How Much Did Your Sleep Study Cost?

[deglorious]

My sleep study was $2500 and the doctor billed $350 for reading it...

Deglorious

[msteinkoenig]

Thanks for this thread. I just looked and the insurance was billed $4000 for each of the two I had, insurance paid ~$800 each. When I looked this up my insurance company said my portion was only $20 and $40 and I paid them over $300 in co-pays, now I _have_ to look into this. In the end I still had to tell my doctor what to write on the prescription.

Thanks,
Mike.

[tgzlavistane]

My total out of pocket for the study and equipment was 1,218 dollars. I have a 750 dollar deductible and 20% co pay. I really don't know what to beleave about what the Insurance company paid to the sleep center. Something smells fishy about the whole thing. I will pay off my debt to the Sleep center for the equipment and study at the end of the month and than I think we will go are separate ways. I kind of feel like I was robbed after looking at the prices on CPAP.com. I am going to let the Sleep Center know my feelings about it to. I am going to mention this forum and tell them I know a few things about this subject now and I have options other than letting them stick it to me.

[Fredman]

My total out of pocket for the study and equipment was 1,218 dollars. I have a 750 dollar deductible and 20% co pay. I really don't know what to beleave about what the Insurance company paid to the sleep center. Something smells fishy about the whole thing. I will pay off my debt to the Sleep center for the equipment and study at the end of the month and than I think we will go are separate ways. I kind of feel like I was robbed after looking at the prices on CPAP.com. I am going to let the Sleep Center know my feelings about it to. I am going to mention this forum and tell them I know a few things about this subject now and I have options other than letting them stick it to me.

I feel the same way. CPAP.COM has the best pricing and really good customer service. I have placed a number of orders on-line. My next machine is coming from cpap.com. I paid 42,500 for classic tank, HH, and mask. Priced out here way less at 40-50% less!

[apnez]

Unbelievable and scandalous prices in USA.

I just had a polysomnography, titration, doctor fees, follow-up for a year, everything included (private clinic affiliated to an university teaching hospital) for the big total of 1,500 CDN $. Same price even if it takes 3 or 4 nights. No tax. That is about 1,200 USD $!!! And believe me they are still making profit. You will get an appointment within 5 days if you wish.

Even from California, all who need a sleep study should come to Montreal for a week-end. You can stay with your wife in the best and most expensive hotel with best meals and champaign, get 2 tickets for the Montreal Canadians....and you will probably still save cash !!!

How can you explain those sky rocket and ridiculous prices in U.S.A? Is everybody earning 1,000$ an hour over there?

[Fredman]

Unbelievable and scandalous prices in USA.

I just had a polysomnography, titration, doctor fees, follow-up for a year, everything included (private clinic affiliated to an university teaching hospital) for the big total of 1,500 CDN $. Same price even if it takes 3 or 4 nights. No tax. That is about 1,200 USD $!!! And believe me they are still making profit. You will get an appointment within 5 days if you wish.

Even from California, all who need a sleep study should come to Montreal for a week-end. You can stay with your wife in the best and most expensive hotel with best meals and champaign, get 2 tickets for the Montreal Canadians....and you will probably still save cash !!!

How can you explain those sky rocket and ridiculous prices in U.S.A? Is everybody earning 1,000$ an hour over there?

Sounds good to me, that was outside of your Quebec Healthcare Insurance? Probably don't take Alberta Healthcare

I agree though...Mont Tremblant is apparently the place to go outside of the Rockies to go skiing in Canada and world class haute cuisine! I haven't made my way there. Been to Montreal once and loved it.

Someone posted on another thread about someone having Heart surgery in New Dehli, India that cost approx $12,000 which would have cost $150,000! That cost included airfare for her and her husband, accomodation, surgery etc etc.

I guess medicine is becoming more global and maybe we have to take advantage of the deals where we can get them, assuming qualified healthcare professionals and equipment are in place.

