Medicare and CPAP Machines

Has your wife ever complained about your intense snoring during the night?

In addition, do you always find it difficult to breathe while sleeping, and end up waking up more exhausted than ever?

You might be one of the people suffering from sleep apnea – a condition that affects your airways and causes them to close up.

Given the fact that it blocks oxygen from properly entering the passages, it may result in snoring which, let’s be honest, is not very fun, especially to those around you.

CPAP machines could be used as a treatment for this condition. People who use them can breathe regularly and more easily while sleeping. Even so, you might not want to spend your entire savings on this device. So, does Medicare pay for a CPAP machine? Let’s find out.

Does Medicare Pay for a CPAP Machine?

There’s good news – Medicare can pay for the usage of a CPAP machine. Better said, they limit the costs, but not offer full coverage.

CPAP Machines fall under Original Medicare Part B, due to the fact that they’re durable medical equipment, or DME for short. In other words, they are devices that can be used in the comfort of your home to treat sleep apnea.

Conversely, you will have to pay 20 % coinsurance for the machine, as well as the DME-related supplies. This includes the mask you’ll wear while asleep and the tubes connecting to the device. Also, let’s not forget about the deductible of the Original Medicare Part B, which is $183.

Furthermore, Medicare Supplement plans can sometimes help further compensate for some of the costs involved with CPAP machines. There are 10 Medicare Supplement plans with various coverage levels that you can choose from. If you happen to have one of the Medicare Supplement Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, M, or N, you won’t have to pay the coinsurance anymore.

Medicare is going to pay for your DME for 13 consecutive months, thus it’s the same for CPAP machines. After these months have passed, the machine belongs to you, which means that there are no fees that will have to be paid to the supplier anymore.

What Is the Purchase Price?

CPAP machines are devices meant to treat sleep apnea, so you shouldn’t expect them to be the cheapest devices you’ll find out there. Apparently, a CPAP machine that includes all of the related equipment can cost from $500 to $3,000, depending on the type and additional equipment.

Having Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement plan will lower the costs of a CPAP device considerably, but you will still have to partially pay for the costs. Meanwhile, you will have to be responsible for the whole price if you happen to choose a supplier not enrolled in Medicare. If you want to avoid this, you should do your research and choose wisely from the suppliers that accept Medicare.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re worried about your health or about your wife yelling at you in the morning, it’s important to know if Medicare offers coverage for the CPAP machine treatment.

And yes, it may save you some costs, which is a huge benefit if you don’t have a big income. However, make sure you choose the right plan and CPAP supplier.