CPAP Machine Cost: Is it Cheaper Without Insurance?

💡 Key Takeaways 

• Out-of-Pocket vs. Insurance: Paying out of pocket can range from $900 to $1,400 for initial setup, often making it more affordable than going through insurance.
• Factors Affecting Cost: The CPAP market seems to be restabilizing after the COVID-19 pandemic, Philips DreamStation recall, and supply chain disruptions which led to increased costs and availability issues for CPAP machines.
• Equipment Cost Breakdown: Expect to spend between $500 and $1,650 for your first CPAP machine setup, or between $1300 to upwards of $3000 or more for a BiPAP machine and supplies.
• Yearly Maintenance Costs: Annual upkeep can range from $330 to $900, depending on how often you replace various parts.
• Insurance Limitations: Insurance companies may require compliance with usage and can reclaim the machine if you don't meet their criteria.

The first step to getting the most out of your CPAP therapy and receiving the restful night of sleep you deserve is purchasing the right machine for you. CPAP, APAP, and BiPAP machines fit different needs, varying based on the lifestyle factors that matter the most to you.

However, when it comes to the different types of machines, the cost is the factor that will likely influence your machine choice the most. While replacement supplies will be required a few months after you begin therapy, the only purchases you need to be concerned with to begin therapy are your CPAP machine, CPAP mask, and some basic cleaning supplies.

When paying out of pocket without insurance, you can expect to spend $900 to $1,400 on average for your initial therapy setup. Paying out of pocket is typically the most affordable approach, though there are other variables (such as varying levels of insurance coverage) and more expensive machines to consider that we’ll explore in more detail below.

In this comprehensive pricing guide to sleep apnea machines, masks, and equipment, we’ll dive into:

• How Much a CPAP Machine Costs With Insurance
• How Much a CPAP Machine Costs Without Insurance
• How Much CPAP Supplies Cost and What’s Covered by Insurance
• Why Purchasing a CPAP Online Is Probably Your Best Option

First, let’s talk about the reason behind recent machine price increases and why the last couple of years have been rough for pricing and availability.

It’s certainly true that CPAP machines of all types were more readily available and affordable in previous years, and there are quite a few factors contributing to the increased costs. The CPAP shortage can be traced back to the COVID-19 pandemic we experienced in 2020; more accurately, though, to the supply chain disruptions that occurred as a result of the pandemic. Then, in June of 2021, Philips Respironics issued a voluntary recall affecting an estimated three to four million devices.

The recall introduced a sudden and large demand for new CPAP machines on top of existing supply chain disruptions and an increased need for computer parts for the newly-relocated work-from-home workforce. To add to this, a semiconductor chip shortage that was already on the rise since late 2020 became exacerbated by several events around the world. Production was hampered by three separate factory fires and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which supplied roughly half of the world’s neon gas used to power the lasers required for semiconductor chip production.

Costs can vary because there are generally two ways to buy a CPAP machine:

• Working With Your Doctor Through Insurance
• Online Through a Third-Party Retailer Like CPAP.com

There are many variables that will be unique to your situation if you’re paying through insurance, but typically, people who pay out of pocket for their equipment spend between $500 and $1,650 for their first CPAP machine and equipment setup, detailed below:

Equipment Type Low-End Cost High-End Cost BiPAP Cost

As you can see above, the lower end of the initial investment in CPAP equipment and necessary supplies can range from about $500 with a value-priced machine to around $1,500 with a more modern machine with advanced features and data tracking. For those who require a BiPAP machine, the price can range from just over $1,000 to upwards of $3,000 or more, depending on the specific level of treatment you need.

There’s much more to discuss here, however, such as upkeep and maintenance costs that can stack up over time, which we’ll discuss in more detail below. First, though, let’s break down the costs, advantages, and disadvantages of paying with insurance versus paying out of pocket.

Let’s start with a potentially surprising idea—if you get your new CPAP machine from your insurance company, you may be overpaying. With most insurance companies, your machine is covered only if you’ve met your annual deductible. If you haven’t met your deductible, you’ll be on the hook for the cost of the machine, which may be more expensive than purchasing it yourself online.

Typically, the cost of the device will be broken up over a 10-month period (sometimes longer) and you’ll pay an installment each month as part of a rental agreement. At the end of the rental term, you’ll own the machine. This may sound comparable to purchasing a machine outright, but insurance companies typically pay much more for CPAP machines than we’re able to sell them for on our site, directly to you.

