Worksheet · CPAP equipment costs

Renting vs buying a CPAP machine: do the sum before you sign

The monthly rental quote and the purchase price are not comparable on their own. This sheet puts both on one line: what you would pay over the whole rental period, what you would pay to own the machine outright, and what each option includes.

§1Why the first payment tells you little

Many insurers use a capped rental: you pay a monthly amount for a fixed period, often 10 to 13 months, and then the machine is yours. Some plans rent indefinitely and never transfer ownership. Those two cases lead to very different totals, which is why the guide to CPAP rental versus buying recommends comparing total cost of ownership rather than the first bill.

For people on Original Medicare the rule is written down. Medicare.gov says Medicare pays the supplier to rent a CPAP machine for 13 months as long as you use it continuously, and that you own it after 13 continuous rental payments. After the Part B deductible you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the rental and for supplies such as masks and tubing, provided the supplier accepts assignment.

§2Fill-in calculator

Monthly rental charge $ Months until you own it

Purchase price if you buy $

Deductible still to meet $ Your coinsurance after the deductible %

The defaults reproduce the worked example in the Sleep Clinic Directory guide: $100 a month for 13 months, which is $1,300 before insurance. The calculator assumes the whole deductible falls inside this equipment and that the plan pays the same share on both routes. Real claims are processed month by month, so ask the supplier for the total patient cost over the rental period in writing.

§3What each route usually includes

Summarised from the Sleep Clinic Directory rental-versus-buying comparison
Line item	Rental through insurance	Outright purchase
Upfront cost	Lower	Higher
Device swap if the first one does not suit you	Easier, the supplier can exchange it	Usually not; check the return policy
Repairs during the period	Often handled by the supplier	Warranty only
Masks, cushions, filters, tubing	Sometimes bundled	Often extra
Usage condition	Plan may require a minimum number of hours	None from the plan
Ownership	After the capped period, if the plan is capped	Immediately

§4Fixed CPAP or auto-adjusting? Settle it before you buy

Buying the wrong type of machine is the expensive mistake. NHLBI describes three common devices: a CPAP that gives constant pressure, a bilevel PAP that uses different pressures for breathing in and out, and an auto-adjusting PAP (APAP) that changes pressure automatically during sleep. With APAP your doctor sets a minimum and a maximum instead of one number, as the APAP vs CPAP explainer sets out. If there is a chance you will later need bilevel or another device, renting keeps that door open.

§5Questions to put to the supplier

Is this a capped rental or an indefinite rental?
In which month does ownership transfer, and is any final payment due?
Which supplies are included, and how often are they replaced?
Do you accept assignment for every rental month? (Medicare.gov warns that if a supplier will not, you may have to pay the full cost upfront and be reimbursed later.)
What happens if the machine fails during the rental?
What is my total cost over the full period, not just per month?
If I stop meeting the usage requirement, what happens to the machine and the bill?

§6Costs that sit outside both quotes

Replacement masks, cushions, filters and humidifier chambers.
Distilled water and electricity: small amounts, but every night.
A travel battery or a second machine if you travel or want a backup.
If you buy used: the run hours on the motor, the label and the reason for sale, since there is usually no warranty, and you still need a prescription and a clinician to set the pressure.

Sources used on this page

Medicare.gov: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy — 13-month rental, 20% coinsurance, assignment
NHLBI: Sleep Apnea Treatment — CPAP, BPAP and APAP definitions