Question 1

How does my insurance work? Whats a copay, co-insurance & deductibles?"

Accepted Answer

Insurance policies have three main components: 
Copay: The amount that you are responsible for paying yourself, as mandated by your insurance contract, to have a sleep study or other services.
 
Deductible: This is the total amount that the patient needs to pay initially out of pocket before the insurance company makes any payments for medical services. For instance, if your insurance plan has a $1000 deductible per year, you have to pay this amount in full before your insurance company starts to contribute. 
 
Co-insurance: Some insurances have a co-insurance instead of/in addition to a deductible. This means that the patient is responsible for a percentage of the fees of the medical services. For instance, if your insurance plan has a 20% co-insurance, this means that your insurance will make you responsible for 20% of the fees and they will pay the rest. This is usually after the deductible has been met. 
 
Out-of-pocket Maximum: The most you’ll have to pay during a policy period (usually a year) for services. Once you’ve reached your out-of-pocket max, your plan begins to pay 100% of the allowed amount for covered services.

Question 2

Will my insurance cover my sleep study or PAP device?

Accepted Answer

Most insurances (HMO, PPO and Medicare) cover sleep studies and PAP therapy for the treatment of sleep disorders. Plans may vary in their coverage (see below: rental versus purchase for PAP device set-ups and in-center denied for in-home sleep testing) and many now require authorization for these services.
 
It is important to understand your benefits. As a courtesy, we will verify your insurance benefits and request authorization, as needed.
We understand that patients and their physicians are concerned about rising out-of-pocket expenses for health care; unfortunately, this often affects decisions about how healthcare is administered. By contracting as an in-network provider with more payer organizations, more patients can afford to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment for their sleep disorders.
 
We are contracted with all major PPO plans, Medicare and many HMO plans in Kentucky.

Question 3

Will I have a copay?

Accepted Answer

Based on your insurance coverage, you may have a copay for your sleep study, PAP device set-up or replacement supply order. If this is the case, we will let you know at the time of service (for supply orders we will send you a statement once we receive the explanation of benefits after your claim is processed by your insurance company) and collect your payment.
Please note that we are an outpatient facility (not a hospital).

Question 4

Will my insurance company require authorization for my sleep test or PAP device?

Accepted Answer

Many insurance companies, including PPO and commercial plans, are now requiring authorizations for more and more services, including sleep studies and PAP devices. As a courtesy, we will request authorization from your insurance company, if needed. Sometimes authorizations are denied or more information is required from the patient or physician. If this is the case, we will contact you.

Question 5

Why did my healthcare insurance denied my in-center sleep study and approved a home sleep test (HSAT)?

Accepted Answer

Some insurance companies are now denying requests for in-center sleep studies and approving in-home studies (HST) instead. Typically, they will deny a request for in-center testing if there are no significant medical issues and it is highly likely that the patient has moderate to severe sleep apnea.
 
Home Sleep Testing (HST) can be used exclusively to diagnose or rule out Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Because of this, it should only be recommended by a doctor if it is highly likely that the patient has moderate to severe sleep apnea, and if the patient has no other significant medical issues such as pulmonary diseases, neuromuscular disease or congestive heart failure. Home sleep studies cannot performed on children and cannot diagnose other sleep disorders such as restless leg syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder or narcolepsy. These patients should be tested in a sleep center. 
 
Source: Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Unattended Portable Monitors in the Diagnosis of Obstructive sleep Apnea in Adult Patients. JCSM Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Vol. 3, No. 7, 2007

Question 6

Will my healthcare insurance pay for the purchase of my CPAP/BIPAP or pay a monthly rental fee?

Accepted Answer

Many insurance companies are now paying for PAP devices on an on-going monthly basis. When we receive the referral or prescription from your physician, we will verify your insurance coverage and find out how they will pay. You may call us at (502) 964-2440 or ask your technician at the time of set-up if your insurance will be paying as a rental or purchase. You may also call your insurance company to find out.

Question 7

Why is compliance required for my CPAP/BiPAP machine rental?

Accepted Answer

Many insurance companies now pay for PAP devices on a monthly rental basis, typically 4 to 10 months. At the end of this period you will own the device. Because it is a monthly rental, we will bill your insurance company monthly. If you have a co-insurance, you will also be billed monthly.
 
Compliance guidelines:
Most insurance compliance guidelines require that you show proof of using your device for a minimum of 4 hours per day at least 22 days out of a consecutive 30 day period within the preceding 90 days (in the past 3 months).

Question 8

Why is compliance required for my for my regular replacement supplies?

Accepted Answer

Many insurance companies are now requiring proof that you are compliant (using your CPAP/BiPAP device most nights) before they will authorize your next order of replacement supplies.
 
New CPAP/BiPAP devices may include a wireless modem which can transmit data to your physician, supply company (like us) or even your insurance company. Older devices have a memory card that must be removed and the data downloaded.

Question 9

What are the CPT codes used for sleep studies, CPAP machines, BiPAP machines, set-ups and resupply."

