Yes, if you've been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, but the "yes" leaves out two things. Coverage comes in two stages, starting with a 12-week trial you effectively have to pass, and the machine isn't free. It's equipment you rent through Part B, so you pay a share of the cost.

In This Guide

Does Medicare Cover a CPAP Machine for Sleep Apnea?

The short answer is yes. Medicare covers continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy for people who've been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, under a national coverage rule called NCD 240.4.

The coverage happens in two stages. Medicare first covers a 12-week trial of CPAP, including the device and accessories, to see whether it actually helps you. After that trial, it keeps covering the therapy longer-term only for people who benefited during those first 12 weeks.

So "does Medicare cover a CPAP machine" has a fuller answer than a simple yes. It covers CPAP for a diagnosed condition, and it covers it in a way that asks you to show, over those first weeks, that the machine is doing its job. The rest of this guide walks through what that means in practice: getting the diagnosis, passing the trial, and what you pay.

First You Need a Diagnosis

Medicare doesn't cover a CPAP machine just because you snore or think you might have sleep apnea. Coverage starts with a diagnosis, and that diagnosis has to come from a sleep study, not a hunch.

Under the coverage rule, diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea takes a clinical evaluation plus one of two tests: a positive attended polysomnography done in a sleep lab, or an approved unattended home sleep test you do in your own bed. The lab version is the classic overnight study where you're wired up and monitored. The home test is simpler and increasingly common, and Medicare accepts approved versions of it for this purpose.

Either way, the point is the same. The sleep study is the gate. Talk to your doctor about which test fits your situation, because that result is what unlocks the CPAP coverage that follows.

The 12-Week Trial You Have to Pass

This is the stage that surprises people. When Medicare first approves CPAP, it's approving a 12-week trial, not automatic long-term coverage.

To keep the coverage going after the trial, two things have to happen. You meet with your doctor or another provider in person, and they document in your medical record that you meet the qualifying conditions and that the therapy is actually helping you. In plain terms: you have to use the machine, and your provider has to write down that you're using it and benefiting.

That's why the in-person visit matters so much. Skip it, or stop using the machine during the trial, and the longer-term coverage can fall away even though the diagnosis was real. So keep using the machine consistently and keep that follow-up appointment on the calendar. If the trial doesn't go well, that's a conversation to have with your doctor about adjusting the mask, the pressure, or the approach, rather than something to leave unaddressed.

Does Medicare Cover a CPAP Machine's Rental and Supplies?

It does, but not for free, and this is where the "it's covered" headline gets people. The machine counts as durable medical equipment (DME), the same category as wheelchairs and oxygen equipment, and DME is cost-shared under Part B.

After you meet the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, and that 20% applies to both the machine rental and the supplies like masks, tubing, and filters., A CPAP machine is rented, not bought outright: Medicare pays the supplier to rent it to you for 13 months as long as you're using the machine continuously, and after 13 continuous months of rental payments, you own it.

Two things protect your wallet here. First, that 20% figure holds when your supplier accepts assignment, meaning they agree to Medicare's approved amount; a supplier that doesn't participate or won't accept assignment can charge more. And because a CPAP machine is rented, a supplier that won't accept assignment for every rental month can make you pay the full cost upfront, with Medicare paying you back its share later. Second, Medicare tells you to make sure your doctor and your CPAP supplier are both enrolled in Medicare. For certain supplies and equipment, Medicare pays only if you get them from a supplier that's enrolled in Medicare and accepts assignment, so confirm both before the equipment shows up. If you have a Medigap plan or Medicare Advantage, your out-of-pocket share can look different, and it's worth checking how your specific plan handles DME.

When the Machine Becomes Yours, and How Often Supplies Get Replaced

Once Medicare has made 13 continuous months of rental payments, the machine is yours. Medicare doesn't stop paying for what goes with it, though. If Medicare paid for the machine, replacement masks, tubing, filters and humidifier chambers are covered when your practitioner's records show you still need the machine and the supplier's records show the replacement is needed.

How often is set by a usual-maximum schedule in Medicare's coverage policy for CPAP supplies, and anything beyond it is denied as not reasonable and necessary. The schedule runs from two a month for nasal cushions and pillows, to one a month for a full-face mask's replacement interface, to one every three months for a combination oral/nasal mask, to one every six months for some other items. The schedule lists billing codes, not product names, so ask your supplier how often each of your items is covered.

Refills don't ship on autopilot. For most CPAP supplies, the supplier has to contact you and document that you want the refill before sending it, and can't auto-ship on a fixed schedule even if you agreed to that. Contact can come no sooner than 30 days before your current supply runs out.

A machine can need replacing too. If it's lost, stolen or irreparably damaged in a specific incident within its five-year reasonable useful lifetime, a replacement doesn't require a new clinical evaluation, sleep test or trial period. After five years, you need an in-person visit where your practitioner documents that you still use and benefit from the machine, but no new sleep test or trial. This applies to machines first provided while you had Original Medicare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare pay for a CPAP machine?

Yes, for people diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea. It falls under Part B as durable medical equipment, which means you share the cost rather than getting it free. After your deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the rental and supplies.

Is a CPAP machine free with Medicare?

No. The machine is durable medical equipment, so after you meet the Part B deductible ($283 in 2026), you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for the rental and supplies. That's different from a free preventive service.

Do I need a sleep study before Medicare covers CPAP?

Yes. The diagnosis has to be confirmed by a clinical evaluation plus either an attended polysomnography in a sleep lab or an approved home sleep test. That result is what makes the CPAP coverage possible.

What is the Medicare CPAP 12-week trial?

It's the initial period Medicare approves before committing to long-term coverage. What carries coverage past the trial is an in-person visit where your provider documents that you meet the qualifying conditions and that the therapy is helping you, so consistent use matters. If the machine isn't helping, treat it as a cue to ask your doctor about adjusting the mask or pressure rather than letting the trial lapse.

Does Medicare cover CPAP masks, tubing, and other supplies?

Yes. CPAP accessories and supplies are covered the same way as the machine: after the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount when your supplier accepts assignment. Medicare also caps how often each item is covered, from twice a month for some cushions and pillows to once every six months for some other items, so ask your supplier for your schedule.

When do I own my CPAP machine under Medicare?

After Medicare makes rental payments for 13 continuous months, you own it. The rental runs as long as you're using the machine continuously.

Learn More

MedicareHow Medicare Covers Durable Medical EquipmentHow Medicare durable medical equipment coverage works in 2026: the 5 rules for DME, your 20% share when the supplier accepts assignment, and rent vs. buy. MedicareDoes Medicare Cover Oxygen at Home?Yes, Medicare Part B covers home oxygen rental as durable medical equipment. After the deductible you pay 20%; suppliers must keep it going after month 36. MedicareHow Much Does Medicare Cost?How much does Medicare cost in 2026? Part A, B, C, and D premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance, plus IRMAA and ways to lower your Medicare costs. MedicareMedicare Preventive Services: What You Get for FreeMedicare preventive services are mostly free: two wellness visits, screenings, and vaccines at $0, plus the billing trap that can turn free into a charge. MedicareMedigap (Medicare Supplement): How the Lettered Plans WorkMedigap (Medicare Supplement) explained: how the standardized A-N plans work, Plan G vs Plan N, closed C and F plans, and the 6-month guaranteed-issue window.

Find personalized help understanding what a CPAP machine will actually cost under Medicare at brevy.com.

The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.

Still have questions?

Brevy answers from this guide and every other guide here, and can check what you qualify for.

BC

Brevy Care Team

Expert eldercare guidance from Brevy's team of healthcare professionals and researchers.