Oxygen Rental & Medicare

[TucsonRick]

Has anyone had any luck getting Medicare to pay for your oxygen rental for a cruise? They have turned me down. Maybe I did something wrong? Please share your experiences. Thanks.

 

Rick

[xxoocruiser]

Has anyone had any luck getting Medicare to pay for your oxygen rental for a cruise? They have turned me down. Maybe I did something wrong? Please share your experiences. Thanks.

 

Rick

 

 

You didn't do anything wrong. Medicare does NOT cover the cost of oxygen rental for cruises. In fact Medicare doesn't cover much of any kind rental of equipment for cruises. It also does not cover the cost of dialysis at seas.

Edited March 30, 2016 by xxoocruiser

[rguy123]

Medicare will not cover medical costs outside the US, some supplement plans may.

[Cruseforme]

Just went through this. Rented O2 from Special needs at sea (Florida). Submitted bill, received $25 back on $900 bill (3 + week cruise). So no, Medicare and at least AARP choice plans do NOT cover, no matter where you rent (US included). It is stated in the fine print of your 2016 Medicare book (we found this after we appealed twice).

[yliebert]

We bought an Inogen, the smallest concentrator they make, for my DH to use. He now needs O2 on all flights as well as when he sleeps. Medicare does not cover it.

[spriteybird]

We bought an Inogen, the smallest concentrator they make, for my DH to use. He now needs O2 on all flights as well as when he sleeps. Medicare does not cover it.

I have been researching Inogen G, portable oxygen concentrator.. Is this the one you have?

How do you like it ?

Where did you purchase it?

[Cruseforme]

We also have an Inogen. We have the G2. We bought ours direct from Inogen. There are pluses and minuses to both the G2 and G3. We bought the G2 in 2012, with a platinum service agreement extra, it covers everything, however, ours broke in Cabo San Lucas 2 years ago in a cruise, and Inogen does NOT have any suppliers in Mexico, so ended up renting a full size unit from the ship for the duration of the cruise. Upon return to our house we obtained a free replacement, however that didn't help on the cruise, so we now rent one as well as take our own on our cruises. We rented a G3, just to see if we wanted the newer one, and it was noisier, and vibrated more than the G2 that we have. We are waiting for the G4 to come out in late summer of 2016 to see if we want to upgrade. The G3 is smaller and lighter (by several LBS), than the G2, however the vibration and noise distraction took away the benefit for us. Either one you go with, obtain a service pkg, as they do break, and do need periodic service (G3 requires new cylinders every x amount of time). Good luck, and enjoy the freedom!

[Cruseforme]

also, try to rent them locally, and do a side by side comparison. Only you can decide what is right for you. They are PULSE only, so if that is an issue, you may not be able to use them.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Cruseforme

[nana nancy]

Is oxygen available on board, Anthem?, From MD, or to rent? What about nebulizer treatments? Available?

[xxoocruiser]

Is oxygen available on board, Anthem?, From MD, or to rent? What about nebulizer treatments? Available?

 

Regardless of the Cruiseline and or ship the passenger is required to make their own arrangements to bring or have all required items delivered to the ship through the cruiseline's approved rental provided. Nothing wiil by provided and or be able to be rented from the Medical Department once on board the shp nor are nebulizer treatments avaiable onaboard.

[Cruseforme]

Regardless of the Cruiseline and or ship the passenger is required to make their own arrangements to bring or have all required items delivered to the ship through the cruiseline's approved rental provided. Nothing wiil by provided and or be able to be rented from the Medical Department once on board the shp nor are nebulizer treatments avaiable onaboard.

 

I do beg to differ. Oceania in case of emergencies may offer both, as they did for DH. We paid a lot of money, but in the end, we ended up staying on the 16 day cruise, all the way to Miami, where Apria met us at the port to provide the necessary small tanks to make it home (driving) to Sarasota. My husbands O2 saturation was at 82% when we arrived at the medical office, and they did give him a breathing treatment, although we carry our own. In an emergency where O2 is required Oveania came through for us. On other lines, you may not get the same mileage. YMMV

[xxoocruiser]

I do beg to differ. Oceania in case of emergencies may offer both, as they did for DH. We paid a lot of money, but in the end, we ended up staying on the 16 day cruise, all the way to Miami, where Apria met us at the port to provide the necessary small tanks to make it home (driving) to Sarasota. My husbands O2 saturation was at 82% when we arrived at the medical office, and they did give him a breathing treatment, although we carry our own. In an emergency where O2 is required Oveania came through for us. On other lines, you may not get the same mileage. YMMV

 

My reply was not in reference to an emergency situation being that the entire thread has been specific to Oxygen Rental & Medicare bases on regular use not associated with an emergency up until your post. Of course I know that all MD on board cruise ships can provide it in case of an emergency. My reply is correct for anyone who requires the need for oxygen that's already being treated prior to boarding a cruise ship.

Edited April 22, 2016 by xxoocruiser

[GeezerCouple]

Is oxygen available on board, Anthem?, From MD, or to rent? What about nebulizer treatments? Available?

 

Yes, this...

 

My reply was not in reference to an emergency situation being that the entire thread has been specific to Oxygen Rental & Medicare bases on regular use not associated with an emergency up until your post. Of course I know that all MD on board cruise ships can provide it in case of an emergency. My reply is correct for anyone who requires the need for oxygen that's already being treated prior to boarding a cruise ship.

 

 

To nana nancy:

One *really* needs to ask this type of question of the specific cruise line, and of whichever department manages all "special needs" on board.

It's NOT going to be helpful if you get on board, expecting to arrange a rental (or regular treatment itself), find it not available, and then claim that either a) anonymous posters on an internet forum, or even b) someone in general reservations "told you that you *could* do it".

 

We can't speak for that ship in particular, but our one experience with a medical emergency on board a cruise ship (late 2014) showed us the inside of the medical facilities, as well as how the medical staff handled a breathing emergency.

Yes, they had oxygen available fast, while someone else was inserting an IV line. Very shortly thereafter, the nebulizer came out, and the appropriate medicine was administered that way, too (along with IV, injection, and oral meds).

Later, our specialist at home said that the ship's medical staff had done exactly what she would have done at our local large teaching hospital ER.

That was comforting.

 

But the setup was small. I really cannot see them welcoming people just showing up unexpectedly with routine and expected medical needs, especially those that could be predicted and were needed regularly throughout the cruise.

They'd need to have the equivalent of a small but regular pharmacy, plus a regular physician's office or small urgent care center. That's far more than a small medical facility and staff for unexpected EMERGENCY care.

This is ONLY a guess, but if someone needs predictable routine medicine or equipment that could have been brought aboard or rental arranged in advance... one might find oneself left behind at a port to arrange regular care or perhaps to try to purchase what one needs and bring it back onboard.

 

As it was, in our case, at port, they still called an ambulance and had us taken to the local hospital to be seen and checked out. Because the hospital declared us "good to go", we got back on, but with considerable thought about whether we should just pack up and fly home instead of being "at sea" should the situation recur... worse. The hospital gave us additional meds and instructions to take it throughout the cruise/etc., so we fortunately enjoyed the rest of the cruise, although it was a bit unnerving.

(We were pretty sure we knew what triggered the episode, and it was something that was could not recur on the ship.)

 

Worse: What if the ship does *not* have what you know you will need, or doesn't have enough for regular ongoing care - and then you need it, while out at sea?

 

If you KNOW you are likely to need critical medical devices/medication (as nana nancy seems to know), then it's only prudent to make sure it is all arranged in advance, probably from one of the rental suppliers who work with that particular cruise line.