N E W S

Vol 15, No. 1      LINCARE is a National Supplier of Home
Spring '03           Oxygen and Respiratory Therapy Services

How Much Does MY Breathing Medications Cost?

If you are on Medicare and have a respiratory condition, Medicare may cover up to 80% of the cost of your liquid medications if you qualify. The remaining 20% is usually covered by most secondary or supplementary insurance plans.

Tips on Finding a Respiratory Provider That is Right for You

· Select a supplier that gives you 24-hour service without additional charges.

1. If traveling is something you are able to do, look for a company with multiple locations. They should be able to assist you in getting oxygen and additional respiratory equipment outside of your normal service area.
2. Make sure the supplier can provide clear, written instructions regarding your use of the equipment. Do they have trained representatives to instruct you and to demonstrate the equipment when it is delivered?
3. Ask for a complete breakdown of costs and verification of what your Medicare or insurance will cover. Make sure the supplier takes Medicare "assignment" (accepts what Medicare pays for services). After you have paid your yearly deductible, Medicare will pay 80%. All oxygen suppliers in the region get paid the same amount for the same prescription.
4. Does the supplier have a clinician on staff to assist you if needed? Do they have a follow-up program that the doctor can order?
5. Find out if the supplier provided regular routine equipment maintenance. How often do they service their equipment? Do they provide you with information on how to keep it clean? Do they provide disposable tubing needed on a regular basis? Are there any additional charges for this tubing?
6. Remember You have the freedom of choice. If you can't get the problems resolved by your current oxygen supplier, look under "OXYGEN" in the Yellow Pages and the nearest Lincare location which can better serve your needs.

"The goal of medicine is to not just treat symptoms of illness, but to find underlying causes," says Virend Somers, MD, PhD, a cardiologist and one of the study's authors. "In this instance, we are now finding that central sleep apnea, which has been previously understood as a symptom of heart failure, may contribute to the development of heart failure in people at risk."

Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association

The goal of LINCARE News is to share timely information with clients of LINCARE. The contents are selected to provide guidelines for approaching the resolution of problems, but are not intended to provide medical advice for individual problems. The latter should be obtained from your physician.

~ Kendra Pope, Editor

 Previous page