Sleep Study Cost and Financing

It’s the middle of the night, and you’re staring at your ceiling, willing sleep to come. Instead, it seems like the harder you try, the more awake you feel. You ask yourself, should I just get out of bed? Drink warm milk? Take a sleeping aid?

We all experience sleepless nights from time to time. But if you find yourself constantly waking up tired, or if you regularly are unable to fall or stay asleep, it may be time to talk to your doctor about a sleep study.

What is a sleep study?

A sleep study (polysomnogram) is an overnight examination during which doctors track and measure your sleep cycle to help determine if you have a sleeping disorder. This can include sleeping disorders like:

• Sleep apnea or other sleep-related breathing disorder: when your breathing suddenly stops while you sleep.
• Insomnia: a condition where you may not be able to fall asleep or stay asleep.
• REM sleep disorders: when you act out your dreams while you sleep.
• Periodic limb movement disorder: when you flex and extend your legs during sleep (similar to restless leg syndrome).
• Narcolepsy: a condition where you fall asleep suddenly and randomly during the day.

Your doctor gathers important information during a sleep study to provide a comprehensive overview of the quality of your sleep. Ultimately, sleep studies provide essential details that help your doctor decide if you need treatment for a sleep disorder, and if so, what the best options might be to (finally!) ensure a good night’s sleep.¹

How does a sleep study work?

How a sleep study works depends on whether you’re having an in-person study or a home study.

At-Home Sleep Study

At-home sleep studies are typically used to diagnose sleep apnea instead of other disorders that may require more extensive sleep tracking. They generally take at least two nights but can cost less.

Your doctor can help you decide if an at-home sleep study is the right approach for you based on your symptoms. You will likely be mailed a kit with instructions if you opt for an at-home study.

In-Person Sleep Study

In-person sleep studies typically only take one night. Before an in-person sleep study, you’ll work with your doctor to find a specialist at a sleep center or lab. Once you’re at the sleep center, you’ll check-in (much like when you visit your doctor), and the team of sleep specialists will help make you comfortable before the study begins.

You will be asleep during most of the study – the point, after all, is to see what’s happening when you’re sleeping! To measure what your body does while sleeping, healthcare providers will place sensors on areas like your head, face, chest, and legs. This will allow them to record, monitor and measure:²

• Brainwave activity
• Eye movements
• Heart rate
• Breathing pattern
• Blood oxygen levels
• Body Position
• Leg movements
• Snoring and other noise you may make as you sleep

How much does a sleep study cost?

The cost of your sleep study will depend on a few things, including whether your test is at a lab or home and whether or not insurance will cover it.

Generally speaking, you can expect a lab to charge around $5,400, while a home test will cost between $200-450.³

Does insurance cover a sleep study?

Medicare and most insurance plans may include coverage for sleep studies and may cover most of the cost if you meet the criteria defined by your insurance plan. So be sure to check with your plan provider to determine your specific benefits.

The amount of coverage and out-of-pocket costs you will pay depends on many factors, including:

• Your private medical insurance plan and provider
• Your annual deductible
• Co-pay requirements
• In vs. out of network provider

Can I use the CareCredit credit card to pay for a sleep study?

If you’re looking for a way to help pay for a sleep study and don’t have insurance, or if you’re looking for a way to pay for co-pays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket costs, CareCredit can help.*

You don’t have to postpone getting the answers you need for a good night’s rest. You can use your CareCredit credit card at locations within the CareCredit network to finance your sleep study or other sleep services, products, and procedures.*

Use the Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a sleep service provider near you who accepts the CareCredit credit card.