KCAL Insurance Agency
Phone: (800) 681-8288 E-mail: info@kcal.net
Insurance covers diagnosis, treatment of most sleep problems
The diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders have come a long way in recent years. Insurance usually covers the diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems, with some exceptions. For example, snoring on its own is not a medical problem and insurance won't cover its treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs in at least 2 to 4 percent of Americans is another matter entirely. The consequences of untreated sleep apnea can be extremely serious. As awareness of the problem has increased, so has demand for testing and treatment. Patients with suspected sleep apnea are typically sent to sleep centers where they are evaluated overnight while they sleep. Medicare payments for sleep lab testing have increased from $62 million in 2001 to $235 million in 2009, according to the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General, which is conducting a study to review the appropriateness of Medicare payments for them.
Source: Los Angeles Times