I've been a patient of Lincare (aka American Home Patient) for many years. The company is basically running a scam. If you need a CPAP or O2 concentrator, they won't let you buy it outright, even if you pay cash, because they can charge insurance a monthly rental fee that will add up to a sum that greatly exceeds the price of a new unit.
I found out through my own research they are required by law to offer to sell you the machine after renting for some number of years. I spent several years trying to find out how I could begin this process, and everyone at Lincare I spoke to refused to answer. Finally I spoke to someone who must have not received training on the scam, who divulged they would contact my insurance company after some number of years for a buy-out. The person strongly advised me NOT to do this, because they refuse to offer any service on machines that aren't rented from them.
Good. They only came to service it twice in five years. Over many years, I called to order more cannulas and nobody ever showed up, so eventually I gave up and ordered them elsewhere. One day, a technician randomly showed up at my house and said "hey I was in the neighborhood seeing another patient, and noticed you were home!" and he cleaned the filter out. Turns out their techs were calling me at the wrong phone number before coming to my house, and nobody answered, so they never showed up. They had my contact info to send me bills and call when I didn't pay though...
I paid about 4X the price of a new unit in rental fees. One day I stopped receiving bills. They never informed me that my insurance company bought out the rental contract... I had to call and ask why I hadn't received a bill. Oh yeah, they won't let you out of the rental agreement without a letter from your doctor either. So I hope you have a good relationship with whoever prescribed your CPAP or concentrator, or you're stuck with a monthly DME bill indefinitely.
My doctor's office has complained to me that they've waited on hold for HOURS trying to get something sorted out with Lincare. Today, I'm trying to get a receipt for something I paid for last year, and so far I've been waiting for 45 minutes. The customer service is downright terrible.
When I went to their office in person last year, nobody was wearing a mask. I have a respiratory disease, and I'm at risk for severe illness from COVID-19. The company services people like me, but they can't even be bothered to wear masks in the office.
I could go on and on about how terrible this company is. I truly can't say one positive thing about them. I don't think it's just the Olathe field office either, because their billing office is just as hostile toward their customers. I thank God almighty that I was able to get out of my rental agreement. read more