John Hopkins estimates that 45% of adults occasionally snore, while 25% snore regularly enough to disrupt their partner’s sleep. There’s also a smaller subset of the population with snoring issues that are even more severe.
Whether you’re an occasional snorer or have a serious snoring issue, there are steps that you can take to resolve the problem. Keep reading to learn what those steps are and what Medicare can do to help.
Snoring can be caused by many different things. Factors that are linked to snoring include:
You can work on eliminating your snoring yourself or with the help of a doctor. It’s best to start with the simplest home remedies to see if they can solve the problem for you and save you a trip to the doctor’s office.
First, try changing your sleeping position. Lying on your back positions your tongue and soft palate in such a way as to promote snoring. Sleeping on your side may solve the problem.
You can also try avoiding alcohol and shedding any extra pounds you’re currently carrying. Weight loss may be especially impactful if you didn’t snore before you gained the weight.
Another home remedy is to swap out your old pillow for a new one. Over time, pillows accumulate dust mites, which can cause allergic reactions that lead to snoring. That means replacing your old pillows with new ones could solve your snoring problem.
Maybe you’ve already tried the home remedies discussed above, and none of them worked for you. If so, it’s probably time to seek professional assistance. A doctor will start by reviewing your symptoms and performing a physical examination. They may also request an imaging test to get a closer look at your airway.
Doctors sometimes have their patients come in for sleep studies, especially if the symptoms are severe. These give physicians a chance to record your breathing rate, sleep stages, and other information to gain a clearer understanding of why you snore.
Ultimately, a doctor may recommend a few different treatments. They could treat nasal congestion, instruct you to avoid sleep deprivation, or recommend specific lifestyle changes. They may also recommend that you wear oral appliances or even a CPAP machine while you sleep.
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Original Medicare doesn’t offer much in the way of coverage for snoring. However, Medicare will cover the costs of a sleep study test if a doctor orders one based on suspected sleep apnea. This test could also resolve your snoring issues.
If you’re looking for more coverage for health issues like snoring, then you may want to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans build upon the offerings of Original Medicare to provide policyholders with more coverage for conditions that don’t receive broad coverage under Medicare Part A or B, such as snoring.
You can learn more about the Medicare Advantage options that are available to you by reaching out to a partnered licensed agent through Time for 65 today. You can reach them by either filling out this form or giving us a call.
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