I have been looking into the cost of home oxygen for a month or so now(I will not have good insurance for two more years, when I become eligible for Medicare). I found the price for home oxygen ranged between "almost criminal" to "grossly criminal".

I believe that buying you own equipment is the way to go. I just bought a home fill system and it will pay for itself in about a year.

Most new units have a 3 year warranty. I didn't ask about a service contract because I will be doing that myself, but I am sure you could get one.

Gary

I purchased my own homefill system off of craigslist. Some people are fearful of doing so or whatever. I wasn't. I knew that people buy their own and then something happens and they don't need anymore.

The first time I saw the monthly bill for renting a oxygen system I about fell on the floor. I said to myself, what a ripoff. I had just been downsized out of a job and no longer had insurance. I knew it was either go without or buy my own system. I got busy and starting comparing prices and looking around online. Got a great unit cheap. I used it all the time until I got Medicare and now I use liquid oxygen as my main source but keep my homefill as a back up. I do still use my homefill to fill little tanks (size of a soda can that I got off Ebay. I use to go out and about in a fanny pack (I use as needed)..

I too was very unhappy with my 02 provider, so I called my insurance company, BCBS, and asked for their help in dealing with provider issues. BCBS stepped in & no problems since.

I know it is a shocking idea to ask insurance company for help & get it, but it worked for me. Maybe it would work for you too.

Hugs,
TJ

My supplier, located with a drugstore, I think charges 250.00 per month for the concentrator which medicare pays. They also supply portable tanks and I think that is 50.00 a month. Maybe I will double check those fees. Yours sound criminal. I see concentrators on the net for 1 to 3 thousand dollars depending on whether or not they are new.

Thanks for the info everyone. I had a conversation on the phone this morning with an employee at my service provider and confronted her on a deceptive practices and poor business standards. Found out another provider would charge my insurance a lot lot less.....
I may call the insurance to see about purchasing my own as well as what the going rate is.....As always, appreciate the feedback.

Frankly I don't pay any attention to what my providers charge the insurance company. They all have some sort of racket going where they charge exorbitant amounts- I believe those figures eventually get used to determine what is reasonable and acceptable in determining future reimbursement. I am paying $45 month co-pay for rent of a concentrator, three big bottles, and eight little bottles, with delivery. I've never actually bothered to count stuff when I've asked for it. I think they probably give me 4-5 cannula, but considering they come every month, that seems like it would work out about right.

Considering even what does get reimbursed, though, I'm kind of surprised that they don't just buy concentrators for all the patients physically capable of doing it. I think it's relatively rare that someone on oxygen ends up not needing it anymore, and it just seems like it would be much more cost effective for them to provide a concentrator. Of course, I don't have a business degree, either, so what do I know!