Do Any Health Plans Have CPAP Cleaner Insurance?

Better health is priceless, but CPAP therapy is not easy on the pocketbook. The devices themselves are an investment, and maintenance expenses can be hefty. In addition to that, there are the added costs of replacing wearable CPAP parts on a regular basis, such as filters, masks, or tubes. Even with CleanCPAP.net’s reduced prices, a CPAP cleaning device will cost you between $189 to $269.  

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Having your CPAP device covered by insurance is one excellent way of managing the economic aspect of your CPAP therapy. If the restrictions and tedious protocols associated with getting your CPAP device paid for by insurance don’t phase you, there is still the endless confusion of figuring out if your CPAP cleaning machines can be covered, too. Read on to find some solutions for your CPAP cleaner insurance quandaries.

What does insurance cover for CPAP therapy patients?

Based on stringent criteria, CPAP therapy is covered under many governmental and non-government insurance programs. Depending on the plan, your insurance might have different submission criteria and care requirements for your CPAP therapy devices. Insurance covers the CPAP device as well as the associated supplies needed as per the rules of the insurance policy. 

To get the device covered by insurance, your doctor must review your file and validate your case that you have an unobjectionable diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea. Your doctor will also need to verify that you have met specific criteria regarding use of the CPAP device and that the device has proven to be the appropriate remedy for you. Once you are the owner of a CPAP machine, it is necessary to keep it clean. One of the most popular solutions for cleaning CPAP machines is an automatic CPAP cleaner. Insurance treats these devices differently.

What about CPAP cleaner insurance coverage?

CPAP cleaners are quickly becoming popular given their convenience and efficiency in keeping your CPAP devices perfectly sanitized and healthy for your use. But the problem remains that while CPAP machines may be covered, there is no regular coverage for CPAP cleaners. Insurance coverage is non-existent for cleaning devices, no matter who the manufacturer is. 

Does Medicare provide CPAP cleaner insurance?

Medicare is the national insurance program which is administered by the U.S. Federal government. It is provided for people age 65 or older, people under age 65 with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with end-stage renal disease. Medicare is divided into four parts: hospital/hospice insurance under Part A, normal medical insurance under Part B, health plans branded as Medicare Advantage make Part C, and Part D covers many prescription drugs. 

Part B of Medicare’s insurance coverage covers therapy for sleep apnea and the rental or purchase of CPAP machines. If your CPAP device manufacturer has a Medicare supplier number, then Medicare will pay for CPAP equipment and its associated supplies. Beginning with a 3-month trial of CPAP therapy, Medicare may cover 80% of your CPAP machine cost and CPAP accessories if you meet certain requirements, including rental or purchase of the CPAP device.

Unfortunately, CPAP cleaners are not counted among the essentials of a CPAP device accessory list. That means no CPAP cleaner insurance coverage. As there are methods to clean a CPAP machine manually, CPAP cleaners are not considered vital enough to justify coverage by insurance. Although no insurer, including Medicare, offers CPAP cleaner insurance coverage, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any ways to use your CPAP therapy budget more efficiently. 

No CPAP cleaner insurance. Now what?

Most people who choose CPAP therapy would appreciate CPAP cleaner insurance coverage to limit their treatment expenses. But, in the absence of CPAP cleaner insurance options, there are some measures that you can use to better your CPAP-related financial situation. There are medical accounts and arrangements that you can access if your health insurance plan provides them. There are three kinds of accounts: FSA or Flexible Spending Account, HRA or Healthcare Reimbursement Account, and HSA or Healthcare Savings Account.

What is a Flexible Savings Account (FSA)? Can it offer CPAP cleaner insurance?

FSA or a Flexible Savings Account is one way to deal with medical expenses that are not covered by your insurance. This account is generally meant for reimbursements and is very similar to a checking account. A selected amount of money is deducted from your pre-tax salary and kept in your FSA account by your employer. You can use this money for co-pays and to purchase medical implements, including your CPAP cleaner. (Reduced taxes is an added benefit!) 

At the beginning of your company’s benefit plan year, you can dedicate enough money to your FSA to cover your cleaner and use it to buy a CPAP cleaner without insurance. The paycheck deductions will continue over the course of the year, acting a bit like installment payments, so you don’t have to cover the whole amount at once. Keep in mind that FSA money must be used for the plan year it is contributed for. Unused funds may be forfeit.

What is a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)? Can CPAP cleaner insurance be found in an HRA?

A Health Reimbursement Account, or HRA, works a bit differently than HSAs or FSAs. An HRA is an account funded by your employer. You don’t pay taxes on HRA funds used, but your employer determines when and how the money can be spent. Because HRAs are largely controlled by employers, if you have one at your workplace check with your HR department to determine if CPAP equipment, including CPAP cleaners, are eligible purchases. If they are, congratulations! You can use HRA funds to buy your cleaner.

What is a Health Savings Account (HSA)? Any help for CPAP cleaner insurance here?

The newest of all medical savings accounts, a Health Savings Account (HSA), is a part of a qualified high deductible health plan (HDHP). You can ask your employer or the HR department in your company whether HDHPs are provided, and if yes, if you are eligible for it. In HSAs, an amount of money can be set aside before taxes are taken out to devote to healthcare expenses, the same as an FSA. But you can only start an HSA if you are a part of an HDHP. 

Money contributed to an HSA doesn’t have to be used the same year it’s contributed, unlike in an FSA, which is an annual use-it-or-lose-it amount. The maximum amount that can be set aside in an HSA yearly, according to the IRS, is $3,250 for an individual or $6,250 for a family. This is quite a beneficial option as you receive interest on the money you set aside, your taxes are reduced, you can use this money for any medical expenses you choose, and the control is in your hands. If you are looking to fund your CPAP cleaner without insurance, an HSA is a smart choice. 

For those with no savings plans to act as CPAP cleaner insurance, are there other options?

If you don’t have access to any of these savings plans, don’t lose hope. There is one last option left to secure the funds for your CPAP cleaner. Insurance of any kind is not required for this option. You can investigate buying your CPAP cleaner through a financing arrangement. Platforms like Bread and Affirm have partnerships with medical insurance organizations to help people who are looking for help paying for their CPAP supplies, including a CPAP cleaner; insurance or savings plans are not involved. 

Is a CPAP cleaner without insurance worth it?

CPAP cleaners are popular because of their efficiency in cleaning your CPAP machine. But, if you are unable to get help paying for your CPAP cleaner, insurance related savings plans or otherwise, you might be forced to shift gears. Forgoing a CPAP cleaner might not be the safest for your health or that of your CPAP device. Even the most dedicated manual cleaning routine often cannot remove all the dirt, microbes, mold, and debris in your CPAP device. Using an unclean CPAP device is quite hazardous to your health and can result in even more medical expenses.

A CPAP cleaner, insurance or not, is still a sound investment in your well-being and is money well spent. Visit our CPAP cleaner shop and find the right cleaner for you. Having trouble choosing? Contact us! We’re happy to help you clean (and breathe) easier!