17 Apr Is an At-Home Sleep Study Covered by Insurance? + Other Common Sleep Study-Related Questions
We do not perform sleep studies at TMJ & Sleep Solutions of Alabama, but they are necessary for all our patients.
We offer custom-fit oral appliances as noninvasive treatment alternatives or supplements to CPAP for patients already diagnosed with sleep apnea. Thus, sleep studies are the first step individuals should take before they seek treatment with us.
If you didn’t know, there are two primary varieties of sleep studies: in-lab and at-home. To learn more about sleep studies (specifically, the at-home sleep study covered by insurance most of the time), read on!
Is an At-Home Sleep Study Covered by Insurance?
Usually, yes. In fact, the at-home option is typically what insurers will have patients settle for after denying coverage for an in-lab sleep study.
Why Would Insurance Deny In-Lab Study Coverage?
Insurance companies often deny patients an in-lab sleep study if they don’t have the risk factors for severe sleep apnea (excess weight, age, gender, health history, etc.), even if the patient’s general practitioner confirms the patient is exhibiting clear signs of the disorder (e.g., unexplainable daytime sleepiness, snoring, dry mouth, etc.).
Thus, if you’re denied an in-lab study due to a lack of risk factors but exhibit sleep apnea symptoms, you’ll likely have an at-home sleep study covered by insurance.
Which is Better: an At-Home or In-Lab Sleep Study?
Even though you may not get a choice about which type of sleep study you get, there are apparent differences between them. Which one is better depends on whether you’d prefer accuracy or convenience. Here are some details on the key differences:
- The patient performs an at-home sleep study in their bed at home with a little box of supplies given by their physician; no technicians are present to watch and ensure readings are taken accurately, like in a typical in-lab sleep study.
- The lack of an audience helps some people sleep better through the study. However, the lack of professional supervision also means that, as the patient, you don’t have someone to tell you the device is reading your breathing correctly or to ensure it doesn’t disconnect mid-sleep while moving.
- In an in-lab sleep study, you can sleep in a natural position; you can only sleep on your back with an at-home sleep study, rendering inaccurate readings for patients who don’t usually sleep on their back or only experience apnea in other sleeping positions.
- In-lab sleep study technicians will stick more than 10 wires on you during your study to test many factors. Conversely, at-home sleep studies only monitor and measure breathing patterns and oxygen desaturations, which do not produce sufficient data about the other factors contributing to sleep apnea.
- In-lab sleep studies only last one night and are more conducive to getting accurate readings. Depending on the at-home device your physician sends home with you, you could test anywhere from one to four nights.
- At-home studies also do not provide any information on other sleep issues, such as narcolepsy, that are tested in an in-lab study.
Where to Get Superior Sleep Apnea Treatment (After Diagnosis) in Birmingham
At TMJ & Sleep Solutions of Alabama, we specialize in dental sleep therapy, treating patients’ sleep apnea with noninvasive, clinically tested, FDA-approved oral appliances. Many patients prefer oral appliance therapy (our specialty) over CPAP. Amy Hartsfield, DMD, one of Alabama’s top experts in dental sleep medicine, leads our practice.
Our mission is to provide personalized care to restore quality of life through better sleep, one patient at a time. If you are experiencing sleep issues, don’t hesitate to contact us today to book an appointment or ask your primary care physician to coordinate a referral to our office.
If you haven’t had a sleep study yet but are interested in trying oral appliance therapy, still give us a call. Our brilliant office staff can recommend some sleep study clinics we work with for your diagnostic sleep study.