CPAP Machines

A CPAP machine, also known as a sleep apnea machine, provides a gentle and constant flow of prescribed pressurized air through a CPAP mask and hose to help keep your airway open while you sleep. There are three types of machines, CPAP, APAP, and BiPAP, which are all designed to treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Your prescribed machine type will be dependent on your individual sleep therapy plan.

APAP stands for Automatic Positive Airway Pressure. This type of sleep apnea machine can automatically adjust to your pressure needs. The main difference between APAP and CPAP is the CPAP device uses a fixed pressure setting instead of auto-adjusting to your immediate needs.

Sleep apnea is a common yet serious sleep disorder where breathing stops and starts during sleep. CPAP therapy offers numerous benefits for the treatment of this condition including: 

• Better sleep
• Improved energy
• Lower blood pressure
• Diabetic control
• And many other benefits

Depending on your CPAP prescription, machine costs can vary dramatically. With the average CPAP costing $850, the average APAP costing $800, and the average BiPAP costing $1,300. 

Depending on your insurance plan, some insurances will cover a portion or all of the cost, though they typically include strict compliance regulations. While CPAP.com does not accept insurance as a payment method we do have a simple insurance reimbursement form you can fill out and submit. 

For a complete breakdown of machine cost and insurance, read our article: CPAP Machine Cost: Is it Cheaper Without Insurance? 

Choosing the right machine is a very personal decision. After visiting a sleep specialist and performing a sleep study, you’ll need to decide which type of machine fits your lifestyle. 

To get you started, we offer detailed comparison charts to help you compare our best selling CPAP, APAP, BiPAP, and Travel Machines. You can sort by brand or features such as sound level, dimensions, comfort, software, data capabilities, CPAP pressure, battery options, power, and more. 

In addition to your machine, you’ll need the following CPAP supplies to start your CPAP treatment:

• CPAP Mask (nasal mask, nasal pillow, or full face)
• CPAP Hose
• Filters
• CPAP Humidifier (optional comfort feature)

BiPAP, or BiLevel, devices use two different pressures, a higher pressure for inhalation and a lower pressure for exhalation. BiPAP machines are often used to treat Central Sleep Apnea or Complex Sleep Apnea because of the machine’s ability to prompt breathing. 

To learn more about the differences, read our detailed guide: CPAP vs. BiPAP Differences: How to Know if You Need a BiPAP Machine.

Whether you are new to CPAP therapy or an existing CPAP user, it’s important to detect and fix CPAP side effects as early as possible to improve your compliance. Some common side effects include dry mouth, runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Those with sleep apnea will often find relief from these common problems by using a CPAP heated humidifier. View our detailed heated humidification guide to see if this comfort feature is right for you: CPAP Machine Heated Humidifier: Reasons, Indications, and Uses.

For more information on avoiding CPAP side effects, click through to our blog for expert advice:

• Easy Remedies for the 19 Most Common CPAP Problems 
• 6 Weird CPAP Side Effects And How To Handle Them

Yes, you need a prescription to purchase a CPAP machine, CPAP mask, and Humidifier. CPAP products are classified as a Class II Medical Device by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), requiring a prescription for purchase. 

In addition to the product classification, there are a few additional reasons why a prescription is necessary to purchase CPAP equipment:

• To ensure your machine is set to the correct pressure
• To ensure you receive the correct type of machine or mask
• Without a prescription, you risk receiving a machine, pressure setting, or mask that will not help you

Read more about why you need a prescription and why it is so important in our detailed prescription guide.

When purchasing a CPAP machine, you have two main options: using your insurance coverage or buying from the online cash market. If you choose the insurance route, you can obtain a list of local medical supply stores within your insurance network that offer CPAP machines. On the other hand, if you decide to buy online, you can explore authorized CPAP suppliers like CPAP.com, which might offer more affordable options compared to using insurance.

In either case, it's important to note that a CPAP prescription is required to purchase a CPAP machine.