Aerobika and Medicare

I got my first aereobika at National Jewish Pharmacy and later purchased the OMBRA compressor and aerobika nebulizer from a company I found online. I found the supplier by doing a google search. Both told me that my Medicare Insurance through Humana did not cover. There's quite a bit of variation between Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. Unfortunately, I was misled by an insurance broker who told me there was no difference as for which drugs were covered.

@sharonednaramsey, My doctor gives these to me twice a year and bills Medicare and my insurance. I have traditional Medicare A & B with a Medigap supplement, the rules very if you have Medicare Advantage. Several months later, I get a bill for the 20% of the cost not covered, usually around $12.00. When I accidentally destroyed one, the clinic mailed one to me, and the same occurred.

If your pulmonologist doesn't have the device, you will need to get a prescription, use a Medicare approved vendor either locally or on-line (ask and they will tell you) then submit the bill to Medicare and your insurer yourself if the vendor doesn't offer that service.

As for compressors and nebulizer supplies, the compressors are considered durable medical equipment. Only the most basic tabletop compressors are covered. The hand-held devices like the Pari Flow eRapid are only covered if REQUIRED for dispensing certain drugs. We tried, but it came out of our FSA $$$ because Medicare said no.

@sueinmn my Dr doesn’t have these but he’s written the order for it. I have original Medicare and a supplement also. Two people I spoke to at Medicare said they were covered and the last one only if that diagnosis was one of 5 conditions including restrictive pulmonary disease or something like COPD. I have Bronchiestasis. Do you have any clue what diagnosis your Dr lists ?

@sharonednaramsey Bronchiectasis is a restrictive pulmonary disease, I'm sorry to say that I don't know the diagnostic code she lists - I don't have any documents with that info.

@sueinmn no worries. It’s good to know it is a restrictive pulmonary disease because it falls under that category.

@sharonednaramsey
By definition;
Bronchiectasis is primarily considered an obstructive lung disease, as inflamed, damaged airways become floppy and filled with mucus, making it hard to get air out (airflow obstruction), but it can also have restrictive features, especially in severe cases with atelectasis (collapsed lung tissue) or fibrosis, where the lung can't fully expand. It's often a mix, but the hallmark is airway obstruction, leading to cough and sputum.