Sleep test costs

[ronster2]

I was just wondering if the charges for my sleep tests were in-line with others. I had one night of monitoring for apnea events at $4100 and one night monitoring events and adjusting pressure at $4400. Doesn't this seems excessive? Although my insurance adjusted the charges down to $3100 and $3400 respectively, with the costs of my System One and mask it will put the costs close to $7500. If this is the norm, sleep apnea therapy is out reach for most individuals without insurance. This is by no means an endorsement of ObamaCare. It's just an observation of mine that I was wondering about.

[JohnBFisher]

... Although my insurance adjusted the charges down to $3100 and $3400 respectively, with the costs of my System One and mask it will put the costs close to $7500. ...

Those prices seem high. Most insurance companies bring the cost of sleep studies down quite a bit more. It seems as if the prices are in the $1,000 to $2,500 range.

[fidelfs]

I just watched in CNN that you should show around for health care. Different hospitals, clinics charge different.

I had my first sleep study to see if I had sleep apnea in Houston, TX and price was around 2,500. My second test to find the pressure was done in Denver, Co and the price was only 950.00.

Those prices you have posted seem too high.

[ronster2]

Yeah. I was really surprised they paid that much. Especially since this sleep lab was out of the insurance network. I pointed this out to the lab and they told me they would accept what the insurance company paid without back billing me for the difference. I used this lab because it was set-up by my cardio doctor's office.

[Wulfman]

This subject comes up frequently and with a wide variety of dollar figures.
The amounts you listed are near the upper end of the charges I've seen. In other words, you and your insurance provider got the screws put to you.

These were my "Billed" and "Paid" amounts for a split-night study in March of 2005.
$1,835.00......$ 995.38
The thing I don't know is how much I ended up contributing, because my deductible hadn't been met yet, that year. When all the office visits and other stuff gets dumped into the statements to and from the insurance provider, it's hard to know exactly.


Den

[DreamOn]

Hi Ronster2,

Those amounts seem excessive to me, but I have seen numbers like that from others here. In this recent thread, another forum member reported being charged even more than you were: viewtopic/t49786/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=49 ... 21#p455521.

In contrast, this is what I was charged in Fall 2009:

....................................Billing Code........................Amount Billed....................Insurance Allowed..................My Cost
Diagnostic Sleep Study............ 95810 ............................. $1,950 ............................. $635.77 .......................... 0
Titration Sleep Study.............. 95811 ............................. $2,300 ............................. $701.01 .......................... 0

[ronster2]

This subject comes up frequently and with a wide variety of dollar figures.
The amounts you listed are near the upper end of the charges I've seen. In other words, you and your insurance provider got the screws put to you.

These were my "Billed" and "Paid" amounts for a split-night study in March of 2005.
$1,835.00......$ 995.38
The thing I don't know is how much I ended up contributing, because my deductible hadn't been met yet, that year. When all the office visits and other stuff gets dumped into the statements to and from the insurance provider, it's hard to know exactly.


Den

Fortunately for me, I didn't have to pay anything, but it burns me up to think there is such a vast range of charges between labs. I've never even seen or talked with a doctor. I saw my Rx and his signature, but nobody has had a discussion with me about any of my tests except to call me to tell me I needed to schedule a second sleep test for pressure adjustment. I'm sure there was plenty of "referral fees" kicked up to my cardio doctor.

[Spirit]

I had a sleep study done 2005, cost $1800.00 at the time. 2nd sleep study through VA medical center, last year.

Prices vary per hospital. Good luck.

[jules]

did these charges include charges for the doc to interpret the test or just for the "lab"?

[ronster2]

did these charges include charges for the doc to interpret the test or just for the "lab"?

Yes, I assumed that the doctor's charge was the difference between the 1st and the 2nd bill. It's no telling how much it would have cost if the doctor had actually discussed my apnea and therapy with me. I've been "in the dark" during this entire process until I discovered this forum. I tried picking the brain of the lab tech during my testing sessions, but he only knew how to make the electrode placements and how to run the software. I've never experienced such a costly, closed door, diagnosic procedure in my life. I wasn't told of a follow-up or anything.

In summary, I feel like its been... schedule test 1, schedule test 2, the doctor will read the results and write the Rx, wait 2 weeks for the us to call you and tell you to go get fitted for your CPAP machine and mask, thank you... have a nice life while totally modifing your sleeping habits for the rest of it.

Actually, just bought a PR System One REMstar Pro in order to gather sleep data for my own use. The PR System One REMstar Plus that I was supplied doesn't provide expanded sleep data. Apparently, the sleep lab I used prefers another sleep session for a follow-up evaluation rather than reading my data card. It just keeps getting better.

I'm thankful for this forum! Everything I've learned about sleep apnea, equipment, etc., has been on this forum.

[ched03]

I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket for my first or second sleep study. I was very surprised. Yours sounds extremely high. Even if I had to meet my deductible, I would have only paid $1000 and then 80% after that for the whole year.

[Slinky]

Hospital sleep labs generally charge more than free-standing hospital-owned sleep labs which usually charge more than independent sleep labs seems to be the norm. At least in our area.

[shambharwani]

I live in India, Insurance cover is not available for sleep disorders and almost all out-patient procedures are not covered.

I recently had a sleep study done and a titration the following night. The total it cost me was Rs.9,000 (slightly less than US$ 200). Its a surprise how different the same procedures are in the US.

[Madalot]

I had two sleep studies done November 2009. The first one was around $3600. My insurance paid around $700. My titration study was almost $4000 -- insurance paid around $850.

Mine were done at a major University Hospital Sleep Center. That's probably why they were so expensive.

[Komodo]

I had two nights of sleep study. The center billed my insurance $5000 for EACH night ($10,000)
I don't remember what they paid, but I had no out-of-pocket co-pay.