Lincare Holdings
reviews and complaints

Lincare in Washington Missouri is the most incompetent medical supplier I have ever seen. I am a Nurse of 25 years, use a CPAP machine and when I have a billing question, they tell me to call billing. I returned some supplies in March 2022 and it is now July 2022. No refund has ever been completed on my account. When I call them, they say I need to call billing. I call billing and they tell me to call Washington because they can not credit a refund when the Washington office has NEVER sent billing return invoice.

Also in case some customers don't know be careful and read the find print on your contract with Lincare. I rented a CPAP and it was 2 payments from being paid off when my insurance changed so not they are charging me another 13 months rental fees. They tell me every time insurance changes, the rentals starts all over again. Isn't this medical insurance fraud?

They can never get my bill right and charge me different prices for the same item. They charged me $333.00 for a facemask one month, then charged me $28.00 the next time it was ordered.

The Lincare office in Washington, MO needs to get their crap together. There are young kids working there who know nothing.

I will not pay my bill with them until they get it right. So...continue waiting 4 months later.

My drs have ordered a portable oxygen concentrator for the past 5 or 6 years. I have been told I don’t qualify for one, I have been told I would have to wait 3 years for it because they get paid a lump sum every 3 years. I was told that I could not transfer my services to another company because Lincare had already been paid for that 3 year period. They would not give me the dates or when the 3 years would start again. I recently received a statement showing a portable oxygen concentrator had been ordered. I called the rude manager who told me, “ You’re not getting the machine until you pay your bill”. My dr last ordered the machine in Nov. 2021 and it took 7 months before it was ordered. I attempted to talk to her about my insurance. She wanted no part of it. She transferred me to billing, where billing is located I have no clue. I sat on hold for 52 minutes, when the person answered I could hear her yelling, “Is anyone here? I can’t hear you so I will hang up”.So she did. I could hear her fine and I tried several times to tell her I was indeed there.

Now I have tried numerous times to give Lincare my insurance info to local or National billing. To my knowledge no one has ever billed any of my secondary insurance companies. I have Medicare A, Medicare B, Medicare D and Cigna supplemental insurance. I am insurance poor paying out of pocket about $430 per month. I have NEVER been told if Lincare does or does not take any insurance besides Medicare. But over and over I get bills and more bills from Lincare. Why won’t you bill my secondary insurance? If you don’t take supplemental insurance then someone needs to tell me; Further Lincare should accept insurance payments and not bill the patient. Just how many of us (clients) are wealthy vs low income? I need the portable concentrator that has been ordered for years and is now where? Is Lincare performing Medicare fraud?

Besides this issue why does no one ever service the home equipment and bring supplies. The last time I got supplies I came after them. I get connectors and nasal cannulas from the hospital when I am inpatient. This is poor business practice and this Amarillo office has been plagued with frequent turnovers and rude staff. If your company can’t deliver the service and equipment then you should close the doors.

I have been trying for over a year now to return equipment you stated you would picjup but never did. You evidently just do not care or are incapable of picking up used canisters?

I have called two days and left a message with them that I need a new c pap. I have not had one in 7 years. They have not returned my calls. Two weeks ago I notified them that I needed a new one and it took 3 times calling to get a return call. I called my doctors office and told them the doctor would need to send a message that I was still using one. If this is the problem then they should let me know. I talked to my doctor today. He says he has ask for several down loads and never gets one from them. This is Lincare in North Wilkesboro NC. I was told there was a back order because of the recall. I understand that, I am currently using the one I had before this one. It is about 10 years old.

I started in Jan42022 to ask for my Medical Records as I had seen a charge on my Insurance that was not supposed to be, I have continued to keep asking and it is now June 29 2022 and still no records,

I would get told they would print them and put them in the mail and it never occured.

I hired a Lawyer and he gave up as they would not answer his phone calls.

On June 1, 2022 I received a call from the local NJ Lincare office saying my insurance company approved an new BIBPAP as ordered by my doctor and a therapist would be contacting me in a week or so to set up implementation. When no one called a week later I called back and was told someone would call me by Wednesday on the following week. No one did. I called back again and was told the same thing. Again on June 27 I called once again and was told there were no therapists available.

Stanford Hospital wanted to adjust old ResMed CPAP to increase pressure.

Old CPAP would not respond.

I had to do a sleep test to get a new one which was done early April.

After the Doctor sent a prescription 3 times, with made follow up calls Lincare finally acknowledges the prescription on May 5th.

Lincare says Resmed 11 not available for months

Will I take the old model ten, tell them yes.

Follow-up call today, nothing being sent

Back order maybe 3-4-5 months out!

Rudely told by a rep "Just what do you want me to do?"

Noted web is selling Resmed on the web.

Told if you want to pay cash get it from them, but they probably don't have them either.

When I had initially had found out that my Respironics Dream Station 1 (aka DS1) device was recalled back on July 4, 2021. I had registered my device, and then contacted my provider for whom I asked about continuing the usage of my DS1. They stated that, so long as you are not getting any black foam, it is safe to continue to use your device, otherwise, contact Lincare to have them assist you in trying to assist you.