And for those looking to buy a secondary travel machine through your insurance company, you may run into some roadblocks as well. Insurance companies typically only supply one home unit every five years, so it’s likely you’ll need to pay out of pocket for any additional machines during the five-year period.

We discuss renting a CPAP machine through insurance more in-depth below, but for now, we’re going to take a look at what you can expect to pay out-of-pocket for a CPAP machine.

Standard CPAP Machines: Without insurance, the average cost of a CPAP machine in 2024 comes out to around $750; fixed-pressure CPAP machines can typically be found between $600 to $1,000. While CPAP machines may have paved the way for CPAP therapy, APAP machines have significantly risen in popularity in the last decade and are becoming prescribed more and more over CPAP as the technology improves.

APAP Machines: Interestingly, the average cost of an APAP in 2024 is about $700. With the rise in popularity, you can find a range of these auto-adjusting units online from as low as $400 to around $1,000-1,200 for higher-end options.

BiPAP Machines: A BiPAP machine starts out at around $1,600 but can cost upwards of $3,000 in some cases. These machines offer much more advanced therapy for specific needs and, in some cases, can even initiate breathing—something CPAP cannot do.

Travel CPAP Machines: Lastly, travel machines typically cost between $600 and $900. Most travel machines are also auto-adjusting and offer therapy in a compact form, typically with optional waterless humidification.

Additional CPAP machine costs include the price of a mask, hose, and replacement supplies, including disposable, reusable, and bacteria filters. These additional supplies add comfort, an increased level of effectiveness, and cleanliness to your machine setup.

In addition to the CPAP machine itself, you have to consider the cost of CPAP supplies and add-ons, such as a humidifier, mask, hose, and cleaning supplies. Supplies are covered by insurance, but coverage levels vary from state to state. When you shop with CPAP.com, you can schedule subscriptions for commonly worn parts like cushions, headgear, and air filters to save 10% AND get free shipping on each subscription order.

To give you an idea of the average cost of CPAP supplies, we put together an annual breakdown of average expected costs, seen here:

Equipment Type Annual Replacements Average Cost for 1 Year

Based on the above estimates, yearly CPAP ownership can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to nearly a thousand or more depending on your equipment and how often you replace the various pieces of it. In our experience, however, we’d wager that the majority of CPAP owners will fall somewhere between $400 and $600 in yearly maintenance costs.

Below, you’ll find a more detailed breakdown by equipment type of what to expect when it’s time to replace equipment.

CPAP Masks: CPAP masks typically cost anywhere between $30 and $160. The cost of your CPAP mask will vary depending on the style, features, and quality of materials used.

The actual frame of your mask (the part your cushion snaps onto and headgear connects to) should be replaced every six to 12 months, but your mask cushion should be replaced every three to six months, or monthly if using an AirTouch memory foam cushion. Nasal pillows should be replaced every 1-3 months. Cushions typically cost between $15 and $60, depending on your mask.

CPAP Headgear: You don’t need to purchase headgear separately when you buy a mask, but it will also become worn over time and should be replaced every six to nine months; you can expect to pay $15-$40 for your replacement headgear.

CPAP Humidifiers: External humidifiers typically cost between $150 to $250, but the good news is that modern CPAP machines virtually always have a built-in humidifier, so upkeep is the only real cost to consider as far as humidifiers are concerned nowadays. The humidifier chamber itself will need to be replaced every six to twelve months, but thankfully, replacement chambers start at around $20 and top out at around $40.

While not required, a humidifier can often make your CPAP therapy more comfortable and tolerable.

CPAP Hoses and Tubing:  Most standard CPAP hoses can be found for less than $15, but specialty unheated hoses can go for upwards of $40. CPAP hoses should be replaced every six to twelve months. The price difference in hoses lies in the type of hose you choose. Heated hoses are more expensive than standard hoses and start at around $30 with the most expensive models coming in at around $65.

With heated hoses, heating coils cut down on the formation of condensation inside the hose itself, making for a more comfortable therapy experience.

CPAP Supplies: Supplies like filters range in price from $10 to $40, based on what your specific machine requires. Almost all CPAP machines have different filters that are used to remove atmospheric irritants from the air you breathe.

The three different types of filters are disposable (fine), reusable (foam), and bacteria. Disposable filters are the cheapest and found on most machines. They cannot be washed and work best when replaced every three to six months. Reusable filters are intended to be cleaned periodically—usually once a month—and aren’t used in every machine; these should also be replaced every three to six months.

