Your ALS Guide

  • Home
  • Get Started
    • About ALS
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • People with ALS
    • Veterans with ALS
    • Caregivers
    • ALS Professionals
    • Family & Friends
  • Planning
    • Health Insurance
    • Employment
    • Self Care
    • Medical Decisions
    • Care
    • Advance Directives
    • Transportation
    • Home Modifications
    • Travel
  • Equipment
    • Overview
    • Braces
    • Home & Daily Living
    • Bathroom
    • Mobility
    • Respiratory
    • Communication
  • Resources
    • ALS Clinics
    • Support Services
    • Support Groups
    • Research and Clinical Trials
    • Get Involved
    • Resource List
    • Glossary
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Myna's Story
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Get Started
    • About ALS
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • People with ALS
    • Veterans with ALS
    • Caregivers
    • ALS Professionals
    • Family & Friends
  • Planning
    • Health Insurance
    • Employment
    • Self Care
    • Medical Decisions
    • Care
    • Advance Directives
    • Transportation
    • Home Modifications
    • Travel
  • Equipment
    • Overview
    • Braces
    • Home & Daily Living
    • Bathroom
    • Mobility
    • Respiratory
    • Communication
  • Resources
    • ALS Clinics
    • Support Services
    • Support Groups
    • Research and Clinical Trials
    • Get Involved
    • Resource List
    • Glossary
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Myna's Story
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us

Cough Assist Machine


Picture

A cough assist is an airway clearance device that helps your breathing by clearing phlegm and fluid-like secretions from your lungs. 
Most people with ALS use cough assist machines and feel more comfortable as a result.

​Regular use can maintain the strength of your diaphragm and help prevent infections like pneumonia and bronchitis.


How does a cough assist work?

When your respiratory muscles are weakened, it can become difficult to cough strongly enough to draw phlegm from your lungs up to your mouth. The cough assist machine simulates a natural cough by applying positive pressure to inflate your lungs before using a vacuum-like suction to pull everything up.

​Once secretions are in your mouth, you can use a suction machine to clear everything out.


Connect with Us


Picture
Subscribe
Picture
Like
Picture
​Watch
Picture
Follow


How often should I use it?

You should use your cough assist regularly, even when you don’t feel you have anything in your lungs to clear. Regular use, such as once in the morning and once in the evening, serves as therapy to strengthen your diaphragm, keep your lungs clear, and reduce the chance of infection, which can be more difficult to recover from for people with ALS. Each session produces multiple coughs and typically lasts between five and ten minutes.


When should I get one?

If you are experiencing a weak or impaired cough, your neurologist will order you a cough assist machine, often during a clinic or doctor visit. A durable medical equipment (DME) company will process the order through insurance and deliver the cough assist to you at home or at your ALS clinic. A respiratory therapist will train you and your caregivers how to use it and adjust your settings if needed.


How much will I have to pay?

Cough assist machines are considered rentals for the first 13 months and are covered through Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans. After 13 months, the machine becomes yours and your supplies will continue to be covered by your insurance. You will need to be proactive and ask your insurance for replacement masks, tubing, and filters ahead of time.

Medicare will cover 80% of the cost of your monthly rental. Medicaid, supplemental plans, and secondary private insurance should pay for the remaining 20%. If you have Medicare but do not have Medicaid, a supplemental plan, or secondary private insurance, you will likely have to pay the remaining 20% out of your own pocket.

If you do not qualify for Medicare—but have Medicaid and/or private insurance—find out what your durable medical equipment (DME) benefits will cover. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, be sure to ask about your DME benefits.

If you are facing out-of-pocket expenses that you cannot afford, talk with your DME provider and/or local ALS organization about financial assistance options. Respiratory equipment is not generally available from loan closets, but you can always ask.

If you have questions about any of this, the social worker at your ALS clinic or someone from your local ALS organization can help guide you through the process.

Military veterans: Your coverage for equipment, including respiratory devices, is different than what is listed here. Learn more.

Picture
Learn more about your respiratory options...
​Respiratory Symptoms
​Respiratory Support
Monitoring Breathing
Introduction to Devices
Masks and Interfaces
Bilevel Sleep Therapy
Noninvasive Ventilation
Cough Assist Machine
Suction Machine
Invasive Ventilation
Multi-Function Ventilator
Advance Directives
Traveling with Devices
Recommended Products

​Respiratory Guide Home
Picture

Get Started

About ALS
​Newly Diagnosed
People with ALS
Veterans with ALS
Caregivers
ALS Professionals
Family & Friends

Planning

Health Insurance
Employment
Self-Care

Medical Decisions
Care

Advance Directives
Transportation

​Home Modifications
​Travel

Equipment

Overview
​
Braces
​Home & Daily Living
Bathroom
Mobility
Respiratory
Communication​

Resources

ALS Clinics
Support Services

Support Groups
​Research & Trials

Get Involved
Resource list
​Glossary

About

Our Story
Myna's Story
​Our Team
Newsletter
​
Testimonials
​Contact Us
Copyright © 2023 Your ALS Guide | All rights reserved | Privacy Policy