Sleep apnea is a condition that makes it difficult for a person to breathe when they sleep. This could be due to a number of reasons, your airway could get blocked when you lie down. It simply isn’t possible to go through your day properly when you’ve had a restless night. Patients that suffer from this illness have to use some form of therapy to alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnea. The most common form of sleep apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). To find out if you have sleep apnea please contact your healthcare provider and ask them to conduct a sleep study.
Modern medical technology has come up with a wide array of solutions for this issue. CPAP devices are one of the most popular methods used to treat this condition. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. Check out this blog if you want to know more about how these appliances work.
Unfortunately, this kind of durable medical equipment (DME) can be expensive. The cost of a BiPAP machine can range from $2,000 to $3,000. The cost of a CPAP machine can range from $400 to $800. If the cost of the machine isn’t covered by your insurance or Medicare, this can be a strain on your savings. Many insurance companies will make you pay a deductible before you are able to get your hands on a CPAP device. which is why some people decide to pay out of pocket for their CPAP machine. Additionally, there are a lot of added expenses like the tubing, the CPAP mask, humidifier, and any extra cleaning supplies or CPAP equipment.
If you don’t have the funds to buy a CPAP machine or in case you’re looking for some cheaper alternatives, you might be interested in considering a used CPAP machine. When people need to discard their old machines, they often try to give them away to someone. As these machines have already been used, the market value is significantly lower than the usual prices. However, are these machines worth buying? This blog will tell you everything you need to know about used CPAP machines and we’ll also help you decide whether these machines will help you.
When Should You Consider Buying a Used CPAP Machine?
The main reason to buy a used machine is the high cost of a new one. Typically, a CPAP machine that is maintained well will last for around 3 years. A good-quality CPAP machine can last for up to 5 years. Therefore, a new machine can be a valuable investment. But it’s impossible to know if a used CPAP machine has been well maintained. That’s why you must only consider buying a used machine if you’re able to get it from a trusted seller of durable medical equipment. For example, you cannot sell a used CPAP unit on eBay if you do not have FDA approval but on Craigslist anyone can sell a used CPAP unit without FDA approval.
The Upsides to Buying a Used CPAP Machine:
A cheap CPAP machine can save a lot of money. This is especially true if you happen to get a machine that is in top shape. A good CPAP machine can last you for around 3 years if you take care of it.
● The price is cheaper than the CPAP machines on the market.
● You’ll be able to choose options that would normally be out of your price range.
● A spare CPAP machine is always handy in case of an emergency.
The Downsides That You’ll Have to Look Into:
There are a ton of risks that are involved in buying a used machine. Some CPAP sellers are looking to make a bit of quick cash and they don’t have an issue with selling machines that aren’t functioning properly.
● If you don’t purchase your machine from a trusted buyer, it could have some critical defects that were not disclosed to you.
● Used CPAP machines that have not been cleaned properly can be harmful to your health. Used equipment may be dirty or have allergens or pet dander that you are not aware of and it can get in your nose and/or lungs.
● A used CPAP machine with broken parts would be a complete waste of money.
Do the Benefits Outweigh The Risks?
The ultimate question that you must ask is- how great are the risks? When you are buying a CPAP machine, you have to remember that it is a tool that assists in breathing, so you want it to be extremely clean. Even though you might have a seller that you can trust, a CPAP machine that has been lying idle can gather a lot of dirt. That’s why you want to make sure that when you’re purchasing the machine you ask the former owner of it a lot of questions. Some questions you can ask are, ‘Have you had any issues with the machine?’ ‘How long ago did you buy it?’ and ‘ Did you purchase the machine from a well-known supplier?’ Apart from these questions, there are some more precautions that you'll want to take.
Precautions That you Should Take Before Buying a Used CPAP Machine.
In case you still want to buy a used CPAP machine, make sure you keep these points in mind. You will be using this machine daily for your CPAP therapy, so it’s imperative that you do as much research as is possible.
- Only buy from a trusted seller like a relative or a friend.
- Online reviews can give you a gist of what you can expect.
- Make sure to test the machine before you buy it as certain defects will only reveal themselves once you use the machine.
- Weigh all of the available options carefully before you make your choice.
- Used CPAP machines don’t come with any warranty so you’ll want to make sure that the machine is in a good condition, as a broken machine will involve a lot of extra costs.
Ultimately, the main thing to keep in mind is that you want to be absolutely sure that the product that you’re getting is proper. Additionally, you can also do some research around organizations like Second Wind CPAP that give CPAP machines away for free as well. This process will be a bit longer and more tedious, but these organizations are a great help to people that are looking for a free CPAP machine.
Conclusion:
Hopefully, this article has cleared up a few of your doubts. Although used CPAP machines can help you save some money, a broken machine is just going to waste your money. This is why we recommend that you look up as many new CPAP machines as you can to check for one that is on the cheaper side. Only buy a used CPAP machine that you know is working well. There are many people that want to give away their machines to someone who needs it, and you can try getting in touch with one of these people. Remember that when it comes to CPAP machines, it is better to be overly cautious than to be stuck with a machine that is unusable.
Are you looking for information about sleep apnea and are not sure where to start? We suggest checking out our blog page where you can find many topics that will help you out. You can also check out our store which has some affordable options available. Be sure to look up as many options as possible and you might find a good option that suits your needs.
