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CPAP Rental in Belgium: INAMI Convention or Buy Your Own Device?
Searching for CPAP rental in Belgium? It's a common question - a CPAP device is an investment, and many patients wonder whether it's possible to borrow or lease one before committing to a purchase. This guide explains how the INAMI/RIZIV "provision" system really works, its advantages, its limits, and when buying your own CPAP makes more sense.
The INAMI Convention: A Loan, Not a Rental
In Belgium, there is no commercial CPAP rental market. What exists is the INAMI/RIZIV convention: an accredited sleep centre provides a CPAP device on loan (bruikleen). The device does not belong to you - it remains the property of the centre. You pay only the co-payment: approximately €7.50/month (free for BIM/OMNIO status patients).
It is effectively a long-term subsidised loan, similar to a rental covered by your health insurer. But it comes with strict conditions and important limitations.
Who Qualifies for the INAMI Convention?
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | AHI ≥ 15/hour (apnoeas-hypopnoeas per hour of sleep) |
| Type of study | Polysomnography (PSG) performed at an accredited centre |
| Centre | Sleep centre recognised by INAMI/RIZIV |
| Follow-up | Annual medical follow-up with the centre's partner pharmacy |
| Device choice | None: the centre selects the model |
Limitations of the INAMI Convention
- Waiting time: 4 to 8 weeks between diagnosis and device provision
- No device choice: the centre selects the CPAP based on its supplier contracts
- AHI threshold ≥ 15: if your AHI is between 5 and 14, you are not eligible
- No ownership: you cannot travel freely with the device without the centre's approval
- Tied to one centre: if you move or change provider, the process restarts
- Limited data access: some centres do not share your device usage reports
When Buying Your Own CPAP Makes More Sense
- AHI between 5 and 14: you have symptoms (fatigue, snoring, micro-arousals) but do not meet the threshold of 15. The convention does not cover you, but a CPAP may significantly improve your sleep quality.
- Second device for travel: travelling with a convention device is often restricted. The AirMini AutoSet is the ideal travel CPAP.
- Immediate start: no 6-week wait. Order today, receive tomorrow.
- Choice of model: choose the quietest, most connected device that fits your lifestyle.
- Expats and cross-border workers: not covered by Belgian social security or followed abroad.
- Full ownership: the device is yours. Access your data freely via ResMed myAir or OSCAR.
CPAP Devices Available to Buy
- ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet - The benchmark: auto-adjustment, ForCare algorithm, built-in myAir. Full AirSense 11 guide →
- Philips DreamStation 2 Auto - Compact, quiet, DreamMapper app. DreamStation 2 guide →
- Löwenstein Prisma SMART Auto - German quality, ultra-quiet. Prisma SMART guide →
- ResMed AirMini AutoSet - The world's smallest CPAP, perfect for travel.
INAMI Convention vs. Buying: Comparison
| INAMI Convention | Buy at VivaRespire | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | €7.50/month (or €0 BIM) | One-off purchase |
| Eligibility | AHI ≥ 15 only | All patients |
| Lead time | 4 to 8 weeks | 1 to 3 business days |
| Device choice | No (centre decides) | Yes, full range |
| Ownership | No (centre's device) | Yes (your device) |
| Data access | Depends on centre policy | Full access via myAir/OSCAR |
| Travel | Restricted | Unrestricted |
Frequently asked questions about CPAP rental in Belgium
No. There is no commercial CPAP rental market in Belgium in the classic sense. The closest formula is the loan (bruikleen) via the INAMI/RIZIV convention: an accredited sleep centre provides you with the device, which remains its property. You only pay the co-payment. Outside this framework, patients go through direct purchase at a specialist retailer like VivaRespire.
Buying a CPAP typically amortises over 5 to 7 years of use. A quality CPAP often lasts beyond that period with proper maintenance. For patients not eligible for the convention (AHI below 15) or who want to keep control of their therapy, purchase becomes more advantageous from year one. For convention patients, the loan stays financially lighter since the mutual fund covers most of the cost.
Under the INAMI convention, yes: the sleep centre and its partner pharmacy handle maintenance, annual follow-up and any breakdowns. With a direct purchase at VivaRespire, the device ships with its manufacturer warranty (2 years for ResMed, Philips and Loewenstein). Ongoing consumables - filters, cushion, tube - are at your expense but stay very affordable.
At the end of the convention, the device is returned to the sleep centre. You never became the owner. If you want to continue therapy - which is almost always recommended for sleep apnoea - you must either renew the convention if you still qualify, or buy your own device. Many patients use this moment to switch to direct purchase and regain full autonomy.
No, no AHI threshold is required to buy a CPAP in Belgium. CPAP is a class IIa medical device sold freely in most cases. We strongly recommend a prior medical diagnosis (polysomnography or respiratory polygraphy) to confirm sleep apnoea and get an initial pressure recommendation. Buying a CPAP without a diagnosis is never a good idea.
A few-weeks trial barely exists in Belgium outside hospital channels or sleep centres. If you want to test a CPAP before buying, the best compromise is to start with a laboratory diagnosis and watch your response over the first nights on pressure. At VivaRespire, product returns follow the legal rules for distance sales. The safest approach is to pick the right model with medical advice before ordering.