When I noticed that there was black foam that was in my tank, I immediately ceased using my machine, I contacted my provider, and also Lincare. Upon speaking with customer service at Lincare, the gentlemen said that I own the machine (actually it is a rental according to insurance as I verified today June 17, 2022 which is the 3rd time I verified it), it is under warranty, and there is nothing they can do about it.

I did ask him if they have any loaner machines until my replacement machines comes in. He said that they don't and that they don't give out machines when machines are being repaired. Which is odd because they have equipment that is used so multiple patients can use the same machine without the fear of contamination.

After going round and round with him about the it, I said that I would contact the AG's office, and he said to go ahead as there is nothing they would not do anything about it either. By this time I was done with this guy, I was very perturbed, and disappointed by a company whose whole purpose is to keep people alive.

Fast forward to about April 4, 2022 when I plugged my recalled machine in, and sent Data via the modem, and was followed up with a call from Lincare about my machine and my lack of use since February 17, 2022. I explained that my machine was spitting out black foam and that I was inhaling it so I had to stop using it and instead was having to use an older machine which still functioned.

As I was starting to get irritated I was calm with her and I did explain to her that Since sometime after I had the machine (February 4,2021) given to me, that I had begin to have respiratory issues, ended up in the doctors office on multiple occasions due to difficulties breathing, ending up on 2 inhalers, and had to stop using the machine. I did explain that I was using my older machine but that I had also registered my machine with Philips for the recall and that I was waiting for my replacement to come in. I told her that I cannot use a machine that could possibly kill me because of negligence on the part of Philips.

When asked if they could get me into another machine since mine was defective she stated that, because I was not maintaining 70% or better 4 hour usage on my CPAP that they could not do that. I asked her why she would want me to use a machine that was defective just so I can hit that statistic when it is waking me up at night, I can't breathe, I have to use inhalers, and I can't even do anything without getting winded.

By this point, the conversation was going nowhere, they stated that they where in contact with me the whole time since I was a customer with them when I have yet to be in contact with anyone as of today (June 17,2022) unless I have initiated the phone call.

When I had called in yesterday, June 16, 2022, I spoke with the same gentlemen for whom treated me like garbage, and I merely asked him to release my serial number for my machine, said he has to go through stuff since it had already been billed out, and then the call ended.

As of now, I have decided that I am not going to call them back, but instead I am going to let the company who prescribed the equipment handle this because being treated the way that I am is unprofessional and a risk to my health and to other people involved.

I've been waiting for 2 months + for a portable oxygenator I was told 4 to 6 weeks I already had issues with getting switched over to your company because you provided portable which took about 4 months with numerous dr appointments and quite the run around I'm tired of being constricted to tank because I've become more active my dr has been 100% on board with me through this process but I'm concerned that things aren't getting done because of incompetent people at my local office I'm being told that the machines are on back order and their waiting on shipment I just never really get any answers and I wait and nothing happens until I get angry with them which I really do not like doing. Please tell me your process are something pertaining to getting a portable oxygen machine

My husband was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea in July of 2021. We have been waiting to get a CPAP machine since then. We finally had a meeting with a traveling representative in our hometown 3 weeks ago and were told that she would have a machine for us very soon. I contacted our local Lincare office today where she said a gentleman would help us through the set up and usage procedures. HE knew nothing about us and our machine. Since the CPAP machine is SO IMPORTANT for one's health, I would expect to receive a bit more urgency on Lincare's part in setting us up with the mask and machine. But unfortunately, Lincare does not show a bit of urgency in getting our equipment to us. I am hoping that perhaps you can help us out.

Please reply so that I know that you have received this because it IS URGENT!

Thank you.

A Journey

When I got my machine from Lincare, they had sent me a nose mask that would not even stay on my face. I went to Lincare, and they fitted me for a new mask, which seemed fine until a slept with it the first week. It was so tight that it started to cut my nose. I must put a band-aid across my nose so I can use it. And I get up every morning with my nose hurting. I dread even going to bed at night. Sometimes I only sleep about 4 hours a night. In the meantime, I called them and asked if they could give me a different mask. They said no because I had picked out this mask and my insurance would not cover a new one. I argued for a while with a lady on the phone and she finally said that they would send me a bigger mask because the other one was too small. When I called to see if they had shipped it out, they told me no because my insurance would not cover it. I told the lady on the phone that I had already had this conversation with the last person I had talked too, she said would send out a bigger mask. I was told that she should not have told me that because my insurance will not cover it. That I would have to wait six months. This is my first time using a C-pap machine and I had no idea what I was doing or that the guy could give me the wrong mask and that I would be the one that would have to suffer for his mistakes. This is a terrible thing. I wonder if other people have had this problem and how they can get away with doing this to people. Because of this I have had an unbelievably terrible experience with this new machine. The people that you talk to when calling are rude.

I have a signed contract for a cpap I was told I would pay $53/month. Not once, not twice but 3 times I have had automatic withdrawals of almost $400! I have called repeatedly with no explanation. I have waited on hold for 45 minutes to over an hour only to be disconnected! This company is horrible. I always pay my debts but this is ridiculous. I am to the point of cancelling my debit card and or checking account. Something needs to be done immediately. ALL of my phone calls ARE RECORDED!

