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Re: CPAP & Humidifier Life

Posted by cjm36 on March 23, 2004 at 09:37:27:

In Reply to: CPAP & Humidifier Life posted by The Virginian on March 23, 2004 at 07:56:14:

Medicare guidelines are for CPAP machine replacement every 5 years, but some insurance companies require that the machine be broken before they'll replace it. So there IS a black out period between the 2 year warranty and the 5 year replacement guildline, and, the 5 year guildline may not apply to your insurance if your machine is still working. Your humidifier's life span will be much greater than you CPAP machine.

A word about CPAP machine life expectancy...take great care not to drop your machine on the floor, as you mention. A drop is the machine's worst enemy. The life expectancy suffers greatly if this happens, obviously. This is most likely to happen if you accidently pull the machine off the nightstand during sleep. Always take precautions against this happening.

The good news is that most newer CPAP machines are highly reliable and should exceed a 5 years life span if they are cared for. Another bonus is on-board diagnostic electronics in newer CPAP machines that will shut down the machine if an error is detected instead of just running with incorrect therapy.

Some people on this forum have reported their CPAP machines making strange or different noises just before they quit. Certainly, any change in the normal sound of you machine should be looked into.

It is very common for people who know they're on CPAP for the duration to buy a second back-up machine. About machines lasting longer for what they cost...the cost of a DME supplied CPAP machine has little to do with the parts that make up the whole, and more to do with service by the supplier. That's why many patients are now turning to the internet to buy their machines.

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