Medicare Coverage for Sleep Apnea


Snoring may be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea.

Photo By WavebreakMediaMicro

Many people experience obstructive sleep apnea and the condition may lead to a variety of health complications down the line. Medicare Part B insurance may be able to help you cover the costs of CPAP therapy. Finding and staying consistent with your CPAP therapy can reduce your health risks and improve your overall health quality over time.

Signs

There are a variety of symptoms that may be able to alert you to the condition. If you find that you struggle to stay awake throughout the day or your spouse is complaining about your snoring, sleep apnea may be the culprit. Other symptoms include pauses in breathing throughout the night or waking up gasping or choking. The health implications can be more serious than you may initially think. If left untreated, your risks for developing conditions such as diabetes, cognitive impairment, and heart disease are increased. It is important to review your symptoms with a doctor and determine the seriousness of them.

Therapies

Once your doctor assesses your symptoms, they may decide that further testing is needed. You may be referred to a center to do a sleep study. You will usually be asked to stay overnight for monitoring. While there, staff will be monitoring things like your heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, and movements. After a thorough review of the information, they will be able to determine if you are experiencing sleep apnea and what the potential cause of it may be. The most prevalent form of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, although there are other types as well. Cases that are considered moderate or severe are usually treated with CPAP therapy. This therapy involves the use of a face mask to apply a consistent stream of air pressure to the airways. This air pressure helps to keep airways open throughout sleep.

Coverage Through Medicare

CPAP therapy may be partially covered by your Medicare Plan B insurance. After receiving a diagnosis for obstructive sleep apnea, Medicare may cover renting a CPAP machine for a three-month trial period. As long as your doctor can confirm that the therapy is making a difference for you, you may have coverage extended for an additional ten months. Once you have rented the equipment for thirteen months, you own it. Medicare may help you cover most of the costs of the equipment and rental. After paying your Part B deductible, you will need to cover twenty percent of the Medicare-approved costs.

 

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About Cali Naughton

Cali Naughton graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington. She joined the marketing team at Empower Brokerage in the spring of 2021 as a marketing specialist and the department photographer.

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