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What is the Cost of a CPAP Machine?
Health care costs can be challenging to sort out. There is a confusing game that seems to be played between insurance companies and health care providers—and you may be the one stuck with a surprising bill. What does it cost to diagnose and treat sleep apnea? These costs may vary with treatment options, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, oral appliances, and even surgery.
To provide a more significant deal of transparency, let’s review an overview of the costs associated with sleep apnea treatments. Then, for once and all, we may be better able to answer the question: How much do sleep apnea treatments cost?
Planning with Insurance
To avoid an unexpected bill, plan beforehand. Review your insurance coverage for the consultation (office visit), testing, and treatment of sleep disorders. It can be helpful to call your insurer directly. If additional information is needed, such as diagnostic or billing codes, it can be beneficial to speak with your sleep specialist’s billing team. It is possible to get a firm number before being seen, tested, or treated. If you can’t get a straight answer, ask to speak to a supervisor: persistence pays off.
Keep in mind that you may have copays (the amount you pay for a visit or test at the time of service) or a deductible (the amount that you have to pay before the insurance begins to pick up more of the tab). The coverage for durable medical equipment (DME)—the supplies you need to treat your condition—may vary based on your insurer’s policies. If Medicare covers you, then 80% of most DME costs will be covered. Equipment may be purchased upfront or leased over a term (often 10 to 13 months). Some treatments may be excluded from coverage.
When considering sleep apnea treatment, you will need a consultation with a board-certified sleep physician and diagnostic testing (with either a home sleep apnea test or in-center polysomnogram), before seeking treatment. These expenses may range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and most insurance will cover some (or all) of these costs. Once it is determined that you need treatment, it becomes possible to consider your options.
Seeking Sleep Apnea Treatment
Selecting the proper treatment for sleep apnea should be done with the guidance of your sleep physician. A skilled practitioner can review your symptoms, physical examination findings, and test results to help you choose the right therapy. This will save you time and money in the long run.
Below is a list of standard treatment options for the management of obstructive sleep apnea. As much as possible, the pricing is based on a comprehensive review of current online pricing sources, as well as professional experience.
Your costs may vary based on other factors. There may be regional or international differences. The prices that you see charged to your insurer may not reflect what is collected by the DME supplier. Cash payment may be less than what the insurer could be charged. For all questions, review your costs with both your treatment supplier as well as your insurance provider.
CPAP Machine
Replaced every five years by insurance.
- CPAP without Humidifier: Low-end may be less than $300 with standard models exceeding $500
- CPAP with Humidifier: $600 to $850 (average $700 to $750)
- AutoCPAP: Low-end $400 to $500 and higher-end $650 to $900 (average $700 to $850)
- Travel CPAP: Cash only, not covered by insurance, may range from $250 to $1,300
Bilevel Machine
More sophisticated models of PAP therapy are more expensive.
- Bi-level: Low-end models are $875 to $1,000 and many standard models are $1,600 to $2,000
- Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV): Costs may exceed $3,000 to $4,500
CPAP Machines are the most common prescriptions for the treatment of Sleep Apnea. Beyond the initial setup of the device, ongoing supplies are needed to continue PAP therapy. These include:
CPAP Mask
Replaced every three months.
- Costs vary depending on the style (nasal pillows, nasal mask, full-face mask, hybrid mask): $85 to $165 (most are in the range of $50 to $100)
Mask Cushion
Replaced every two to four weeks.
- Costs $40 to $70
Heated Tubing
Replaced every three months.
- Costs $25 to $60
Standard Tubing
Replaced every three months.
- Costs $10 to $35
Reusable Filter
Replaced every six months.
- Costs $5 to $10
Disposable Filter
Replaced every two to four weeks.
- Costs $1 to $4
Humidifier Chamber
Replaced every six months.
- Costs $20 to $40
CPAP Cleaner
Not covered by insurance, and may not be necessary.
- SoClean 2: $400
- Lumin: $250
Additional Supplies
There may be other supplies required for treatment, depending on your personal needs. These generally cost less than $20 and may cost as much as $50, and may include:
- Chinstrap
- Mask liners
- Gecko nasal pad
- Liqui Cel cushions
- Strap or tubing wraps or covers
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