Sleep Study Cost: Prices With & Without Insurance

A sleep study records what happens while you sleep, such as breathing, heart rate and movement. It is ordered by a doctor, and it comes in two main forms: a study done overnight in a sleep lab, and a simplified test you take at home. The form is the biggest driver of price.

Beyond the test itself, the bill can include a separate fee for a specialist to interpret the results and a consultation before or after. Whether insurance pays depends on your plan and on whether the study is ordered for a medical reason.

CareCredit reports $500 to $3,000 or more for an in-lab sleep study, and $300 – $600 for an at-home test. The in-lab figure has no firm ceiling; some facilities charge more.

• In-lab study: an overnight stay at a sleep center, with staff and equipment on site.
• At-home test: equipment you take home and return. It records fewer signals, which is one reason it costs less.

Which kind of test fits your situation is a medical decision for your doctor or a sleep specialist.

Paying cash, the average price is $807 according to Sidecar Health. Averages hide a lot, and prices differ by state.

• New York: $931 – $1,475
• California: $936 – $1,484

Those state ranges sit above the national average, which shows how much a location can matter. A sleep center may also offer a lower cash price than the amount it bills to insurers, so ask directly.

If your plan covers the study, you pay according to your plan's rules instead of the full price. The usual pieces apply:

• Deductible. Until you meet it, you may pay the negotiated rate yourself.
• Copay or coinsurance. After the deductible, your share is a set amount or a percentage.
• Prior authorization. Many plans require approval before a sleep study.
• Test type. Some plans prefer or require a certain kind of test first, and may approve an in-lab study only in specific situations. Ask your insurer for its criteria.
• Network. An out-of-network sleep center can cost more.

Call your insurer with the exact test name and billing code if you have it, and request an estimate of your share. Ask the sleep center for its estimate as well. Neither is a guarantee of the final bill.

You will see different figures from different sources, and it is not necessarily a mistake. Possible reasons:

• Test type. In-lab and at-home tests are priced differently.
• Facility. A hospital sleep lab and an independent center may charge differently.
• Professional fees. The physician who interprets the data may bill separately.
• Region. Local costs and competition affect prices.
• Cash vs. billed price. The amount charged, the self-pay rate and the amount an insurer pays can all differ.
• Follow-up visits. Consultations before or after the study may be extra.

• Ask for the self-pay price before booking, and compare at least two facilities.
• Ask whether an at-home test is an option. Your doctor decides, but it is worth asking.
• Confirm that the center is in your network.
• Get prior authorization in writing if your plan requires it.
• Ask for an itemized bill and whether a payment plan or financial assistance exists.
• If you use an HSA or FSA, check with your plan administrator on eligibility.

• The facility or technical fee
• The physician's interpretation fee
• Any equipment charge for home tests
• Consultation visits
• What happens if the test must be repeated

If a number covers only some of these, ask what the total will be.

• Is this an in-lab or at-home test?
• What is the cash price, and what will insurance pay?
• Does the quote include the specialist's reading?
• Do I need prior authorization?
• Is there a charge if the study must be repeated?