Often we get asked where someone could find a particular mask or machine, and where is the best price.  As we don't link directly to storefronts, this is often a sticky issue.  What you will find below is a listing of popular machines and masks from Froogle (a price driven search engine)  Feel free to suggest any machines/masks that I missed.)
 
MACHINES
 
Aeiomed
 
Everest
 
 
Fisher & Paykel
 
HC220
 
HC234
 
HC604
 
 
Puritan Bennett
 
Goodnight 420g
 
Goodnight  420s
 
 
Resmed
 
Resmed S7
 
Resmed S8
 
 
Respironics
 
Remstar Pro Cflex
 
Remstar Auto
 
Somnomed
 
Trend 110
 
 
 
MASKS

 
Hudson RCI, a division of Teleflex Medical

Hybrid Universal Full Face Mask with Nasal Pillows

 
AEIOMed
 
Headrest
 
 
Devilbiss
 
Serenity
 
 
Innomed
 
Freestyle
 
Nasal Aire
 
Fisher & Paykel
 
Aclaim
 
HC405
 
HC406
 
HC431
 
HC481
 
oRACLE
 
 
Puritan Bennett
 
Breeze
 
Dreamseal
 
 
Resmed
 
Activa
 
Mirage / Ultra-Mirage
 
Swift
 
Vista
 
 
Respironics
 
Comfortclassic
 
Comfortcurve
 
Comfortfull
 
Comfortgel
 
Comfortselect
 
Profile Lite
 
Simplicity
 
Total Face
 
 
Somnotech
 
Nasal Mask
 
 
Tiarra
 
Snapp

I am going to buy a machine. First week in June.
The doctors office has set me up with a larger local
med. supply comp. They want me to buy their brand.
Invacare Your opinion??????? They want to charge me $1000
for a 3000  no humitifer

Invacare

Polaris ISP3000

SoftEx looks like an expiratory relief type of thing.

Haven't heard anything either way about these.
sleepydave

Hello
 I would suggest you get a machine that has humidity with it. I helps you keep your mouth closed when the air makes you throat dry.
Hope this helps
Sleepgrinch

I just got set up with my machine on Friday. I have the Fisher & Paykel HC234 with humidifier, (1) Fisher & Paykel flex fit 407 mask, and (1) ResMed Mirage Swift nasal pillow mask. My insurance covers 50% so they wanted to charge me $67 a month for 12 months $1,608 total    . I told them I thought that was too pricey so they didn't charge me for the humidifier which brought it down to $55 a month for 12 months $1,320 total . Maybe you have some room for haggling. It worked for me. (I still think it's too pricey, but what choice do you have).  


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Shawn in WNY

Congraatulations on your first cpap.
I know 2 yrs ago i got mine and was so excited that someone finally figured out that my constant fatigue and lack of wakefulness was not due to the recent birth of my child (tierd mommy syndrome), but rather due to a serious disorder. I congratulate you on taking this step to make your life healthier and ultimately happier through cpap therapy. I know that I am much happier with the use of a cpap device to get some quality sleep and life saving care.

Sleep tight.

My dr sent me to a local supplier and had everything set up for me to pick-up (fitting needed though.)
My insurance company paid for my cpap and equipment. I was oblivious to the variety available out there.

Over the past two years I have noticed that the local supplier really jacks up the prices on everything. As long as I am aware of the type of mask that fits best for me, along with the size I need, I no longer need to shop local.
You will soon find a smorgusboard of items to choose from and better fitting masks and such. (My first mask leaked teriibly, but I didn't realise there were beter fits out there for me.)
The local supplier was a great place to start and get educated, but I am weaning myself from Lincare!

[color=orange][/color]

I am wondering about some of the I-net providers of equipment. This is a tricky situation for a person with low or no insurance coverage... and insurance companies are paying for those who reject the equipment early-on, it seems. Does one buy a "cheap" machine or go for local service???

I'm one of the fortunates. My insurance pays for 85% of the cost, and the unit is rented the first trial period. (That, of course, is after an outlay of nearly $1000 for tests to make sure the equipment may do me some good... that's out of pocket.) Right now, until I approve the equipment, it's rented. The cost to me is reasonable.

I'll be swapping in my REMstarplus come Monday. I am not sure if the new equipment will be better, but perhaps it won't leak water and shut down when shifting pressure.

