The CPAP business has been a scam for many, many years. As more people use them, it's just getting worse. I think the crux of the problem is the intersection b

The CPAP business has been a scam for many, many years. As more people use them, it's just getting worse. I think the crux of the problem is the intersection between a large population in need, the ability of the machine to keep people alive, and the machine's foray into into what once was well-marked regulatory territory, the respiratory therapist. I expect it to get worse. I need my CPAP to stay alive. I have severe, obstructive sleep apnea. So there's no option for me except "do whatever it takes to keep and maintain a CPAP" That tends to be a powerful motivator to separate people from their money. And the machines themselves, even with the cost of regulatory compliance, aren't extremely expensive. Retail they're 500-1200 bucks. From the parts involved, manufacturing costs are probably a tiny fraction of that. I've had my CPAP for years, and I was burned by the system getting it. My wife was prescribe a CPAP as well about a year ago and had an even worse experience. She was told to go down to the local CPAP shop and pick out a unit. Her insurance would cover it after her deductible. When she got there, they gave her the nicest one. Then they told her because of compliance worries, she would be paying only so much every month. If she decided she didn't want it? She could take it back in the first month or two. Makes sense, right? Then if she wanted to file with the insurance company to cover her rental, that was up to her. Flash-forward six months. The insurance company refuses to pay. She's not using it enough (even though she needs to. Long story.) So she calls up the CPAP folks. No, they will not take it back. And guess what? If you stop payments, you now owe us for the full cost of the CPAP. Not the cost you could get online. Nope. The "cost" we've put on our special price list for insurance companies. She's now in a spot where she's paid about twice the cost of the machine in "rent", plus the CPAP folks want her to pay twice the cost again -- or they're taking her to court. Try to sell it online? Great idea. They won't let you. You can't sell medical equipment online! The best part is that the manufacturer of the CPAP now bugs the hell out of her to buy all sorts of replacement parts. And why not? They're all covered by insurance! She finally gets them to shut up and leave her alone. Decides to pay off the CPAP dealer. Yet again. She goes back to the machine, more out of anger and spite than anything else. The machine refuses to work, makes you screw around with it. It's nagware, reminding her about all the supplies she needs to keep ordering. It's a fucking scam. God only knows how many billions of dollars they're screwing people out of.