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/ CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / How Much Do CPAP Machines Cost?

How Much Do CPAP Machines Cost?

Updated June 16, 2023

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Table of Contents

Understanding the Cost of CPAP Machines
CPAP Masks and Accessories
CPAP Machines and Health Insurance

If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnea, you might need to purchase a CPAP machine. Sleep apnea is a sleep-related breathing disorder. People with sleep apnea have trouble breathing throughout the night, but may not realize they have the disorder until they undergo a sleep study.

Although there are a few treatment options for sleep apnea, CPAP therapy is the most common treatment prescribed. CPAP stands for continuous positive airway pressure. A CPAP machine sits next to the sleeper’s bed. The machine pumps air through a tube into a mask that covers the sleeper’s nose, or nose and mouth. This air keeps the sleeper’s airway from becoming obstructed during sleep.

A few different types of CPAP machines and accessories are available. The cost of a CPAP machine can vary depending on its features and accessories.

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Understanding the Cost of CPAP Machines

A CPAP machine’s cost can range anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more, with prices generally rising for CPAP machines with more advanced features. Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines are more complex and tend to cost more as a result. Most BiPAP machines cost $1,700 to $3,000, but some can run significantly higher. These prices do not include the cost of accessories.

Your CPAP machine cost will also vary based on whether or not you have insurance, and if you do, what type of coverage you have. Some medical insurance policies cover the majority of the machine’s cost, while others cover only a fraction.

Machine Type	Cost Range
CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)	$500 to $1,000
BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure)	$1,700 to $3,000
APAP (Auto-Adjusting Positive Airway Pressure)	$600 to $1,600

The cost of CPAP machines can vary depending on the machine’s features. Certain features, such as humidifiers, are considered standard Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information. View Source . A heated humidifier can reduce dryness and increase comfort, so the sleeper is less likely to have a dry mouth or sore throat after using the CPAP machine.

Auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (APAP) machines, sometimes called auto-CPAP machines, tend to cost more than standard CPAP machines. These machines often look similar to standard CPAP machines, but they are more technologically advanced. APAP machines automatically adjust the amount of pressure Trusted Source Medline Plus MedlinePlus is an online health information resource for patients and their families and friends. View Source based on the sleeper’s breathing patterns. If breathing slows or stops, the pressure of an APAP machine will increase accordingly. Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines provide two different air pressures: one for the sleeper’s inhale and one for the sleeper’s exhale.

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CPAP Masks and Accessories

All CPAP machines require accessories. Most retailers sell CPAP machines and accessories separately. Some retailers offer CPAP machine sets or bundles that come with both the base CPAP unit and the required accessories.

Many CPAP machines have a built-in heated humidifier, while some machines require the humidifier to be purchased separately as an attachment. CPAP machines generally come with their own power supply unit, which plugs into standard outlets.

An image that features the mentioned CPAP accessories.

Sleepers can expect to need several accessories for their CPAP machine, which must be replaced on a regular basis . This can add to the overall cost of CPAP therapy.

Air filters: CPAP air filters typically cost $5 or less per filter, depending on the type of machine. Air filters should be replaced monthly.
Humidifier: Humidifiers may cost between $20 and $50, depending on the brand. The humidifier water chamber should be replaced every six months or if there are signs of wear and tear.
Tubing: Standard tubing may range from $5 to $35, and heated options are more expensive ranging from $30 to $75. Tubing should be replaced every three months.
Headgear and masks: Headgear and masks generally cost between $50 and $200 depending on the design. These components should be replaced every six months, or as they begin to show wear and tear.
Mask cushions: Smaller pieces that need replacing more often, such as mask cushions, range from $20 to $60. Mask cushions should be replaced monthly.

Insurance providers may cover the total or partial cost of CPAP accessories, so people who are prescribed CPAP therapy should check the details of their policy before purchasing accessories.

CPAP Machines and Health Insurance

Health insurance companies often cover the cost of CPAP machines and accessories. Sleepers who need a CPAP machine should check with their insurance company for details before paying out of pocket.

CPAP machines are generally considered “durable medical equipment” by health insurance companies. The deductibles and copays for durable medical equipment tend to differ from those associated with doctor’s visits and procedures.

A health insurance company usually only covers a CPAP machine if they know it is medically necessary. To prove medical necessity, the patient must usually undergo a sleep study, and their medical provider must confirm to the insurance company that the results of the sleep study suggest the sleeper would benefit from using a CPAP machine.

Some insurance companies require sleepers to technically rent their CPAP machine for a certain amount of time, such as a year. The sleeper must pay a monthly copay for that time period. Once it ends, they will own the CPAP machine outright.

Written By

Logan Foley, Editorial Director

Logan is a Certified Sleep Science Coach with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with sleep. Her years of experience researching and testing sleep products – including mattresses, natural sleep aids, and bedding – are critical to her role helping lead the editorial team. As a chronic insomniac, she aims to bring her findings to anyone struggling with getting adequate rest. Her expertise is in creating informative, trustworthy, and useful health content. When she’s not testing mattresses or researching CBT-I, she enjoys spending time in the sunshine with her husband and her dogs Pepper and Winston.

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Abhinav Singh, Sleep Medicine Physician MD

Dr. Singh is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center. His research and clinical practice focuses on the entire myriad of sleep disorders.

Learn more about our Editorial Team

References
3 Sources

Patil, S. P., Ayappa, I. A., Caples, S. M., Kimoff, R. J., Patel, S. R., & Harrod, C. G. (2019). Treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea with positive airway pressure: An American Academy of Sleep Medicine systematic review, meta-analysis, and GRADE assessment. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 15(2), 301–334.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30736888/
A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2022, January 1). Positive airway pressure treatment. MedlinePlus., Retrieved February 3, 2023, from
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001916.htm
Office of Inspector General. (2013, June). Replacement schedules for Medicare continuous positive airway pressure supplies. Department of Health and Human Services., Retrieved February 3, 2023, from
https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-07-12-00250.pdf