Accepted Answer

Sleep studies:
 
Home sleep testing (HST): 95806, G0398 or G0399 depending on the insurance company and type of device used.
 
In-center polysomnography (PSG): 95810 (95782 for children under 6 years old)
 
Split night or 50/50 study, PAP titration study: 95811
 
Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT): 95805
 
PAP device and supplies:
 
Continuous PAP (CPAP) or auto set PAP (APAP): E0601
 
Bilevel PAP (BiPAP): E0470
 
Bilevel with pressure support (ASV): E0471
 
Heated humidifier: E0562
 
Waterchamber: A7046
 
Mask* (nasal or nasal pillows): A7034  
Full-face mask: A7030    Headgear: A7035    Chinstrap: A7036
Nasal mask cushion: A7032    Nasal pillows cushion: A7031    
Full-face mask interface: A7033
Disposable filters: A7038
Tubing: A7037    Heated tubing: A4604

Question 10

How often will my insurance pay for replacement CPAP/BiPAP supplies?

Accepted Answer

Many insurance plans follow the guidelines from Medicare for regular replacement of supplies. You can review the guidelines online at  http://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-07-12-00250.pdf.  Medicare guidelines suggest replacing your supplies at the following frequency*:

*Your particular insurance plan may have a different allowance for replacement supplies. This is why we will verify your coverage to determine your allowance before processing your order. You may purchase additional replacement supplies at our cash prices if you would like more supplies than your plan allows.

Question 11

How often will my insurance pay for a new CPAP machine?

Accepted Answer

Many insurance companies will cover a new device every three to five years. You may also need a new sleep study before your insurance company will authorize the new device. The insurance companies want to make sure that you still need the device and that your current settings are appropriate. Due to weight loss or gain or other changes to your health, you may require a higher or lower pressure setting.

Question 12

What is the difference beween CPAP machine rental & purchase?

Accepted Answer

Many insurance companies now pay for PAP devices on a monthly rental basis, typically 3 to 10 months. At the end of this period you will own the device. Because it is a monthly rental, your provider will bill your insurance company monthly. If you have a co-insurance, you will also be billed monthly (to learn more about the difference between co-insurance, co-pay, deductible and more insurance terms,

Question 13

How long is the CPAP rental term?

Accepted Answer

The most common options:
3 month rental, 4th month purchase (many PPO insurances)
10 month rental (most HMO insurance and some PPO insurances)
13 month rental (Medicare and other government insurance)

Question 14

How do I know if my healthcare insurance pays for CPAP remtal or purchase?

Accepted Answer

You can either ask your provider or contact your insurance company. When your provider verifies your insurance benefits and coverage they will find out the terms of the rental or purchase and should be able to provide you with an estimate of your expected financial responsibility at the time of set-up and monthly for the term of your rental. Unfortunately, patients and providers have no control over whether CPAP is covered as rental or purchase.

Question 15

How much will I pay for a CPAP machine purchase?

Accepted Answer

You can either ask your provider or contact your insurance company. When your provider verifies your insurance benefits and coverage they will find out the terms of the rental or purchase and should be able to provide you with an estimate of your expected financial responsibility at the time of set-up and monthly for the term of your rental. Unfortunately, patients and providers have no control over whether CPAP is covered as rental or purchase.

Question 16

How much will I pay for a CPAP machine rental?

Accepted Answer

Typically, the rental charges are determined by dividing the purchase price of the device by the number of months in the rental term. Read “How much will I pay for a purchase?” above to learn more about purchase costs.
It’s important to remember that your first month’s bill will include the purchase of the mask, tubing, filters and cushions that were provided during your set-up. You will be charged for those items for future rental months, only when you order additional replacement supplies, usually every three months.
If you schedule a face-to-face set-up or order a CPAP online with us, we can verify your insurance and tell you how much it will cost.

Frequently asked questions

How does my insurance work? Whats a copay, co-insurance &amp; deductibles?"

Will my insurance cover my sleep study or PAP device?

Will I have a copay?

Will my insurance company require authorization for my sleep test or PAP device?

Why did my healthcare insurance denied my in-center sleep study and approved a home sleep test (HSAT)?

Will my healthcare insurance pay for the purchase of my CPAP/BIPAP or pay a monthly rental fee?

Why is compliance required for my CPAP/BiPAP machine rental?

Why is compliance required for my for my regular replacement supplies?

What are the CPT codes used for sleep studies, CPAP machines, BiPAP machines, set-ups and resupply."

How often will my insurance pay for replacement CPAP/BiPAP supplies?

How often will my insurance pay for a new CPAP machine?

What is the difference beween CPAP machine rental &amp; purchase?

How long is the CPAP rental term?

How do I know if my healthcare insurance pays for CPAP remtal or purchase?

How much will I pay for a CPAP machine purchase?

How much will I pay for a CPAP machine rental?

How does my insurance work? Whats a copay, co-insurance & deductibles?"

What is the difference beween CPAP machine rental & purchase?