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. Your supplier will usually track your usage electronically through the machine, so keep using it 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., Medicare supplies much of its durable medical equipment as a rental rather than an outright purchase, so the cost can be spread across monthly payments rather than paid all at once.

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 can charge more, so it's worth asking. Second, Medicare only covers CPAP from a supplier enrolled in Medicare with a supplier number, so use one that's in the program. 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.

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. In practice, your supplier tracks your nightly usage electronically through the machine, so consistent use matters. That usage, plus an in-person follow-up where your provider documents the benefit, is what carries coverage past the trial. 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.

Learn More

MedicareHow Medicare Covers Durable Medical EquipmentHow Medicare durable medical equipment coverage works: the 5 rules for covered DME, your 20% cost, the enrolled-supplier rule, and rent vs. buy in 2026. 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.

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Brevy Care Team

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