Obstructive Sleep Apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. It is usually a chronic (meaning ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep. As a result, the quality of your sleep is poor, which can make you tired during the day. Most people who have sleep apnea don't know they have it because it only occurs during sleep. A family member or bed partner might be the first to notice signs of sleep apnea.

Untreated sleep apnea can:

• Increase the risk of High Blood Pressure, Heart Attack, Stroke, Obesity, and Diabetes
• Increase the risk of, or worsen, Heart Failure
• Make arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs), or irregular heartbeats, more likely
• Increase the chance of having work-related or driving accidents
• Result in Erectile dysfunction in men

Yes. While FMCSA regulations do not specifically address sleep apnea, they do prescribe that a person with a medical history or clinical diagnosis of any condition likely to interfere with their ability to drive safely cannot be medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. However, once successfully treated, a driver may regain their “medically-qualified-to-drive” status. It is important to note that most cases of sleep apnea can be treated successfully.

There is no new law on DOT physical sleep apnea for truck drivers. Currently, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) does not require sleep apnea testing for truck drivers.

However, DOT does require that truck drivers get a medical examination in order to maintain a CDL license if a medical examiner decides the driver needs sleep apnea testing. DOT says that it’s up to your medical examiner whether your medical condition will interfere with your driving.

If diagnosed with moderate to severe sleep apnea, you are considered unsafe to drive and will lose your CDL until you’re treated for sleep apnea and deemed safe to drive again by your medical examiner. In short, whoever examines you during your CDL physical will determine your need for a sleep apnea test and your ability to safely drive.

The disqualifying level of sleep apnea, for most drivers, is moderate to severe, which interferes with safe driving. The medical examiner must qualify and determine a driver’s medical fitness for duty. However, remember that if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, you can still qualify for “medically-qualified-to-drive” status with appropriate treatment.

Yes, it should cover sleep testing, but there are a few questions you will want to your insurance provider before calling a traditional sleep center:

• “Do I have a deductible? If yes, how much is it and has it been met this year?”
• “After deductible is met, what is my “Co-insurance?” (Co-insurance refers to the amount you must pay in addition to your insurance.)
• “How long does it take to get testing if I use my insurance?”

We can help you answer these questions so you may choose the best option for you.

Yes. Both are qualified medical expenses for FSA and HSA spending