Questions Answered – Oxygen Concentrators and Your Electric Bill

Questions Answered – Oxygen Concentrators and Your Electric Bill

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Depending on your model, how long you us it, and the setting you use for your oxygen therapy, your oxygen concentrator will use a certain amount of electricity. There are some things you might be able to do to get help paying your electric bill, since there will be some extra usage reflected on your bill, from using your oxygen concentrator.

Even if you use your oxygen concentrator all day every day, this increase in usage cost shouldn’t be outrageously high. However, since it is caused by a piece of medical machinery that is required for your well-being and survival, here are some things you can do to get help, as well as some methods to reduce your usage.

Q: Will Medicare help pay for the electricity used by my oxygen concentrator, if they cover my oxygen concentrator and other equipment?

A: Medicare will not help you pay for electricity used by your oxygen concentrator, even if they do cover the equipment itself, your accessories for the concentrator, as well as repairs.

Q: Can I get help paying for the extra electricity used by my oxygen concentrator?

A: Check with your electric company. Depending on the electric company and the area you live in, they might have a program in place that will give you a discount on your bill. There are also charitable organizations, and government run programs that can help you either reduce your bill, or pay it for you in full each month.

Your eligibility for programs like this might depend on the medical necessity (which you have one if you are using an oxygen concentrator with a prescription), and your income. If you fall low enough on the income scale, what you have to pay for your electric bill might be lowered.

One of these ways is through a tax deduction for using medical equipment. This also depends on your income, as well as other deductions you might have. You’ll need to figure out the yearly cost of running your oxygen concentrator, which you can do by following these steps:

1. Find the volts and amps on the label on your oxygen concentrator.
2. Multiply the volts and the amps (volts x amps) and write down the number you get.
3. Find the kilowatt hours by multiplying the answer you got in step 2 by .001.
4. Figure out how many hours you use your oxygen concentrator. For example, if you use your concentrator 5 hours per day, multiply 365 (days in the year) by 5.
5. Multiply the kilowatt hours (the answer you got in step 3) by the answer you got in step 4 for the hours.
6. Ask your electric company what they charge per kilowatt (most likely a cent like .10 per kilowatt) and then multiply that by the answer you got in step 5. The answer you get is your yearly cost of running your concentrator.

Q: What can I do to make my oxygen concentrator use less electricity?

A: You can’t change how much electricity your concentrator uses, but you can take other steps to reduce how much electricity you use overall. Use low energy bulbs, keep non-essential appliances unplugged when not in use, and turn your lights off when you leave a room.

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Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

20 thoughts on “Questions Answered – Oxygen Concentrators and Your Electric Bill

  1. Its all goid it will not increase more than $188.00 a year. I was thinking that whole amount to be by the month. Thank you no worries

  2. Is it a high cost in energy to plug in 4 oxygen canisters every day? For someone who is always on oxygen. Can you estimate what it will cost a month in California? Thank you

    • It would be difficult to estimate this cost for us. But you might have your utility company help you in calculating, Considering the seasonality, the energy prices your utility charge, they would be better resource for this.

  3. How can I get my electric company to turn power back on my wife oxygen dependant and uses a compressor and I sleep with a bi-pap machine for several sleep apnea. Electric co in there rules and reg state can’t shut power off if it a life threatening to anyone living in house and their customer service people are talking about ventilator which is wrong because you wouldn’t be home on a ventilator. Please advise ASAP because of wife tank is getting empty. Thank you….

  4. Geoffrey, You can get a note from your doctor and call your company back or you can call 211 and they can put you in touch with the advocacy that will help you. There are laws protecting those that need electricity for medical reasons.

  5. Thanks to all. My electric bill for this month. 459.00. My husband and I are both on oxygen concentrator. I have a CPAP. I Pray God will see us through.

  6. My brother is on constant oxygen 24 hours a day. Is it possible you could tell me how much more the electric bill will go up annually please. Even if its a rough guide for me to know. His oxygen is set at number 4.
    regards
    Donna Chadburn
    07789006***

    • Hi Donna,
      Assuming that your electricity cost is 15 pence per kWh and the concentrator consumes 350 watts, then you’d see an additional electricity charge of £460 per year.

      • My sister had to move in with her son he has a large family and she had to be on hospice and start oxygen machine that uses a lot of electricity 😞they need help

        • Talk to our Oxygen Specialist for a free consultation, please give us a call at (877) 644-4581. They will guide you to narrow down the most energy-efficient concentrator for her needs.

  7. I had a hand written prescription on my cpap and oxygen concentrator and the city clerk of the town I live in Kansas. Refused to leave it on because we owed a bill of $400. So I have had no oxygen at night or cpap for over three weeks and it will be another two weeks before I get a check!
    Please isn’t there some government agency that can stop this so I can get my oxygen at night and my cpap?

    • We can quickly answer all your questions over a phone call. Please reach us out at 888-387-5914. We are open seven days a week.

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