Has your doctor ordered a sleep study but not whether your insurance covers such a test? Don’t worry. We are here to help you understand your financial responsibility for a sleep study. So, read on and find out everything you need to know about how much money you will need for a sleep study.
Namely, the price of a sleep study generally depends on the type of the study, whether it is an in-center or at home, the type of the center chosen, and of course, your insurance coverage.
If you’ve chosen to do an in-center sleep study, you may pay from $500 to $3,000. But, in case you have insurance coverage and have chosen an in-network provider, you can be charged as little as $0 to $150.
On the other hand, if you’ve decided to have an at-home study, the price may range from $300 to $600. And, if you’ve chosen an in-network provider, it may cost you from $0 - $50.
Health Insurance Coverage for Sleep Studies
Basically, the amount of money you need to pay for a sleep study depends on the relationship your insurance company has with the sleep center you’ve chosen.
However, make sure you know the difference between an in-network provider and one who accepts insurance but isn’t an in-network provider. The price of a sleep study at the latter can be higher by $1,000 compared to a contracted, or in-network, sleep study provider.
Furthermore, you need to know whether you have met your deductible which in general is from $2,000 to $4,000, and sometimes more. In this case, your insurance will pay for the study, but not 100%.
How to Find an In-Network Sleep Study Provider?
There are three simple ways to find an in-network sleep study provider. First, you can call your insurance company and ask them to provide you with a list of such providers. Second, you can search your insurance company’s member services online. Third, you can search online for sleep centers and contact them directly to find out whether or not they are in-network and contracted with your insurance.
Additional Expenses
The truth is, you may expect some additional expenses once you have the results of your sleep study. You may need to do other sleep studies, or if you are diagnosed with a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea, your doctor may order CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy which needs frequent supply replacements. Also, if you’re diagnosed with sleep apnea, you may need to do another in-center sleep study to determine the pressure settings for CPAP therapy.
Additionally, you may expect other expenses like either purchase or rental of a new device and the equipment needed for the machine, including a mask, tubing, filters, water chamber, and cushion. All of this equipment has to be replaced regularly, every three months in general.
The bottom line, sleep studies can be expensive but if you know everything needed about the type of center, your insurance coverage, and your deductibles, they certainly don’t have to be that costly. You can definitely find an option that suits your budget.