[apnez]

Sounds good to me, that was outside of your Quebec Healthcare Insurance? Probably don't take Alberta Healthcare

You can get totally free sleep studies in Quebec hospitals. But the backlog is generally something between 6 months to a year. As mentioned I decided to go to a private clinic. My wife's insurance pays 80% of the bill (no limit). That means only 300$ out of my pocket. Quebec government do not pay for equipment as it is the case for most of the provinces. The same 80% from the insurance company also applies to equipment. I figure that i will get (next Wednesday) all my needed equipment for another out of my pocket 500$ expense. All this CDN$.

"Someone posted on another thread about someone having Heart surgery in New Dehli, India that cost approx $12,000 which would have cost $150,000! That cost included airfare for her and her husband, accomodation, surgery etc etc.

I guess medicine is becoming more global and maybe we have to take advantage of the deals where we can get them, assuming qualified healthcare professionals and equipment are in place.

I've been an hospital administrator and health system consultant for many years and also worked at the international level. I would surely not go to New Delhi for hearth surgery! And not everywhere in USA. I would generally be quite confident in Canada, Great Britain, France and many other European countries. Between you and me (and not too loud as some my American friends may jump out of their seats) there is quite good quality of care... in Cuba!

We are very lucky to live in this country and should be very happy to pay our taxes. We have a top quality health system with top quality professionals. Health system cost us nearly half the price compared to USA (roughly a little less than 12% GNP compared to roughly a little less than 20% for USA). It is a public non profit system. We have full accessibility to everyone across the country and nearly all important health needs are covered by the public system (Sleep Apnea is... the exception which confirms the rule as we say in French!). Our system also covers, in many provinces, a large part of medication costs. Administrative costs in Canada varies from 6 to 8% compared to a near 50% for administration and profits in USA (this is where goes a large part of the difference in GNP applied to health in USA). As far as the efficiency is concerned, that is difficult to evaluate. But as far as major health indicators are concerned, Canada is in the top 10 most of the time compared to USA which are near or past the 20th rank. Life expectancy in Canada is higher than USA. Between us again health systems have a minimal and really a marginal impact on health. The determining health factors are more of an environmental nature, nutrition, good habits, and public health measures (good quality water, vaccination etc.. Some antibiotics, few medications and surgical procedures are important contributing factors.

This question of sleep study costs seems to me as being very typical. 31% of those who answered the survey yet have paid more than 2,500 USD $ per night!!!!! I can't figure how it can be possible to reach such high costs knowing what components are included in a sleep study. That means that a lot of people have paid 5,000 USD$!!! That's a lot of money for Americans as 46% of them do not even have private insurance. They don't all live in the rich and beautiful Alberta!!!

[Fredman]

I've been an hospital administrator and health system consultant for many years and also worked at the international level. I would surely not go to New Delhi for hearth surgery! And not everywhere in USA. I would generally be quite confident in Canada, Great Britain, France and many other European countries. Between you and me (and not too loud as some my American friends may jump out of their seats) there is quite good quality of care... in Cuba!

This question of sleep study costs seems to me as being very typical. 31% of those who answered the survey yet have paid more than 2,500 USD $ per night!!!!! I can't figure how it can be possible to reach such high costs knowing what components are included in a sleep study. That means that a lot of people have paid 5,000 USD$!!! That's a lot of money for Americans as 46% of them do not even have private insurance. They don't all live in the rich and beautiful Alberta!!!

For our American friends, while we do have a great system there are some difficulties of course, some elective surgeries are wait listed and even some critical care treatments can be a bit back logged. There has been great debate about our health care system across Canada. Sinking more tax dollars into the system has not made a difference - at least from a patient's perspective. Most Canadians do pay fairly small premiums for Health Care, Alberta for one no longer charges premiums, but of course comes from our taxes!

No one is ever bankrupted because a loved one has to be treated for a life threatening disease - like cancer or heart disease. No one is denied life saving treatment. So yes in that way we have an excellent system....but....

I am very concerned as a Canadian and an Albertan about the rising costs and eroding away of our medical system. There are so many factors involved in American and Canadian health care systems all vying for their piece of the pie. How or will there ever be an equilibrium where patients and health care professionals are happy?

