Refurbished CPAP vs Rental — Which Saves More Money?
By Yash, RRT — Licensed Respiratory Therapist & Owner, MyRespCo
When your doctor prescribes CPAP therapy, your DME supplier will almost certainly offer you a rental arrangement. What they won’t always tell you is that buying a refurbished CPAP machine outright — from a licensed, RRT-certified supplier — is often significantly cheaper over any time horizon beyond 3 months. Here’s the honest financial breakdown.
How CPAP Rental Works
Most insurance-covered CPAP arrangements are structured as a rent-to-own over 13 months. Your insurance pays a monthly rental fee (typically $30–$80/month depending on your plan) and after 13 months of compliance, the machine is considered purchased. If you don’t have insurance or have a high deductible, you pay that rental fee out of pocket.
The machine you’re rented is typically a new entry-level unit. You don’t choose the brand or model. Compliance data is monitored by the DME and sometimes by your insurance company. If you stop using the machine or don’t meet compliance thresholds, the machine can be recalled.
The Real Cost Comparison
| Option | Month 1 | Month 6 | Month 13 | Own the Machine? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPAP Rental (no insurance, $60/mo) | $60 | $360 | $780 | After month 13 only |
| New CPAP (retail) | $800–$1,200 | Same | Same | Day 1 |
| Refurbished CPAP (MyRespCo) | $300–$500 | Same | Same | Day 1, 1-yr warranty |
At $60/month rental, you’ve spent $360 after 6 months and still don’t own the machine. A refurbished RRT-certified CPAP from MyRespCo costs you less than that upfront — and you own it immediately with a full 1-year warranty.
What Rental Gets You That Purchase Doesn’t
- Insurance billing (if you have coverage with low out-of-pocket cost)
- Some DMEs include supplies (filters, tubing) in the rental arrangement
- The machine may be swapped if defective at no additional cost
What Buying Gets You That Rental Doesn’t
- Machine ownership from day one — no compliance monitoring conditions, no recall risk
- Choice of machine — you pick the model best suited to your needs
- RRT clinical guidance — MyRespCo’s $49.99 RT Consultation walks you through setup, mask selection, and pressure management
- Significantly lower total cost in any scenario where your insurance doesn’t cover most of the rental
- No compliance strings attached — you own your machine regardless of how many nights you use it
When Rental Makes Sense
Rental through insurance makes financial sense when: your insurance covers the majority of the rental cost, your out-of-pocket per month is under $20, and you’re not in a rush to own the equipment outright. In that scenario, let insurance cover it and use the savings elsewhere.
When Buying Refurbished Makes Sense
Buying a refurbished CPAP makes more financial sense when: you have a high-deductible plan, you’re uninsured or underinsured, you want machine ownership immediately, you want to choose your specific model, or you simply don’t want compliance monitoring tied to your machine by a DME or insurer.
For most self-pay patients, the math is straightforward: a refurbished RRT-certified CPAP from MyRespCo costs less than 6 months of rental and comes with a 1-year warranty and clinical setup support.
→ Complete Refurbished CPAP Buyer’s Guide
→ Shop RRT-Certified Refurbished CPAP Machines
→ Book a $49.99 RT Consultation