Blue Cross tried to make me pay double for a CPAP machine?

I was recently diagnosed with sleep apnea and my doctor connected me with a medical supplier to get fitted. After setting an appointment I was told to call a third party (CareCentrix) to discuss the financial arrangements and provide them with the billing codes for an estimate.

I get CareCentrix on the phone and after I give them all the codes, I'm told that Blue Cross has a 10-month "rental requirement" for compliance purposes. The cost will be over $900 for the first three months to cover the machine and supplies, then an additional $125/month for 7 months. Bringing the total cost of the machine to over $1700!

This seemed way too high to me, but it was just prior to my appointment when I got this information, so I went anyway. The technician was nice and helped me through the fitting process, but I was texting my mom in between and she found the CPAP machine online brand new for just $600. WTF. I finally stopped the technician and said the insurance company was trying to charge $1700 for the machine, and asked what it would be for me to just pay out of pocket. He stepped out of the room for a minute, came back and said the cost would be $850 for the machine and 3 months of supplies if I just paid out of pocket. So half of what the insurance company was trying to charge! I told him I wasn't taking the machine today until I sorted out the insurance issue but that I might come back.

Needless to say I am angry and confused. I thought using insurance was supposed to be cheaper, but it seems like they just tried to rip me off? Also I'm slightly concerned because when I scheduled the appointment the person said I was required to have a credit card on file, so I gave them my HSA debit card number. I'm worried they might try to hit me with some bullshit charge or bill since I went to the appointment and didn't take the machine.

Would appreciate if anyone has any guidance to help me understand what happened and figure out what to do next.

submitted by /u/Slow-Theory5337
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