Sleep apnea machines (CPAP) and Medicare: a plain guide
How CPAP machines work and how Medicare covers them. Learn the 12-week trial, the 4-hour rule and the 13-month rental. Then see how the main brands differ.
Written by PlanScout teamReviewed by PlanScout Internal Review TeamLast reviewed Oct 25, 202612 sourcesHow we make money
- A positive airway pressure (PAP) machine is an at-home treatment for sleep apnea. It sends air under gentle pressure through a mask you wear while you sleep.[1],[2]
- The most common type is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Medicare Part B helps pay for the machine and its masks and hoses.[1]
- Medicare starts with a 12-week trial. To keep the machine, you must use it and show it helps. Below we explain the rules, what you pay, and how the brands differ.[1],[3]
CPAP, auto CPAP and bilevel
- A CPAP machine blows air at a set pressure.[2]
- An auto CPAP (APAP) adjusts the pressure on its own through the night. ResMed calls its version AutoSet.[2],[4]
- A bilevel machine, often called BiPAP, uses two pressures. Medicare covers one for sleep apnea only after a regular CPAP was tried and did not work.[3]
Will Medicare cover it?
What you'll pay
Medicare prices and suppliers near you
With Original Medicare you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the Part B deductible, for the rental and the supplies.
Enter your ZIP code in the price box above to see how many suppliers near you billed Medicare for PAP. Or search suppliers by ZIP.
Go deeper
- Medicare's CPAP rules: the 12-week trial and the 4-hour ruleWhat Medicare needs in your first three months. The 4-hour rule, the visit between day 31 and 91, and what to do if the trial fails.
- What CPAP costs with Medicare, and how often you get new suppliesThe 20% you pay and the 13-month rental. Then how often Medicare pays for new masks, hoses and filters.
- CPAP masks, humidifiers and cleaningThe main mask types, how humidifiers work, and what the government says about cleaning your machine.
- Traveling with a CPAP, and fixing common problemsAirport screening, carry-on rules and using a CPAP on a plane, plus the first things to check when therapy feels wrong.
The makers
- ResMedResMed AirSense 11 (CPAP and AutoSet) and the AirMini travel machine: pressure range, humidifier, app and air travel facts from ResMed's own guides.
- React HealthReact Health's Luna G3 auto CPAP and Luna G3 Bilevel 25A: pressure ranges, humidifier and heated hose from React Health's spec pages.
- Philips RespironicsPhilips Respironics DreamStation: the 2021 recall, the 2024 court order on US sales, and what the company says in 2026.
- Fisher & Paykel HealthcareFisher & Paykel Healthcare CPAP masks (Evora, Simplus, Nova Micro) and the status of its SleepStyle machine in the United States.
Differences that matter
Facts from each maker, side by side. This is not a ranking. Your doctor decides what fits you.
| What | ResMed | React Health | Philips Respironics | Fisher & Paykel Healthcare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Machines sold new in the US [2],[8],[6],[9] | AirSense 11, AirMini | Luna G3 line | New sales on hold until court rules are met | None (SleepStyle no longer sold) |
| Pressure range [2],[8],[10] | AirSense 11: 4 to 20 | G3: 4 to 20. Bilevel 25A: 4 to 25 | Not listed here | Not listed here |
| Humidifier [11],[4],[8] | Heated tub (AirSense 11); waterless (AirMini) | Heated tub, 360 ml | Not listed here | Not listed here |
| Masks [6],[12] | Ask your supplier | Ask your supplier | Still sold in the US | Evora, Simplus, Nova Micro and more |
Questions to ask your supplier
- Are you enrolled in Medicare, and do you accept assignment?
- Which machine will I get, and can I choose the brand?
- Will you fit my mask in person, and can I swap it if it leaks?
- How will my doctor see my nightly use during the trial?
- What do I owe each month during the 13-month rental?
- How do I ask for new masks and filters, and how often can I get them?
- Who do I call if the machine stops working at night?
Common questions
How many hours a night do I need to use my CPAP for Medicare?
At least 4 hours a night on 70% of nights, over 30 days in a row, in your first three months.[3]
When is the follow-up visit for my CPAP?
Between day 31 and day 91 after you start. Your doctor notes that you are better and checks your use record.[3]
Do I own my CPAP machine with Medicare?
Yes, after Medicare makes 13 rental payments in a row while you keep using it.[1]
How often does Medicare pay for a new CPAP mask?
Usually one full-face or nasal mask every 3 months. Cushions and pillows are replaced more often.[3]
Reviewed & sourced
- Reviewer
- PlanScout Internal Review Team. Checks facts and plain-English accuracy; has no say in how results are ordered.
- What was checked
- Owner sign-off for the PlanScout Internal Review Team: Medicare coverage rules, costs and brand facts against the cited sources
- Last reviewed
- Oct 25, 2026
- Next review
- Before Jan 1, 2027 (new plan year), or sooner if Medicare changes a rule.
- Corrections
- See something wrong? Tell us. We fix confirmed errors within 2 business days and note the change in the page's change log.
- Change log
- Oct 25, 2026: First published and reviewed.
Sources (12)
- Medicare.gov: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- ResMed: AirSense 11 user guide (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- Medicare Coverage Database: Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, LCD L33718 (revision effective 01/01/2024) (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- ResMed: AirMini (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- Transportation Security Administration: Nebulizers, CPAPs, BiPAPs and APAPs (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- Philips: Respironics frequently asked questions, as of 10 February 2026 (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- FDA: Federal court enters consent decree against Philips Respironics (April 9, 2024) (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- React Health: Luna G3 CPAP device (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- Fisher & Paykel Healthcare: CPAP devices (US) (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- React Health: Luna G3 Bilevel 25A device (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- ResMed: AirSense 11 AutoSet (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)
- Fisher & Paykel Healthcare: Sleep apnea products (US) (retrieved Oct 25, 2026)