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CPAP Cost Calculator

Estimate your 5-year CPAP therapy cost. Compare insurance vs cash. Default supply schedule uses the 2026 Medicare replacement schedule.

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Default for cash: $800

Average therapy hours per night

¢/kWh

U.S. national average is 16¢

What This Tool Does

This calculator estimates the total cost of CPAP therapy over five years, covering the machine, supplies, power, and ongoing replacements. It compares two scenarios side by side: paying through insurance (with your deductible, coinsurance, and monthly rental) and paying cash upfront. Default supply prices and replacement intervals follow the 2026 Medicare schedule, but every field is editable so you can match your actual plan or preferred supplier.

Insurance vs Cash: The Real Math

Most insurance plans cover CPAP machines as a rental. Medicare, for example, pays 80% of the approved amount after the Part B deductible, leaving you with 20% coinsurance on each monthly payment. After 10 to 13 months of rental payments, you own the machine. The total out-of-pocket cost through insurance depends on three things: your annual deductible, your coinsurance percentage, and the insurer's approved rental rate.

Buying cash skips the rental markup entirely. Online retailers and secondary-market sellers offer popular machines like the ResMed AirSense 11 in the mid tier, which is often less than the total of 13 monthly insurance copays. The tradeoff is that cash purchases do not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum.

When does cash win? Typically when your deductible is high and you have not met it yet, or when your plan has a high coinsurance rate. When does insurance win? When your deductible is already met, when your coinsurance is low, or when your plan has a low out-of-pocket maximum that caps your total exposure. This calculator runs both scenarios with your actual numbers so you can compare directly.

The Medicare Supply Replacement Schedule

Medicare sets specific replacement intervals for CPAP supplies. Many private insurers follow the same schedule or something close to it. The current intervals are:

  • Mask cushions or nasal pillows: every 2 weeks (most users replace monthly)
  • Disposable filters: every 2 weeks
  • Mask frame: every 3 months
  • Tubing: every 3 months
  • Humidifier water chamber: every 6 months
  • Non-disposable filters: every 6 months
  • Headgear and chinstrap: every 6 months
  • CPAP machine: every 5 years

These intervals represent the earliest you can get a replacement covered. You do not have to replace supplies on this exact schedule. Many users stretch cushions and filters longer than Medicare allows, which reduces annual costs. The calculator defaults to the Medicare schedule but lets you adjust each interval to match your actual replacement habits.

Hidden Costs

The machine and supplies are the obvious expenses, but several smaller costs add up over five years. This calculator includes power cost because CPAP machines draw 30 to 60 watts nightly, which adds a modest recurring electricity line at typical US rates.

Other costs the calculator does not itemize but worth budgeting for: distilled water for the humidifier, CPAP cleaning supplies or wipes, and a travel case or battery pack if you travel frequently. None of these are covered by insurance. Over five years, these extras meaningfully add to the total cost of therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a CPAP machine cost?

Cash CPAP pricing tracks therapy mode: AutoCPAP and APAP sit in the mid tier, BiPAP in the premium tier, and ASV at the top of the bilevel range. Through insurance, most patients pay a monthly rental for 10 to 13 months before owning the machine. The total insurance cost depends on your deductible and coinsurance rate. Run the calculator above with your actual cash quote and plan details to see the side-by-side breakdown.

Does insurance cover CPAP therapy?

Most private insurance plans and Medicare Part B cover CPAP machines and supplies when prescribed by a physician after a qualifying sleep study. Medicare covers 80% of the approved amount after the Part B deductible, leaving the patient responsible for 20%. Private insurers vary: some require prior authorization, some require a compliance demonstration period, and some have preferred DME supplier networks that affect out-of-pocket costs.

What is the Medicare CPAP supply replacement schedule?

Medicare allows replacement of CPAP supplies on a fixed schedule: mask cushions or nasal pillows every 2 weeks (though most users replace monthly), mask frame every 3 months, tubing every 3 months, disposable filters every 2 weeks, non-disposable filters every 6 months, humidifier water chamber every 6 months, headgear and chinstrap every 6 months, and the CPAP machine itself every 5 years. Many private insurers follow similar schedules.

Is buying a CPAP with cash cheaper than using insurance?

It depends on your plan. If you have a high deductible and have not met it, paying cash for the machine can save money because you avoid the monthly rental markup. Cash prices for popular machines like the ResMed AirSense 11 sit in the mid tier; check current Amazon pricing for live numbers. If your deductible is already met or your coinsurance is low, insurance is usually cheaper. This calculator compares both scenarios side by side using your actual plan details.

How much do CPAP supplies cost per year?

Annual CPAP supply costs depend on mask type and replacement frequency. Full face masks and their cushions cost more than nasal pillows. The typical recurring lines are mask cushions (replaced every 1 to 3 months), mask frame (every 3 to 6 months), tubing (every 3 months), filters, humidifier chamber, and distilled water. Power adds a small recurring electricity cost. Run the calculator above with your actual replacement cadence and supplier prices to see your projection.

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