How do I Compare Home Oxygen Companies?

A home oxygen company operates as a home health care. Your doctor will prescribe oxygen for you and allow you to choose your own home oxygen care. A home oxygen company supplies an in-home electric oxygen machine, air tubing, cannulas, filters and portable oxygen tanks. The company will visit you as often as once a week to bring you needed supplies and pick up empty oxygen bottles. The oxygen machine will be checked twice a year to ensure it is working properly and set to the amount of oxygen your doctor has prescribed. If your doctor has ordered any other breathing treatments, the company will supply you with these items also.

Things You'll Need

• Medical insurance information
• Orders from your physician for in-home oxygen
• Telephone book
• Notepad and pen or pencil

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Instructions

• 1

  Writing your questions and the company's answers will make it easier to compare companies later.

  Write the questions that will help you choose a home oxygen company that is best for you on a separate page for each company you intend to call. Leave space for writing the answers so you can compare later. The following are some questions you would want to ask each company. "I have a $20 co-pay with my insurance. How much would I have to pay each month?" "Do you offer discounts for people on low incomes?" "Will I be able to get all the supplies I need for other health conditions such as diabetes, sleep apnea, wheelchair, nebulizers, etc.?" "How often does someone come to my home and will I receive a call before someone comes?" "Will there be someone I can call at any time if I have an emergency?"

• 2

  You can call each company or choose to visit each one in person.

  Look up home oxygen companies in the phone book's yellow pages. Some companies have ads that may answer your questions. Call these companies any way. Things may have changed since the phone directory was printed. Limit your search to companies near your home. Write the number and the name of the company on top of each sheet of paper.

• 3

  Call each company and ask the questions you feel are pertinent to your situation. Record the answers and any information given to you voluntarily.

• 4

  Compare companies after you have called and recorded the answers to your questions. You will find that there is not a lot of difference between each company. You may want to choose the one closest to your home. Not all companies offer a hardship discount. This may be your deciding factor.

• 5

  Call the company you have chosen and be prepared to give your doctor's name, address and phone number. The company will call the doctor's office and have them fax a copy of the order for oxygen. The company will send someone out to your home with all the supplies needed and remain with you until you fully understand how to use the equipment and to answer any questions you may have at that time.