I got a surprise. My stationary oxygen concentrator provider also gave me a portable Inogen G5 through Medicare at no cost to me. They said they bill the same price to Medicare whether I keep the portable or not. I have no idea why. But I am beginning to think that Inogen is giving out these discontinued models to O2 providers, because patient needs batteries (like printer ink) and Inogen charges a lot for the battery! And Inogen has stated product has 8-year life. So that 8 years of needing to purchase battery is recurring revenue for them since impossible to use any other battery.

My provider gave me carrying case and extra tubing, and one standard battery, but said I would need to buy my next battery as they do not carry Inogen products. I called Inogen and they said Medicare does not cover replacement batteries after first one dies. Is that your experience? Standard battery is $400, good for 500 charges they say. But there is an upkeep cost to these things!