In Alberta we are seeing more pay for services, my wife has two large bunions that are very painful, but in the Edmonton area specialists are "choosing" to do other elective surgeries. A podiatrist offered to remove them for $3,000 using a local versus probably $4,000 under a general anesthetic. Because of the Canada Health Act, I believe this would be performed in his clinic and not in a hospital.

So what's up with that? The Dean of Medicine at the University of Alberta said the problem now lies that we don't need more specialists, we need more internists. I am not sure what that means. In Alberta, Pharmacists can prescribe medication (usually short term refills of current doctor prescribed medicine). Anyways to cut this post short...the world of medicine is changing on both sides of the border - for better or worse!

[Slinky]

In the USA - I am sure it will be for the worse. I have faith in my government!!! I don't have any faith in it, but I do have faith my government will screw me over to their own personal benefit. That is what the USA has become.

[Fredman]

In the USA - I am sure it will be for the worse. I have faith in my government!!! I don't have any faith in it, but I do have faith my government will screw me over to their own personal benefit. That is what the USA has become.

Sad isn't it when we feel that way about our elected officials. I guess this forum is another example of people taking their best interests into their own hands.

Unfortunately, there is only so much we can do, other than being politically active, raise our concerns publicly, press our elected officials to do what is right, and vote. I know it doesn't seem to help, but for sure not voting and not raising our voices absolutely is 100% ineffective.

I am not a conspiracist, but big business seems to risk nothing lose nothing and if they do they are baled out. I hate to see anyone lose their jobs - but personally who are the winners here?

[Slinky]

You are so right. So many times I feel like the only reason I'm voting, is to vote AGAINST one candidate over another AND to preserve my right to b*tch. *sigh*

[NRA_Bear]

Description | Billed | Ins. Paid | Out of Pocket
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Sleep Study | $2698.00 | $2282.51 | $253.61
Initial Consult | $335.00 | $320.00 | $15.00
PSG Results | $345.00 | $317.00 | $28.00
Diagnosis | $105.00 | $90.00 | $15.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals | $3483.00 | $3009.51 | $311.61


So, for an uninsured person, Norfolk Sentara General and EVMS would charge almost $3500 for the whole deal. That doesn't include what EVMS just charged for my 1 month follow-up consult, which hasn't shown up on Aetna's website yet. I imagine that will be around another $105.


Here's what the equipment rental has cost through Apria thus far (since March 6, 2009)

Billed | Ins. Paid | Out of Pocket
--------------------------------------------
$1589.00 | $358.26 | $39.81


I believe the agreement Aetna and Apria has is that they will rent the machine for 4 months and if I've been a good boy (some % treatment compliant), then they will buy the machine for me. I feel for any uninsured folks that are going through Apria... $1589 !!! I'd be on CPAP.com in a heartbeat.

[Schnauzer]

I had my first sleep study Sept 2008 in Princeton NJ. Cost = $6200 (Insurance covered most of it).
Just had a second study done in Feb 2009 to titrate the CPAP in New Brunswick NJ. Still waiting for the bill.

[troy20772]

I paid $25 per sleep study, 15 for primary care physian, 30 for sleep doctor other my insurancee picked up the reest

[cpapguru38]

I'm new and all, but even I can see this this big scam. It does not need to cost what it does for all this. Is outright fraud in my opinion.

If you read these forums, 99% of you all, adjust and figure things out on your own as you go, until things are perfected.

The purpose of Cpap, is VERY basic and when you get down to the nitty gritty, the formula for the therapy is simple. High pressure air, to open the airways. That is it!

Yes, different masks will be tried, different pressures tried, and so on, but YOU ultimately will decide, not some DME, or sleep study for $5000!

I went to a small town country doc, no insurance, he whipped out his prescription pad and wrote....."one cpap machine with mask" He expalined how I would need to go through some trial and error to get things adjusted and suggested I use an auto, with C flex. which I have done. So far I'm going into night #5 and feel like a I have not in twenty years! Today I had more energy then ever, no heart palpitations, brain fog, or sluggishness on 5 HOURS OF SLEEP, with the machine. Isn't this the point?!?!

I absolutely assure you, I will achieve my goals of good sleep and am already on my way. And I did not need to, nor will I get legally robbed by a sleep study, or DME!