need to sell cpap machine!

hi everyone, I posted this on the main board but thought I should post here too since you may have already done this, I have a brand new cpap machine, it got its own case and the works, I got it after my surgery because it took the VA forever to get the paperwork done and by the time I got it, i had already lost 50 pounds and I did not need it anymore I had a sleep study last month and it confirmed that I dont need it anymore so its time to get rid of it.. Its just sitting in my closet and ai am sure there is someone out there who needs one. I will also ask my surgeon tomorrow at the suport group and the dietician but thought I would ask here too.. Thanks Donna almost 2 years out 277/144 5'8

Donna: I had one too, that I only used for several months, right before surgery and for a very short time afterward. I was told by the medical supplier who provided the CPAP that it is illegal to resell them or any of the accessory equipment. I'm in PA, and maybe this is a state law here, I don't know. This is just what I was told. I didn't have to buy the machine, but simply paid a partial rental fee that wasn't covered by my insurance policy. You might want to check this out in your state before proceeding. Congrats on your great success! Carlita

My insurance company rented mine by the month. After so many months of use they bought it. However, I quit right after my surgery as I never had luck with it so it was just returned to the medical suppy store and the insurance company quit renting it. I know that many CPAPs are sold on Ebay. Dixie

A CPAP is "prescription' item, calibrated based upon results of your sleep study. Most modern CPAPs are not user adjustable, so getting to work on another person would be just guessing. Putting on a person w/o the benefit of a sleep study would be irresponsible. Would you sell your prescriptions to another person just because you no longer take them? That might not be a good way to frame the issue, because I'm sure people do it. Be that as it may, I would advise you not to sell it. Perhaps you know a pulmonologist who has a patient who is in need of one and lacking cash? OBTW: EBay no longer allows the sale of CPAPS, or a lot of other durable medical equipment. Its just to great a liability to be traffic in the stuff. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

Donna, I donated my spare machine to Awake America. They take the machines and give them to people that are in finanicial need of one after they have been diagnosed with sleep apnea. They have to prove the need. I also had an older style machine that was completely adjustable by the user that I donated to someone on this site because their insurance would not pay for machine rental. Since you have not used it the DME should be able to take it back and credit your insurance. I understand selling it is not an option.