My Buddy Ed In Florida sends along the following...
Heh.
My Buddy Tim at Cigar.com sent along these beauties...
That would be a box o' Macanudo Gold Label sticks, in the Gold Star size... which is a substantial 6 inches long with a 64 ring gauge diameter, which is also to say FAT. The cigars are mild and easy smoking which is a change from my normal preference for robust sticks. A very nice change of pace, actually, and the sticks burn evenly and draw easy. I like 'em.
So... I'm all stocked up on cigars for my trip, which looked like it might not happen at the rate things were going. My oxygen brouhaha remains an open issue, with my current provider wanting to provide oxygen tanks but apparently not a portable concentrator. Tanks are unacceptable... I do NOT want to be dragging around a tank on a cart where ever I go and I do not want to have three or four of the damned things cluttering up my house. Unacceptable.
I made my third follow-up call to the company this morning and was told the local branch only has two portable concentrators in this area, one of which is in Plainview and won't be available until this coming Monday. The reason for this is "the company is rather stingy with portable concentrators since Medicare doesn't pay that much for their use." (That's a direct quote.) I find that rather remarkable, seeing as how this company bills Medicare $350.00 EACH MONTH to provide one of these:
That's the exact same model I've been using for over three years. Medicare doesn't pay this company the full amount they bill, of course, but the company does receive $174.52 from Medicare and TriCare EACH MONTH. That's a grand total of over $6900.00 in rental payments since I've been on night time oxygen... for a machine that retails for $750.00.
Portable concentrators cost anywhere from $2495.00 to over $6,000.00 so I see my provider's point: it would be hard to gouge the gub'mint in an equally egregious manner for a pricey portable concentrator. I mean, Hell, what's a bid'niz gotta do to make outrageous profits these days?
It's always sumthin'.
Heh.
My Buddy Tim at Cigar.com sent along these beauties...
That would be a box o' Macanudo Gold Label sticks, in the Gold Star size... which is a substantial 6 inches long with a 64 ring gauge diameter, which is also to say FAT. The cigars are mild and easy smoking which is a change from my normal preference for robust sticks. A very nice change of pace, actually, and the sticks burn evenly and draw easy. I like 'em.
So... I'm all stocked up on cigars for my trip, which looked like it might not happen at the rate things were going. My oxygen brouhaha remains an open issue, with my current provider wanting to provide oxygen tanks but apparently not a portable concentrator. Tanks are unacceptable... I do NOT want to be dragging around a tank on a cart where ever I go and I do not want to have three or four of the damned things cluttering up my house. Unacceptable.
I made my third follow-up call to the company this morning and was told the local branch only has two portable concentrators in this area, one of which is in Plainview and won't be available until this coming Monday. The reason for this is "the company is rather stingy with portable concentrators since Medicare doesn't pay that much for their use." (That's a direct quote.) I find that rather remarkable, seeing as how this company bills Medicare $350.00 EACH MONTH to provide one of these:
That's the exact same model I've been using for over three years. Medicare doesn't pay this company the full amount they bill, of course, but the company does receive $174.52 from Medicare and TriCare EACH MONTH. That's a grand total of over $6900.00 in rental payments since I've been on night time oxygen... for a machine that retails for $750.00.
Portable concentrators cost anywhere from $2495.00 to over $6,000.00 so I see my provider's point: it would be hard to gouge the gub'mint in an equally egregious manner for a pricey portable concentrator. I mean, Hell, what's a bid'niz gotta do to make outrageous profits these days?
It's always sumthin'.
64 ring... whoa!!!
ReplyDeleteI would almost start smoking again just to try one.
I was into the 55 ring Churchills with the Maduro wrapper when I stopped.
Any comment I'd make about CPR would just sound like begging.
And I can venture nothing about the oxygen or its delivery systems.
64 ring... whoa!!!
DeleteYeah, they almost don't fit in my cutter. I've they were any larger I'd have to cut 'em with a full-size guillotine.
You are so correct on this oxygen machine crap. My Mom has been fighting with (Hu man a) over this very issue for a year. I think she keeps whining to me about it because she's hoping I will get angry and just buy a portable concentrator just to shut her up about it.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, the government thinks it can do a better job in providing health care...
I seriously thought about buying my own concentrator and telling my provider to fuck off. But that's a lot o' money.
DeleteOxygen? Might be cheaper to just have the CPR girls travel with ya....just a thought.
ReplyDeleteNice Macanudos...I like the light ones.
I have a feelin' that oxygen would be cheaper than havin' two girls travel with me. Just a feelin', yanno?
Delete