03 The 13-Month Rental Rule and Equipment Ownership
Medicare does not purchase your CPAP machine outright on your first day of treatment. Instead, CMS operates a capped rental program that spans 13 continuous months of active use.
During this 13-month window, the supplier retains legal ownership of the machine while renting it to you. Medicare pays 80% of the monthly rental fee, and you or your supplemental insurance pay the remaining 20%.
You must use the same medical equipment supplier continuously throughout the entire rental period. Changing suppliers midway through your rental can restart your 13-month timeline or complicate monthly claims processing.
Once you complete 13 consecutive months of paid rental, the supplier officially transfers full ownership of the CPAP machine to you. After this transfer occurs, Medicare stops issuing monthly rental payments.
Owning your device does not mean Medicare abandons your ongoing sleep therapy. Medicare continues to pay its 80% share for replacement supplies, cleaning accessories, and necessary repairs.
Medicare also maintains a five-year replacement rule for all CPAP hardware. CMS designates five years as the reasonable useful lifetime for positive airway pressure equipment.
Once your machine reaches five years of continuous service, Medicare helps pay for a brand-new replacement device. You can also qualify for an early replacement if your current machine is lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair.
