Phone: (888) 828-1872
info@repairauthority.com
Is My CPAP Too Old To Be Repaired?
You’re having trouble with your CPAP device, but your insurance company won’t pay for a new one yet. Different insurers have different policies about how frequently they’ll cover a new machine – some say five years, others say seven years, and we’ve even heard about insurance companies that won’t cover a new machine until it’s 10 years old.
So what makes a CPAP device unrepairable?
Discontinued model. After a manufacturer discontinues a CPAP model, they also typically stop making the parts for it. There’s usually a period of time after discontinuation during which parts are still available and the device can be repaired. But when they’re gone, they’re gone, and that’s when repair ceases to be an option.
Testing software obsolete. Sometimes it’s not the age of the device that makes it unrepairable – it’s the technology needed to evaluate it. When a CPAP device comes to CPAP Medic for repair, the first thing we do is run it through diagnostic software provided by the manufacturer to determine what’s wrong with the unit. If that software becomes obsolete, an accurate diagnosis can’t be completed and the device is considered unrepairable.
Cost of repair exceeds device replacement value. Wear-and-tear is expected on any medical device, especially one – like CPAP – that’s used every day in often-unpredictable home environments. Sometimes that wear-and-tear or damage can result in a repair bill that’s more expensive than a new device. But keep in mind that insurers have criteria for what they will accept as normal wear-and-tear – which means dropping it from the top of a two-story building is not a smart strategy for getting a new machine approved.
Not sure if your device can be repaired? The first step is to send your device to CPAP Medic for a free, no-obligation repair estimate. (Click here to get started.) If we evaluate your device and determine that it is unrepairable, we’ll provide you with a letter certifying it as such. (Note that CPAP Medic does not submit to insurance. Our repair services are an out-of-pocket expense which you can try submitting to insurance for reimbursement. Not all insurance companies will reimburse for repairs.)