A Closer Look at Sleep Apnea (IMAGE) FAIR Health Caption From 2014 to 2017, private insurance claim lines with a diagnosis of sleep apnea -- a potentially serious disorder in which a person repeatedly stops and starts breathing while asleep -- increased by 911 percent in rural America, according to FAIR Health. Credit FAIR Health Usage Restrictions Credit FAIR Health License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.