job...anyone have any> suggestions on portables that go over 5lpm as I am already at 3.> >> > Merry> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2009 Report Share Posted August 12, 2009 Joyce, You are so right about being on O2. It does suck and Oxygen companies are not always easy to work with. Adrienne Subject: Portable OygenTo: "Breathe-Support" <Breathe-Support >Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009, 9:24 PM I just called the two other Oxygen supply companies and one of them said they will only give the portable Marathon if you work. No one else can have one. I said what if your doctor is in Phoenix? She said it doesn't matter- you can take tanks. They wont give their Marathon's out accept to working individuals. That sucks. So, lots of people on liquid oxygen can't go many places because these suppliers won't give them the necessary equipment. I know Bruce said they HAVE to but they WON'T and the reason they won't is because they are very expensive. I guess they expect you to haul tanks if you go to someplace else. They don't care one bit that your lifestyle is very active and you are away from home many hours when you go out. Meanwhile my Marathon is in the shop and I miss it terribly! I have run out of oxygen because I was unable to get home and fill it and the one I have the thing that shows how much 02 you have is broken. I don't think they would supply me with a small liquid tank for the back seat of my car if I wanted to travel to CA or anything. It really sucks being on 02 sometimes! Joyce Rudy AZ Birds__________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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