Sleep apnea is not always easy for patients to identify for themselves.
You might be able to describe to your doctor your symptoms, such as short-term memory loss, snoring (as reported by a person who sleeps in the same room as you)
or tiredness after a full night’s rest. However, your doctor can’t necessarily determine that you have sleep apnea unless you undergo a sleep test.
These are usually required to determine if you have the condition.
Some doctors will recommend a sleep test at home,
while others will send you to a sleep lab.
During the test, a sleep specialist or
doctor will measure just how much you breathe, the time in between breaths,
oxygen levels, pulse and heart rate.
It is a vital step in the process of getting help for the disease.
However, you might worry about what your insurance will cover with a sleep test.
To clear up any confusion, be sure to ask your insurance company these three questions.
1. Will you Cover My Sleep Test?
First and foremost, you need to find out if your insurance will take care of the costs of a sleep test.
Many insurance companies and Medicare will cover part of the test. Some might even cover the whole cost.
Before you head out for your test, you will want to examine your insurance policy to find out what you might need to pay out of pocket.
If it is still unclear, call up your insurance provider and get a clear answer.
2. What Procedure should I follow before My Sleep Test?
Every insurance company is different, so you will want to ask your provider what steps you need to take before a sleep test.
Even if your insurance will cover the costs of the procedure, it is always a good idea to follow a few steps before the process.
You should talk to your doctor or lab about what you will need to pay and when, if your insurance isn’t covering all of your costs.
It is also a good idea to have your insurance card and paperwork all set to go before the study itself.
3. What documents do you need after My Sleep Test?
Asking the common question, “Does insurance cover sleep study expenses?” might be the first part of the process.
However, once the sleep study is over, there are other questions that you should ask your insurance provider.
You should ask the company just what documents they will need in order to cover your costs or a portion of those costs.
You should receive an updated prescription from your doctor or sleep specialist. You should also obtain any notes on your condition from your doctor.
It is a good idea to have a copy of the sleep study results in case your insurance provider needs it.
If you wake up to sleep apnea problems, you know that you need to address the condition.
Before you can head out for your sleep study, it is important to drill your provider on sleep apnea insurance coverage.
You want to prevent problems with coverage and costs before they occur.
Chad has been dealing with sleep apnea for many years, and so has navigated the sometimes-complex system of insurance coverage for this disease.
He knows this can be difficult for people, especially those struggling with a new diagnosis, and wants to share his knowledge with those in such a situation.
He was able to find what he was looking for at wakeuptosleep.com