Reusable filters range from $9 to $20. Bacteria filters are optional but add another level of protection to your CPAP setup by filtering out mold, bacteria, and other tiny particles that might make it past your machine’s standard defenses. Bacteria filters can be purchased in a pack of five for under $20 or a pack of ten for under $30.

Regularly cleaning and maintaining your CPAP equipment can increase the longevity of your machine and the quality of your therapy.

To get the most out of your therapy, clean your CPAP with cleaning supplies such as:

• CPAP Mask Wipes - Mask wipes cost around $10
• CPAP Disinfectants - Disinfectants cost around $13
• CPAP Tube Brushes - Tube brushes cost around $15
• CPAP Soaps - Mask and hose soap cost around $6
• CPAP Cleaning Machines like the Lumin cost around $240 to $250 and offer an easy wait to keep your equipment sanitized.

There are a few online companies that specialize in CPAP machine rentals, though we don’t recommend this route as a long-term solution. While the low monthly cost, typically $30-$70 a month for most options, may seem appealing, you’ll actually be paying significantly more over time.

Insurance usually replaces a CPAP machine every five years which is the average CPAP life expectancy. Even the cheapest rental we found at $30 a month works out to $1,800 over a span of five years, and that’s not even for a current-generation CPAP model.

On average, you can expect to pay about $60 a month to rent a CPAP machine, and over the course of five years you’ll end up paying $3,600, or more than double the amount of purchasing a brand new AirSense 11 AutoSet.

Renting a CPAP can be a great way to test drive a new machine or try out some different features or brands in the short term, but when people talk about renting a CPAP machine, it’s actually usually being done through their insurance provider.

Renting to own your CPAP machine through your insurance company would mean the machine is yours, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

While the most common way of starting your CPAP therapy through your insurance company is renting your machine, you are often required to use it in order to keep it. You read that right—if you don’t regularly use your CPAP machine, then your insurance company can take it from you even if you’ve been paying for it monthly.

Insurance commonly requires a basic level of therapy compliance—usually around four hours of usage a night for 70% of nights. If you go a period of time without using your machine, it may indicate to your insurance company that you’re not serious about your sleep apnea treatment, and they will request the machine back.

The insurance model works well for those who wouldn’t consistently use their machine without insurance checking in on them, but approaching therapy on your own terms can be much more empowering. If you’re someone that gets anxious easily or would worry about not meeting compliance requirements, you’d most likely benefit from owning your machine outright.

Some of the community members over at CPAPtalk.com have also pointed out that when you work with insurance, you tend to pay a ‘frustration tax’ as well. It’s not actually any amount of money, but rather your sanity that’s being spent when waiting to be approved for replacement supplies or repairs for your machine if something goes wrong. Instead of simply purchasing new supplies and having them shipped straight to you, you’ll have to run everything through your insurance first, which will require another level of planning ahead and less flexibility when you need supplies in a pinch.

✔️ Buying a CPAP machine online means you’re always in charge of your therapy. You’ll own it from day one.

When getting a CPAP machine with insurance, many people assume they’ll get the best machine, which isn’t always true. In many cases, the CPAP supplier your insurance company recommends is reimbursed the same amount of money regardless of the quality of your machine. Thus, there’s no incentive for the CPAP supplier to give you the best machine.

In addition, if the supplier gives you a cheap, average machine, then they can pocket more of the insurance company’s reimbursement versus giving you a more expensive, higher-quality machine.

✔️ With CPAP.com, you are in control of your CPAP therapy. You can choose the machine that best fits your lifestyle and sleep apnea needs.

To keep our prices low, CPAP.com doesn’t bill insurance for our machines or accept Medicare. CPAP.com is considered an out-of-network DME or CPAP supplier, and insurance plans differ in coverage based on the DME and insurance carrier.

✔️ We can provide you with an insurance-compliant reimbursement form but we cannot guarantee that your insurance will reimburse you when you buy from us. If you plan to do this, check with your insurance company before your purchase to be sure that you’ll be reimbursed.

Getting a good night of sleep translates to the overall productivity of your day. Without a good night of sleep, you can experience daytime sleepiness or trouble focusing, but the dangers of untreated sleep apnea can be much more severe. Successful CPAP therapy can lower your blood pressure and lower your chances of stroke, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s.

While there are many people who simply prefer to let their insurance handle everything, purchasing or renting your machine through insurance is typically more expensive in the long run. Buying a CPAP machine from a reputable dealer like CPAP.com puts the power back in your hands, and often at a better price. Explore your options on CPAP.com to find your ideal machine and pricepoint for your lifestyle so you can begin to experience the life-altering benefits of CPAP therapy.