After your sleep apnea diagnosis, you may breathe a sigh of relief to finally know what has caused you to feel so drowsy all of the time. Yet when you consider the cost of treatment, your worry may go on high alert again. Relax. If you have insurance, chances are your policy will cover your treatment—or at least part of it.
Unless your plan is a poor one, it covers medically necessary treatments. Because untreated sleep apnea is a serious health risk, most insurance companies cover its treatment to avoid more expenses, since untreated sleep apnea can lead to more serious health issues.
Coverage for Your Diagnosis
Although sleep studies are expensive, most major insurance providers—including Medicaid and Medicare—cover these diagnostic tests. Again, it is in the provider’s best interest to uncover sleep apnea before it causes more serious issues. Many providers require that patients have in-home sleep tests before they cover a more thorough test in a lab setting. Because dentists can treat mild to moderate sleep apnea with an oral device, many of them provide complimentary at-home sleep tests as a courtesy to their regular patients.
Coverage for Your Treatment
If you have sleep apnea, you will want to begin treatment as soon as possible. If your sleep apnea is severe, your doctor may recommend a CPAP, which is a mask that provides positive airway pressure to keep your breathing passages open as you sleep. If your sleep apnea is not severe, your dentist may be able to treat you with an oral appliance that will cause your jaw to stay in a forward position while you sleep. This treatment, though not available for more severe cases, is generally more comfortable than the CPAP. Patients are therefore more likely to comply with this treatment than they are with a CPAP. Fortunately, most insurance companies cover either treatment.
Deductibles, HSAs, and FSAs
Though insurance will cover most of your sleep apnea treatment, you usually have to pay at least part of the cost out of pocket up to your annual deductible. Once your deductible is met, your insurance policy should cover most of the costs after that. If your plan has an HSA (Health Savings Account) or a FSA (Flexible Spending Account), you can use the funds from this account to pay your out of pocket costs.
If you have experienced symptoms of sleep apnea, call your insurance provider to check on your coverage. Then, make an appointment with your dentist or doctor to discuss what tests you need to get a definitive diagnosis.
Contact Kanehl Dental Group today for more information about sleep apnea and what treatment options are available to you. A good night’s sleep—and a healthier life—awaits you.
