Written by

Tara Farmer

December 11, 2023

Edited by

Jennifer Carlson

Fact-checked by

Kristen Cramer

Average cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) costs $150 to $650 per session on average when not covered by insurance. The total cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy depends on the condition treated, number and length of sessions, whether treatment occurs at a hospital-based or independent clinic, and if it's covered by insurance.

• Most patients require 20 to 40 sessions for effective treatment, averaging $3,000 to $26,000 for the total cost of an initial course of treatment when not covered by insurance.

• The out-of-pocket cost for HBOT, when covered by insurance, varies greatly depending on the insurance plan and associated copays or coinsurance.

• Uninsured patients, or those with a non-covered health condition, typically save 30% to 60% getting treatment from an independent HBOT center instead of a hospital-based facility.

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100% pure oxygen in an enclosed chamber pressurized with higher-than-normal air pressure. This helps the lungs take in more oxygen and increases the amount of oxygen carried through the bloodstream.

• Getting extra oxygen to tissues and organs helps promote new blood vessel growth, fight infection, reduce swelling and inflammation, and stimulate healing.

• HBOT is currently FDA-cleared for over a dozen health conditions, with research continuing for more potential uses.

Factors that affect the price of HBOT

Several factors affect the cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, including:

• Condition being treated – Insurance is more likely to cover HBOT costs for FDA-cleared conditions vs. off-label uses. Covered diagnoses usually have lower out-of-pocket costs.

• Provider type – Hospital-based HBOT programs typically cost more and have higher copays/coinsurance than independent clinics. However, only about 50% of independent clinics take insurance. Some clinics also charge a $100+ consultation fee.

• Chamber type – Treatment in a "monoplace" hyperbaric chamber designed for one person typically costs less than treatment in a "multiplace" chamber that fits multiple people.

• Number of sessions – More treatments means higher overall costs, but the self-pay cost per session may be lower when buying a multiple session treatment package. A typical course of HBOT is 20 to 40 sessions, but some patients need more extended therapy of 100+ sessions.

• Session length – Most HBOT sessions range from 1 to 2 hours. The longer the session, the higher the cost.

• Insurance coverage – Some health insurance plans cover HBOT costs partially or fully, depending on the plan's benefits, pre-authorization policies, and cost-sharing arrangements.

HBOT cost for on-label conditions

Many health insurance plans cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy if patients meet the criteria for an FDA-cleared condition or another on-label diagnosis deemed medically necessary. In most cases, this coverage makes the out-of-pocket treatment cost much lower compared to self-pay options.

Common on-label conditions covered by most insurance plans include:

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Crush injuries or other acute traumatic peripheral ischemia

• Decompression sickness

• Diabetic foot ulcers and other non-healing wounds

• Gas embolism

• Gas gangrene

• Acute anemia

• Severe burns

• Serious skin and bone infections

• Skin graft flap with necrosis risk

• Sudden complete hearing loss

• Injury from radiation

HBOT cost for off-label conditions

Hyperbaric therapy costs $150 to $650 per session on average when treating off-label conditions. Most insurance plans do not cover off-label uses of HBOT because these uses do not yet have enough supporting clinical evidence.

Some conditions that may benefit from HBOT but have limited or no insurance coverage include:

• Autism

• Crohn’s disease or other gastrointestinal diseases

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Chronic skin conditions

• Fibromyalgia

• Inner ear conditions with sudden hearing loss

• Long Covid recovery

• Migraines

• Neurologic conditions like multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Sports injuries and fractures that won't heal

• Stroke recovery

• Traumatic and anoxic brain injuries

Hospital-based vs. independent HBOT centers

The type of facility providing the treatments can impact the price of HBOT significantly.

• Hospital-based – Hospital-based HBOT centers are well-equipped to handle acute emergencies and complications, but pricing is often higher for routine outpatient treatments like HBOT due to the expensive overhead for hospital operations. Still, hospitals typically accept insurance, reducing the out-of-pocket cost for certain conditions.

• Independent – Independent HBOT clinics and spas focus solely on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, often providing a more comfortable patient experience. These specialized centers have lower operating costs than hospitals, which translates to lower prices for self-pay patients. However, only some independent clinics accept insurance.

Benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Potential benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy include:

• Increased circulation

• Faster wound, skin graft, and flap healing

• Reduced inflammation, reduced inflammation, and lower risk of infection

• Help fighting serious infections including necrotizing fasciitis

• Reduced risk of tissue death from carbon monoxide poisoning or crush injuries

• Relief from symptoms caused by decompression sickness or air bubbles in blood vessels

• Aiding recovery from non-healing diabetic foot ulcers

• Help avoiding amputation when other treatments failed

Risks of hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is considered generally safe when protocols are carefully followed. However, there are some potential risks to be aware of:

• Middle ear injuries or sinus pain from pressure changes

• Temporary vision changes like myopia

• Collapsed lung (rare)

• Oxygen toxicity or seizures from too much oxygen (rare)

• Fire risk if proper precautions aren’t followed

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy FAQs

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy covered by insurance?

Insurance coverage for hyperbaric oxygen therapy varies significantly between policies. Medicare and many private insurers cover a percentage of the HBOT cost for FDA-cleared conditions that meet medical necessity criteria. Most plans do not cover off-label uses or require an extensive appeal process to obtain coverage.

How long do the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy last?

Depending on the condition, the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy can last for 1 month to 2+ years after finishing the initial course of treatment. Some patients require maintenance therapy every 1 to 3 years to sustain long-term results.

Finding the best hyperbaric oxygen therapy providers

Your out-of-pocket cost for HBOT depends on your specific health condition, insurance coverage, HBOT providers in your area, and the number of treatments. Here are some tips to find the best pricing for hyperbaric oxygen therapy near you:

• If your insurance doesn't cover HBOT, talk to your doctor about medical necessity and appealing for coverage.

• Ask about clinical HBOT trials currently looking for participants.

• Get multiple estimates from both hospitals and independent HBOT clinics.

• Compare costs of multiple session packages.

• Ask if discounts for paying cash or financial assistance programs are available.

• Inquire about payment plans or other financing options.