If you suspect you have sleep apnea, here are some steps to check for symptoms and potential diagnosis:

Self-Assessment: Common Signs & Symptoms

You might have sleep apnea if you experience:

• Loud snoring (often reported by a partner)
• Pauses in breathing while sleeping (observed by someone else)
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (even after a full night’s rest)
• Morning headaches
• Dry mouth or sore throat upon waking
• Difficulty concentrating or memory issues
• Mood changes (like irritability or depression)
• Frequent nighttime awakenings or insomnia

Consult a Doctor for a Sleep Study

If you suspect you may have sleep apnea, talk to your primary (family) physician and ask for the prescription for at home sleep study.

Alternatively you can order sleep study on our site without prescription from your primary physician. We have a team of board-certified doctors who can help with at home sleep study.

Sleep Study. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Diagnosis

There are many companies offering at-home sleep study online at the discount prices.

But you need to understand the difference between various types of sleep studies and opt for the one that is right for you. 

We cover it more in details HERE

Our team offers not only the best in class at-home sleep studies but our board-certified sleep doctors will review the results of your home sleep study and prescribe therapy if needed.

Start treatment: CPAP plus Lifestyle modification program

Your physician or our sleep doctors will prescribe the following treatment for obstructive sleep apnea:

• CPAP machine (you can rent it on our site). 
• Lifestyle modification program.  
• A key requirement for prior authorization approval is proof of participation in a structured lifestyle modification program. The following outlines how to fulfill this requirement, ensuring a strong case for insurance approval.
• Many insurers require a 3-6-12-month structured weight loss program before approving Zepbound.
• Maintain Detailed Records to strengthen your PA request, document the following: Initial weight, BMI, and metabolic markers (blood glucose, cholesterol, etc.)
• Dietary logs (food intake, calorie count, adherence to a meal plan)
• Exercise records (weekly activity, type of exercise, duration).
• Weight loss progress (weekly weigh-ins)
• Start following Lifestyle modification recommendations as soon as possible: 500 kcal a day deficit and at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
• Subscribe for Semaglutide App Premium - begin logging and documenting daily calories intake and daily activities/steps, as well as weight/BMI records in an insurance-friendly format.

IMPORTANT: insurance providers often deny Zepbound if lifestyle modifications weren’t attempted first. We strongly recommend to download and use Semaglutide Premium which has a proper format of Lifestyle Modification Program journal - in accordance with CDC DPP guidelines.

Download Semaglutide App

Follow up and assessment.  Demonstrate Previous Treatment Attempts.

Insurance providers  also often deny Zepbound if a therapy to manage the patient’s symptoms of OSA were not tried before, such as: positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oral appliances (eg, mouth guards), or other medication.

Our team will help you to document those efforts and if needed to provide reports and necessary documents for your primary physician.

We strongly recommend to repeat at-home sleep test after 1-2 months of starting any treatment for OSA symptoms. 

Request a Letter of Medical Necessity

Your healthcare provider should draft a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) (and our team is ready to help with that as well) that includes:

• Diagnosis of obesity-related conditions (OSA, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome)
• Lifestyle changes attempted and their effectiveness
• Medical justification for Zepbound (how it can improve health outcomes)
• Failure of previous Sleep Apnea treatments

Submit Prior Authorization Request

Once all documentation is collected:

1. Complete the insurance provider’s PA form
2. Attach the lifestyle modification records (upload from Semaglutide App) & LMN (you will get them with our at-home sleep studies).
3. Submit via fax, electronic portal, or directly through the doctor’s office
4. Follow up with the insurance provider within 5-10 business days

If the PA is denied, you can:

• Appeal the decision: Submit additional evidence of lifestyle efforts and a new LMN. Contact us and our PACS (Prior Authorization Certified Specialists) will work with your PCP office helping to provide as many well documented data as possible. Our team has also experience to compose such appeal letter.
• Request a peer-to-peer review: Have your doctor speak directly with the insurance company’s medical director.

The prior authorization process for Zepbound in treating sleep apnea can be complex, but with proper documentation and persistence, many patients can obtain coverage. If denied, appeals and peer reviews may help overturn the decision. Always consult with your healthcare provider and insurance carrier to navigate the process effectively.