Sleep apnoea is a disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep. It can be a serious affliction as it restricts the body of its regular oxygen levels, and can impact long-term health in some cases.
An 'apnoea' is the time when your breathing stops, and it can last anything from 10-90 seconds. While it is often hard to distinguish sleep apnoea from other sleeping problems, there are a few recognisable symptoms that you will feel consistently:
If you suspect you may have sleep apnoea, it's important to speak with your GP. They may refer you to a sleep physician for a test, known as a sleep study. This can confirm if you have sleep apnoea, or another sleep problem such as insomnia or narcolepsy.
Before you can receive a Medicare rebate for a sleep study test, your doctor will need to make sure you are eligible by asking a series of approved screening questions. This is in order to make sure you definitely have a sleep disorder and are not being misdiagnosed.
Medicare may also cover Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy if you've been diagnosed with sleep apnoea. Your doctor will determine if you are eligible for CPAP based on how effective they feel the therapy may be in your situation.
Although Medicare will cover some of the costs, you'll still have out-of-pocket expenses. These can add up each time you receive care.
Treatment options vary depending on your insurer, but generally private health cover can help with the following:
Some policies may cover a home sleep test. According to SleepFoundation.org, the accuracy of home sleep tests for apnoea can range from 68% to 91%.
It's also worth remembering you should always get the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) number from your doctor. This lets you know exactly what you'll pay, so you are able to budget well in advance of treatment.
Here are some policies from Finder partners that offer a benefit for sleep apnoea or sleep studies. To compare even more funds, use the free tool below the table. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and living in Sydney.
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