This unit is state-of-the-art. Unfortunately, the humidifier has problems with leaking... so a pan must be kept under it. It appears to shut down when ramping up pressure. That's a nice feature. While going to sleep, it'll kick pressure down by 3 points to allow you to get to sleep. Unfortunately, when it kicks to the next level, it shuts off the air, which wakes me again... and then I have this extra pressure in my face.

I am seeing many machines sold for much less than my insurance covers. If I add this up correctly, this machine is about double the cost of what it would cost on <<commercial link removed >>, for instance.

BTW, if you have no insurance, or minimal insurance, you can often get great deals on "used" equipment. I would not want to use a used face mask, but everything beyond that has not had anyone breathing into it. This is one place for used machines to go. (My machine, I'm told, will be returned to the company. These used machines are usually ones that have been used for a few months, with no problems.)

As a INet provider, I can attest that there are definitely some sites out there that I would be weary of.  There are basically 2 or 3 major sites that offer respectable service.   We offer the best possible service that we can over the internet, but we always tell our patients that if they need the extra support then they should contact their local DME.   Typically, our customers are either noninsured or underinsured, but often we have customers who just don't want to deal with their insurance companies, or would like to have a second machine that isn't covered.   I wouldn't consider it a tricky situation, sometimes is the only option for some of our customers.  We pride ourselves in helping patients as a first response, and providing them the help that they need.

Debbie,
That's a complete ripoff--I bought my Respironics unit with heated humidifier from my DME for around $500 total.  You can also find any unit on the internet at very reasonable prices.  You don't need the fanciest unit--some of the new ones just add more bells and whistles, but the effect is the same.  Just do a google search for the unit you are looking at, or a google search for cpap and the top 3 websites are all very reputable.  I've gotten great service from cpap.com and cpapsupplyusa.com personally.  Don't get ripped off by the DME--using the statement "What's your best price, because I'm considering just buying a unit off the internet" will usually bring their price down, and let them realize you're not stuck with the DME, like they want you to think.
Good luck,
Scott

(The message you replied to was a year old.)



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Acronyms and Often Used Forum Phrases
Respironics? M-Series Auto w/ HH & C-Flex; Flexfit? Hybrid? Mask, Encore Pro 1.8i

I know the last post was a year old, but need to bring this subject back up. My  Sleeplab doctor had me do a new sleep study when I started nodding off driving, and then sent me to the in house respitory care "store". They charged the insurance $2200 for a ResMed S8 Elite withheated humidity, which I had to pay 50% of. Well because of some very unproffessional mistakes, I found another doctor. I found a great Neuroscience doc who found my complex apnea with narcolepsy on the side! I told him that I just got a new machine and told him how much I spent. He almost lost it! The snuckered me and my insurance company! I found the same machine on the net for as little as $590 w/o humidity and less then $800 with. I printed out several websites pages with prices and raised the dead with the respitory care place, sent copies to them and my insurance company. They refund me my money and are taking back the machine after 9 months. Since I am moving on to the new SVADAPT this week,  I wouldn't fight to keep iteven though the insurance won't get their money back (something to do with the way the contract is written between M-plan and the respitorycare/hosptial) Please people, do some research before you pay out your half for durable medical goods! Check websites, google CPAP or your machine model and shop!


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Tired of being tired! CPAPin' since 99' Pressure 8, AHI 138! I'm a contender! Narco averaged 1.3 minutes!

I purchased a GoodKnight 420E, with remote software and heated humidifier + mask for about $700 from cpap.com.

It seems criminal for companies to charge your insurance company more than the street price for the equipment - and then expect you to pay a monthly fee.

I can't judge the GoodKnight against other machines - but the task they have to perform is fairly easy so the decsion should boil down to individual preference.

My package came with software - poorly written and poorly documented - but able to show my day-to-day progress if I work hard.  If you have even a little computer interest, I urge you to get one with sofware - it doesn't seem the people who provide support are very interested in supporting you - so you have to be ready to do it yourself.  The graphs help.

I live in Canada and realized that we're getting ripped off for the mask and equipment here.  I want a Fisher & Paykel FlexiFit Series HC407 mask and it's just over $200 here while it is $55 down in the US.  My private insurance covers part of the cost but I have a lifetime maximum that if these things keep costing $200, I'm going to run out of $$$ soon :(  Anyone know of where to get them cheaper in Canada?

Yes, buy it online.  My husband bought a new mask from a large U.S. online supplier and the transaction went just fine.

There are 2 Canadian online dealers that I know of but their prices are not that great.

You could also try bargaining, depending on where you live.

I can't give you the specific info here so I'll PM you.