The cost of a sleep study depends primarily on where the study is performed, what physiological signals it records and whether the patient pays directly or submits the test through insurance. At our at-home sleep study service, the pricing is straightforward: the Sleep Study costs $179, while the Complete Study costs $350.
These prices are substantially lower than the amounts commonly charged for overnight testing in a sleep laboratory. They also give patients a known cost before testing, rather than a preliminary estimate that may change after separate facility, equipment and physician charges are processed.
At-Home Sleep Study Costs
In the United States, at-home sleep apnea tests commonly cost between $150 and $1,000. The large range reflects differences in equipment, clinical services and billing models. Some companies advertise only the price of the test device, while other programs package the test with medical review or additional services.
Our Cerebra At Home Sleep Study costs : $179, and our Complete Study costs $350
Patients should review the description of each option to determine which study fits their needs. The relevant comparison is not simply the advertised price. It is the total cost of completing the test, receiving the results and obtaining any included clinical services.
At-home sleep studies are generally used to evaluate adults for obstructive sleep apnea. Depending on the testing device, recorded signals may include airflow, respiratory effort, blood-oxygen saturation and heart rate. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recognizes several types of unattended testing as appropriate for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea in patients with relevant signs and symptoms.
A home sleep apnea test is not equivalent to a general consumer sleep tracker. A smartwatch estimates sleep from signals such as movement and heart rate. A medical home study collects respiratory information that a qualified healthcare professional can use when evaluating possible sleep-disordered breathing.
How Much Does an In-Lab Sleep Study Cost?
An attended laboratory study, formally known as polysomnography, usually costs considerably more. Published consumer estimates place the typical price between $1,000 and $10,000, although the amount varies by facility and location.
Laboratory polysomnography is more comprehensive than most home testing. In addition to respiration and blood-oxygen levels, it may measure brain waves, eye movements, muscle activity and heart rhythm. A sleep technologist monitors the recording overnight, and the facility must maintain specialized rooms and equipment. Those clinical capabilities make laboratory testing appropriate for complex cases, but they also increase its cost.
Current prepaid prices listed through MDsave range from $286 to $3,505 for polysomnography, with a national average prepaid price of $1,939. Hospital billing can be much higher. KFF Health News reported the case of a patient whose overnight study generated charges of $10,322, including a $9,853 facility charge and a separate $469 interpretation fee.
That case is not representative of every laboratory, but it shows why patients should obtain more than a verbal estimate before scheduling facility-based testing.
What Does a Sleep Study Cost With Insurance?
Using insurance does not guarantee that a sleep study will cost less than a direct-pay home test. The patient’s responsibility is based on the insurer’s negotiated amount, remaining deductible, copayment or coinsurance—not simply the amount billed by the provider.
For example, if an insurer allows $400 for a test and the patient still has at least $400 remaining on the deductible, the patient may owe the full allowed amount. After the deductible has been met, a plan with 20% coinsurance might assign $80 of that same allowed amount to the patient. Actual benefits vary by policy.
Commercial insurers may also require prior authorization or evidence of symptoms such as loud snoring, witnessed breathing pauses or excessive daytime sleepiness. Some plans direct appropriate patients to home testing before they will authorize laboratory polysomnography.
Medicare covers qualifying home and laboratory sleep tests when they are ordered by a healthcare provider for a patient with clinical signs and symptoms of sleep apnea. After the Part B deductible has been met, the patient generally pays 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.
Know the Price Before You Test
Patients considering insurance-based testing should ask the provider for the billing code and then request the insurer’s allowed amount and an estimate of their personal responsibility. Common codes include CPT 95800 and 95806 for unattended home testing and CPT 95810 for attended polysomnography.
For patients paying directly, the calculation is simpler. Our Sleep Study costs $179, and our Complete Study costs $350. Both provide an at-home testing option without the wide and often uncertain price range associated with hospital-based testing.
Sources
- Sleep Foundation: How Much Does a Sleep Study Cost?
- Medicare: Sleep-Study Coverage and Patient Costs
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Sleep Testing for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
- KFF Health News: $10,322 for a Sleep Study
- MDsave: Polysomnography Prices
- Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine: Economic Evaluation of Home Versus Laboratory Testing