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I’ve had issues with the company that supplied my home 02concentrator. I was placed on 02 as a supplement to my CPAP machine at night and for use during the day for shortness of breath.



The company providing the concentrator performed service the first 2 years, then did not service the equipment after the 2 years. I moved to a new city during year 3 and I notified the company I would need someone to service the concentrator. They informed me I would receive a call from one of their Parent companies to service it. I never received that call. About a year later I called back and asked about servicing my equipment. I was told I had reached the 5rh year of using the equipment and they were no longer responsible for servicing the concentrator. After the month of having the equipment for 5 years, I kept receiving monthly bills for 02 supplies.



During my 7th year of having the same 02 concentrator, I had another sleep study done and it was decided I no longer needed supplemental 02. I had lost about 60 lbs that also led to me not needed the 02 or the CPAP machine. My physician discontinued the supplemental 02. I still continued to receive monthly bills for supplemental 02 (a concentrator). I paid this bill for another 3 years because of threats to turn me in to credit bureaus. I stopped paying about 4 months ago and they continue to threaten me with legal tactics.



I apologize for the length of this question and details, but I’m unsure what to do about this. From what I gather from info on this wonderful site, it appears the 02 concentrator belonged to me after 5 years. I did not receive any more service after the 3rd year, nor did I receive any 02 supplies.



it’s my opinion they owe me money for overcharging me for 4 years, but instead, I am building a “past due” balance with this company. I am quite sure Medicare and/or my supplemental insurance has paid a tremendous amount of money. I only paid the copays.



Any ideas on how I can put this to rest once and for all, without having to involve an attorney?

Thank you for your reply. I do have my Drs order to D/C the 02. It was about 3-1/2 years ago. Due to auto withdrawal, I failed to recognize the withdrawals were for more than just my CPAP supplies. Once I recognized that I called the company and had an hour conversation about ad the question I was asked was - 1. when was the machine returned, 2, did I ask for a receipt on the returned machine, 3. did I have the model and serial number of the machine, etc, etc.

Log story short, I decided to stop making payments, changed my debit card number and felt it was worth seeing if the would follow up on their threat to turn me in to credit bureau, (which is important to a lot of people who want great credit).

I will need to find out where to start with a complaint with my insurer. I have Medicare and a Humana supplemental from my retirement.

Again, thank you for your vital and helpful information.
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Reply to Brkbobby
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Renting o2 concentrators long term is one of the biggest scams in the industry. You’ve paid for it many times over by this point.
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Reply to ZippyZee
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This sound like Medicare fraud from the provider. If you owned the unit after 3 years, then billing should stop. So should supplies upon the discontinued prescription. Do you still have documentation from the past.? Contact your insurer and ask how to file a complaint. This is a Federal issue. If the company is fined , you may be entitled to half of the settlement. Especially if an investigation leads to more fraud.
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Reply to MACinCT
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Brkbobby Jun 30, 2024
Thank you for your reply. I do have my Drs order to D/C the 02. It was about 3-1/2 years ago. Due to auto withdrawal, I failed to recognize the withdrawals were for more than just my CPAP supplies. Once I recognized that I called the company and had an hour conversation about, when was the machine returned, did I ask for a receipt on the return, did I have the model and serial number of the machine, etc, etc.

Log story short, I decided to stop making payments, changed my debit card number and felt it was worth seeing if the would follow up on their threat to turn me in to credit bureau, (which is important to a lot of people who want great credit).

I will need to find out where to start with a complaint with my insurer. I have Medicare and a Humana supplemental from my retirement.

Again, thank you for your vital and helpful information.
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If you have good paperwork on all this you might consider a suit in small claims court. I think a judge would be really interested especially in the fact they are still harassing you.
Congratulations on taking your health into your own hands. Sounds like you had the proverbial
"Pickwickian syndrome" named after the Dicken's character. People are fond now of running around saying that weight doesn't matter. Perhaps you should help them understand that it does, very much. It can literally cut your air off at night. Not the ONLY reason for some to need C-PAP. But CAN be. Good on you. Hope you have good luck.

Consider a well written let to the company telling them you have saved everything they have done to you and will take them to small claims court and publicize it if you ever hear from them or see a bill again. And then DO IT.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Brkbobby Jun 30, 2024
Great advice. I will look at this option.
Thank you for your time to respond to my question.
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We just hand a similar question to this and you do own it after 5 years and Medicare stops paying for supplies.
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Reply to JoAnn29
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Just stop paying the bills, you've already paid 10x what the thing is worth, if not more! Call the company and tell them so, too.

I use oxygen myself and after several months of paying $24 copay for the rental of the concentrator, I told Apria to come pick the thing up. I bought a much smaller and less ugly unit at an estate sale for $30.
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