By Brandon Giegling
Date: September 6, 2022

By far, the most common question we get is, “How much does a sleep study cost?” And while the answer can get complicated, the honest answer is: an in lab sleep study can cost a patient with medical insurance anywhere from $0 to a few thousand dollars.

In lab sleep studies are sleep studies in which the patient comes into the facility or hospital to be observed and tested overnight for various sleep disorders. The cost changes based on the place where the testing is being done and the medical insurance of the patient. 

Generally speaking, having a sleep study done in a hospital costs the patient more than a sleep study in a non-hospital based facility. This is because hospitals are usually allowed to collect a higher dollar amount than a facility–for the EXACT same test. Insurance companies simply pay the hospital more per sleep study, and if a patient’s benefits are subject to a deductible and/or co-insurance, the patient would likely owe more at the hospital than a freestanding sleep center.

The next factor that affects the cost of the sleep study is the type of contract and billing practices of the specific facility you choose. You could find two similar non-hospital sleep centers and find yourself with two very different cost estimates. We have had several instances over the years where a patient was going to spend hundreds or thousands at another facility or hospital and ended up covered at 100% at our sleep center. Similarly, we have many patients who are only subject to their co-pay instead of their deductible and/or co-insurance based on the way their benefits interact with our insurance contracts. Therefore, it is very important to pick a sleep center who contacts your insurance prior to your sleep study so that facility can provide you with an estimate of your out of pocket cost. Of course, per all medical insurance disclaimers, it is important to note that insurance companies and providers alike cannot guarantee coverage, benefits, or estimates.  

The last major factor is the insurance of each individual patient. We have often heard patients say things like, ‘But Bob and I work at the same company and you just quoted him $200 less than you’re quoting me. What’s going on here?” What the patient is failing to recognize is that Bob has made more progress toward meeting his deductible and max out of pocket than the other patient. For patients who will be subject to a deductible and/or co-insurance, their cost at any hospital or facility will be affected by how much of their deductible and out of pocket has been met at the time of the sleep study. 

If you are interested in having a sleep study, it is best to contact the facility or hospital you would like to use. While they will not be able to give you an immediate quote (because of all the variables listed above), they can get some basic details and insurance information from you and contact your insurance to give you a clearer picture of what you can expect to spend on this important diagnostic test for those experiencing sleep issues. 

If you live in North Carolina and would like to have your sleep study here at Parkway Sleep. We also offer CPAP equipment for sale, which you can find here. Please call us at 919-462-8081 to schedule an appointment. We’re located in Cary, NC and would love to talk to you.