CPAP Funding in Canada by Province

CPAP funding by province at a glance

Virtual Sleep Care does not currently serve Quebec or the territories.

Federal programs and tax relief at a glance

Ontario: Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

Ontario’s Assistive Devices Program pays 75% of the ADP-approved price for CPAP, APAP and bilevel (BPAP) systems; you pay the remaining 25%. To qualify you need a valid Ontario health card, an assessment by a physician registered with an ADP sleep clinic, and a need for the equipment for at least six months. The assessment must include a Level 1 polysomnography (an overnight in-lab sleep study) done at an ADP-registered sleep laboratory, according to the ADP respiratory policy manual. A home sleep apnea test on its own does not qualify you for ADP CPAP funding, although replacement machines do not need a repeat study. The equipment must be bought from an ADP-registered vendor, which submits the application for you.

ADP does not cover replacement masks, headgear or other accessories, and it does not cover oral appliances for sleep apnea. For people receiving Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, ADP pays 100% of the approved price instead of 75%.

If a lab study is hard to get: in-lab sleep studies are not always easy to access. Waits can stretch to many months (an Ontario study found median waits of 203 to 260 days from primary care to a sleep study, ICES), and there are fewer sleep labs outside larger centres. As an alternative to ADP, many people buy CPAP through workplace or private insurance, which often reimburses CPAP with a prescription and a sleep study report. Plans set their own rules; some require pre-approval or exclude mild sleep apnea, so check with your insurer first. See CPAP insurance and prescriptions.

Saskatchewan: SAIL

According to Lung Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living (SAIL) provides a loaned CPAP, with repairs, for people with moderate or severe sleep apnea (AHI 15 or higher) for a $275 program fee. Mild sleep apnea is generally not funded unless a certified sleep physician approves it for a high-risk occupation. You pay for masks, tubing, filters and water chambers. People on social assistance may have supplementary health benefits for the machine and supplies.

Manitoba

Since April 2018, adults in Manitoba pay a $500 co-payment for new or replacement CPAP equipment through the provincial sleep program, plus the ongoing cost of supplies. The program covers the balance of the equipment cost and a consultation that includes mask fitting and education, and you remain eligible for a replacement co-payment every five years. People receiving Employment and Income Assistance may qualify for coverage.

British Columbia

B.C. does not have a general CPAP program. People who receive income or disability assistance and are eligible for general health supplements may be covered for a CPAP with ministry pre-approval. The rules require a prescription, confirmation of medical need by a respiratory therapist and moderate to severe sleep apnea. The replacement period is five years for the device and one year for accessories. B.C. PharmaCare does not cover CPAP machines (PharmaCare coverage).

Alberta

Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) respiratory benefits list home bilevel (BPAP) therapy but do not list CPAP or APAP as a benefit. Most Albertans pay for CPAP privately or through workplace insurance. If you receive Income Support or AISH, ask your worker whether health benefits can help with equipment.

Atlantic provinces

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island: the Lung Association of Nova Scotia and PEI (LungNSPEI) runs a sleep apnea program that provides machines at no cost to eligible residents of both provinces who cannot afford therapy. Applicants typically need their sleep study, a prescription and proof of income.

New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador: there is no general provincial CPAP program. In New Brunswick, eligible Social Development clients with a health services card may have CPAP coverage; in both provinces, people receiving income assistance should ask their caseworker what respiratory equipment can be covered.

Federal programs and tax credits

• Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB): eligible First Nations and Inuit clients can apply for CPAP equipment and supplies, usually with prior approval.
• Veterans Affairs Canada: eligible veterans and RCMP members can receive CPAP coverage through VAC health benefits.
• Medical expense tax credit: The Canada Revenue Agency says a CPAP machine prescribed by a medical practitioner for sleep apnea is likely to qualify as an eligible medical expense, including replacement parts (CRA Income Tax Folio S1-F1-C1). Keep your receipts and prescription.
• Private insurance: many workplace plans cover CPAP machines and supplies, often with a prescription, a sleep study report, pre-approval and dollar or frequency limits.

How to get help paying for a CPAP machine

1. Get a sleep study and a written CPAP prescription. Almost every program and insurer asks for both.
2. Check your province above and ask whether you need a specific clinic or vendor.
3. Call your insurer before buying: ask about pre-approval, receipts, replacement frequency and whether masks and supplies are covered separately.
4. If you receive income or disability assistance, speak with your caseworker before buying anything.
5. Keep every receipt for the medical expense tax credit.

See CPAP insurance and prescriptions in Canada and how much a CPAP machine costs.

Sources

• Government of Ontario. Respiratory equipment and supplies (Assistive Devices Program). https://www.ontario.ca/page/respiratory-equipment-and-supplies
• Lung Saskatchewan. CPAP/BiPAP funding options for Saskatchewan residents. https://www.lungsask.ca/document/saskatchewan-cpap-funding.pdf
• Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Changes in funding for CPAP therapy equipment (2018). https://wrha.mb.ca/2018/01/23/wrha-announces-changes-in-funding-for-cpap-therapy-equipment/
• Province of British Columbia. BC Employment and Assistance: medical equipment, breathing devices. https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/policies-for-government/bcea-policy-and-procedure-manual/health-supplements-and-programs/medical-equipment-breathing-devices
• Alberta Blue Cross. AADL respiratory benefits policy and procedure manual. https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/pdfs/AADL-respiratory-benefits-policy-procedure-manual.pdf
• Lung Association of Nova Scotia and PEI. Sleep apnea program. https://www.lungnspei.ca/sleepapnea
• Government of Ontario. ADP policy and administration manual: respiratory equipment (November 2024). https://www.ontario.ca/files/2024-11/moh-adp-policy-and-administration-manual-respiratory-equipment-2024-11-08.pdf
• Canada Revenue Agency. Income Tax Folio S1-F1-C1, Medical Expense Tax Credit. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/technical-information/income-tax/income-tax-folios-index/series-1-individuals/folio-1-health-medical/income-tax-folio-s1-f1-c1-medical-expense-tax-credit.html

Medical and financial disclaimer

This page is general information, not medical, legal or tax advice. Program rules, prices and eligibility change; confirm current details with the program, your insurer or a qualified professional. Virtual Sleep Care does not currently serve Quebec, Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut.