You’re tired of feeling like a zombie every day at work. You no longer want your spouse to sleep in a separate bedroom because of your loud snoring. You long for the day when you can wake up feeling refreshed instead of utterly exhausted. If you’re living with sleep apnea, you may be ready to find a professional who can help. But as you do your research, you might also begin to wonder if treatment is something that you’ll have to pay for out of pocket or if your insurance will help cover the cost. This common question will be answered in this article, so keep reading to find out.
Medical Insurance & Sleep Apnea: What You Need to Know
If you’re seeing a sleep dentist for sleep apnea treatment, you may wonder why you’re not filing a claim with your dental insurance company. The reason is that although one of the forms of treatment is an oral appliance, the type of care being offered technically falls under medical, not dental.
But before you become worried about whether your health insurance will cover this type of treatment, you’ll be pleased to learn that most do. While not all policies are the same, many will agree to help pay a portion of the total cost. That is if your sleep dentist provides the necessary (and correctly filled out) paperwork.
There are a few factors that your insurance company will consider before agreeing to cover treatment, such as the geographic location of the practice and the type of sleep apnea treatment recommended (i.e., CPAP therapy, oral appliance treatment, weight loss, etc.).
What About Sleep Studies? Are They Covered?
If you require a formal diagnosis for your condition, many medical insurance companies will agree to provide coverage for home and lab-based sleep studies. However, some may require that a physician offer home-based options to keep co-payments lower for patients.
If Medical Insurance Isn’t an Option, Are There Other Ways to Afford Sleep Apnea Treatment?
Yes, you can still receive sleep apnea treatment even if you do not have medical insurance. For example, if you have Medicare, you can receive an approved oral appliance as long as your sleep dentist denotes that all necessary criteria are met (i.e., a formal visit to see a physician before receiving treatment).
There is also the option of enrolling in low-to-no-interest financing. Companies like CareCredit make it easy for you to pay off your treatment over time and without any surprise fees.
Don’t assume sleep apnea treatment is financially out of reach. By filing a claim with your medical insurance provider, you can be on your way to better sleep in no time.
About the Practice
Star Sleep & Wellness in Dallas is a specialized practice devoted to helping individuals who desire better sleep while also being able to breathe freely. Our team of specialists understands that treatment for sleep apnea can be costly, which is why we do our best to keep costs low. But we also make it easy to file with medical insurance so that patients can get the care they need without emptying their savings. Contact us to find out how our team can help you navigate the financial side of treatment and have a stress-free experience.