Cost Comparison For Treatment of Sleep Apnea

What does it cost to treat sleep apnea? These costs may vary with treatment options, including continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), oral appliances, and surgery. Below is an overview of the costs associated with each treatment for sleep apnea.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

CPAP Machine is replaced every 5 years by insurance.

• CPAP without Humidifier: Ranges from $300-$500
• CPAP with Humidifier: Ranges from $600- $850
• AutoCPAP: Average price is $700-850
• Travel CPAP: Ranges from $250- $1300 (Cash only, not covered by insurance)

Bilevel Machine (more sophisticated models of PAP therapy)

• Bi-Level: Low-end models are $875-$1,000 & standard models are $1,600-$2,000
• Adaptive Servo-Ventilation (ASV): Costs may exceed $3,000- $4,500

Beyond the initial device there are ongoing supplies needed to continue PAP therapy. These include:

CPAP Mask: Replaced every 3 months — Average $500 a year

Mask Cushion: Replaced every 2-4 weeks — Average $953 a year

Heated Tubing: Replaced every 3 months — Average $172 a year

Standard Tubing: Replaced every 3 months — Average $92 a year

Reusable Filter: Replaced every 6 months– Average $15 a year

Humidifier Chamber: Replaced every 6 months — Average $60 a year

Disposable Filter: Replaced every 6 months — Average $43 a year

**There may be additional supplies required for treatment, depending on your personal needs**

 With the required items for PAP treatment therapy the average cost is around $1,835 a year.

CPAP Cleaner: (Not covered by insurance, and may not be necessary)

• SoClean 2: $400
• Lumin: $250

These extra supplies generally cost less than $20 and up to $50:

• Chinstrap –    Liquicel cushions
• Mask Liners –    Strap or tubing wraps or covers  
• Gecko nasal pad

Surgery

There are different types of surgery for sleep apnea and snoring. Surgery may be a multi-step process involving more than one procedure. It is difficult to determine the average costs associated with surgery. A few of the most effective treatments are quite expensive.

• Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulator may be $30,000 to $40,000 (with the drive itself costing about $20,000 of this total)
• Maxillomandibular (jaw) advancement: Average cost of $80,000 to $100,000

More minor nasal surgery or throat surgery would be expected to cost significantly less,

 but may still run up to $10,000

Oral Appliances

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, any patient that has mild to moderate sleep apnea can go straight to an oral appliance to treat sleep apnea. Severe patients are recommended to try a CPAP first but if they are unable, or unwilling can then try oral appliance therapy.

Oral appliance for sleep apnea: Average cost is $2,995- $4,995

(Medicare replaces every 5 years)

If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a number of health-related problems & can lead to or worsen life threatening conditions including stroke, hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, a-fib, etc.