All I get are old ones and I have had it. If I do not get a reasonable response from you, I am contacting Senator Barasso from Wyoming to complain about your ridiculously poor service!

Bob Elmer

5021 Jonah Dr.

Casper, WY 82609

In January 2022 my MD sent over a referral for a CPAP machine with Lin-care of CT. I went to my MD appointment 3/29/22 MD ask how the Machine i was like what machine i never received any call about a new machine, MD showed me where he sent over the referral in January, now here is March 29, 2022 and i have no CPAP or a call from this company. Nurse also called the day i was at this appointment and the women said to her we will call you back after we check on it. Okay so March 31, 2022 I called Lin-care about my referral and was told this was denied and i was like how do you have a denial letter but no else does because i never got a denial letter from Blue Cross Athem which anyone who has dealt with Blue Cross knows they have no problem sending you a denial letter . so i called Blue Cross Athem and we looked at the in my record for a Denial Letter there wasn't one at all Blue Cross Athem never received and request for new machine. I would not had wrote this complaint if the women at Lin-care would have said im sorry we must might have over looked it. but the fact she said there was a Denial Letter from Blue Cross who stated they never received any request from Lin Care. Lin-care customer told me they sent the Denial Letter to my MD office and MD office told me we never received anything from Lin Care in your chart and blue cross was like would have sent one to you so i could have appealed the referral. it okay found another company if anyone uses this company RUN LIKE HELL THEY ARE ARE THE WORSE COMPANY IN CONNECTICUT

Have been unable to stop recurring charges to credit card. My mother passed away in December and I am still working to stop charges. When calling the number to talk about billing issues, am placed on hold forever. I tried today and waited over an hour to speak to someone and finally gave up. I did reach customer service on 18 February and spoke to Denise, who was wonderful and said she would ensure the account was terminated we would be credited back the charges since December. That did not happen, and again, was charged again in March.

Way back in July 2021, Phillips recalled its dream bipap machine due to deteriorating foam causing lung cancer. I stopped using my bipap machine and requested a replacement, registering with Phillips. I have been without a bipap machine now for 7 months, despite LinCare being in contract with Medicare to repair or replace my machine. My doctor prescribed an O2 concentrator that is not covered by Medicare and I paid monthly for it. Last week a man came by to pick up the concentrator, but this was after the local manager had already picked it up. LinCare continues to bill me for unpaid overcharges of $230. I can't get any meaningful response from LinCare about the charges, though the local manager says he has talked to LinCare about the charges for the unusable Concentrator. Now they are threatening taking me to collection but I am not going to pay for a machine that is unusable and am waiting for LinCare to repair or replace the bi-pap machine as they are contractually obligated to do per their Medicare contract.

In a Lincare customer for five years I must say this is the worst experience I've ever had with oxygen related and supplies I normally use a home concentrator twenty-four hours a day 7 days a week I went out grocery shopping I use the tanks this weekend I ran out of power in the house and had to resort to using the tanks I have a doctor's appointment in three days in the process I get my order delivered on Monday a gentleman came to the house over the weekend to deliver me and mergency tanks because while the power was out I had to use the emergency tanks I called the company Monday afternoon to find out where my delivery is and I was told it wasn't coming because the man was out to my house over the weekend and he delivered you tanks I tried to explain to this woman that I used most of the tanks that's the reason why I was not getting a delivery today so how am I supposed to get to my doctor's which is an hour away on two tanks and on top of everything else the driver left all the empty tanks on my deck didn't take one so now they have to sit there for a week till the next delivery comes which I have to call in on a Friday so I'm not going to have nothing but two tanks the entire week not be able to go to my doctor I think it's just pretty crappy service no empathy involved I called the corporate office they put me on a three-way call with the office that I just complained about because when I asked what their corporate number was she says I don't know that's coming out of an office that's supposed to take care of all of us disabled and elderly people and to top it off Lincare had a woman who they just hired come into my home knowing that she had covid but Lincare still made her work well I'm on 24/7 oxygen with a lot of lung problems you talk about a f*****-up company

I purchased parts for my cpap machine from Lincare through a link in their email. It was definintely LINCARE. They charged me $110.00 for a single nasal pillow for my CPAP mask. It is a piece of silicone that can't weigh a half ounce. I can buy them from sleep Direct online for $35.00. They also list the MSRP as $49.00. Attached is my insurance EOB for 6 of these small silicone devices. They have no moving parts and are simply a small piece of molded silicone.

What a ripoff. Lincare's markups are outrageous because they assume the insurance will pay for everything and the customer won't care. Maybe they should change their name to Insurance Ripoff DONTCARE. This will be the last time I ever buy any supplies of anything from LINCARE.

Lincare is the worse company and most incompetent company I have ever dealt with . My patient has been waiting for a Nebulizer machine for 5 weeks to be delivered. They have been called numerous times from his caregiver and his Dr's office regarding the urgency of the matter to no avail. Was told they are shot staffed and to busy to deliver it. This is shameful and will be reported to Medicare today.