Are there any programs that help with the cost of incontinence pads?
My sister is 72 and has incontinence problems and I help get her pads for her, but it is costing me too much and I was hoping that there is a program that will help me obtain pads for her without bankrupting me.
i used to get diapers and chux for my mom who passed in aug of this year, so i know my information is pretty up to date . if your sister has Medicaid or Medicare and her doctor writes her a prescription for them she can have them delivered to her door . at least i know that is how it is in Las Vegas, NV .
I personally, a disabled young adult, am on Social Security and SSI, allowing me to get Medi-Cal and after being on SS for two years, Medicare. I am getting help right now through a Home Health Agency after having been hospitalized for over a year for a spinal fluid leak that we couldn't easily find the source of because of my spinal hardware from a scoliosis correction surgery. I entered the hosp Dec of '11 and didn't get the leak corrected until Oct '12 (after we found a neurosurgeon I could be transferred to that specializes in leak repair). I discharged from rehab in Dec '12 and went home with the help of a HHA. I bounced in and out of the hosp until 5 '13 for various reasons. Now, after that is all said and done, if you are under the care of a HHA, they are supposed to cover the cost of the Chux underpads, diapers, etc. They are also supposed to supply catheters as necessary, vent supplies if necessary, etc.
From the Medicare website "The Medicare DME benefit will not consider coverage of routine and non-routine medical supplies such as catheters, tracheostomy care kits, ostomy supplies, etc. while a patient is receiving home health care. These DME items are billed by the home health agency (HHA) providing the care. Therefore, Medicare beneficiaries who are receiving home health care should not contact a DME supplier to receive routine or nonroutine medical supplies (i.e., catheters, tracheostomy care kits, ostomy supplies, etc.).
Idk about those with Medi-Cal only. I know with Medicare and no home health you can get a docs order and sending it to a medical supply company such as Shield Healthcare, and they will bill Medicare and send you the Chux or diapers, etc. Let me research Medi-Cal only and see what I get. I will respond again later.
My husband was in the Pennsylvania Dept of Aging Waiver program. This program helps keep seniors in their home rather than a nursing home, for as long as possible. Through that program we were able to recieve Depends briefs sent on a regular monthly schedule. There may be other programs.Check with your local Area Agency on Aging.
Sometimes purchasing it online in bulk is a big discount. I used to order by bulk (like 10 boxes) of gloves, 4x4 gauzes and 6-pack Calmoseptine for my mom. We live in middle of Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, the shipping cost kept going up and Amazon views us as international - therefore they charge us intl rate. There are companies who sell bulk with free shipping.
I joined a caregiver's respite program run by both federal/local agency. For the year, my father (bedridden senior) and I have $$ voucher allocations for supplies. Father gets $60 which I use towards gloves, wipes, pampers, etc...at a great discount. A box of Unigard ($95 at store) is $60 there. I usually use my $40-$60 allocation as a gift certificate at Ross store. Also, once you finish up your voucher, you can still buy supplies at the discounted prices. It's a Caregiver's Respite program.
My mom has a waterproof pad on the bed on top of a waterproof mattress cover and she cuts up old cheap used quilts she gets at the goodwill and puts them on top. She washes them in washing machine and reuses them.
Hydrocortisone ointment is very good on the rash. My disabled son has worn adult diapers some 15 years and that is what we use, as first recommended by his doctor.
If mom is on Medicaid and has a doctor's letter of necessity, she may be able to get them given the rules of the state you live in. In Texas, they will only pay for certain product brands, not Depends.
I have found no programs where we live that helps with it. The DHHR did send me to a local pharmacy who donates depends or whatever the incontinence products that are needed, and I have gotten Mom some that way. The Salvation Army has helped numerous times giving briefs. It sure helps out a lot. You might ask around at the places who have programs for seniors. I found out these 2 places just by talking about it to different people. Best of luck.
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Now, after that is all said and done, if you are under the care of a HHA, they are supposed to cover the cost of the Chux underpads, diapers, etc. They are also supposed to supply catheters as necessary, vent supplies if necessary, etc.
From the Medicare website "The Medicare DME benefit will not consider coverage of routine and non-routine medical supplies such as catheters, tracheostomy care kits, ostomy supplies, etc. while a patient is receiving home health care. These DME items are billed by the home health agency (HHA) providing the care. Therefore, Medicare beneficiaries who are receiving home health care should not contact a DME supplier to receive routine or nonroutine medical supplies (i.e., catheters, tracheostomy care kits, ostomy supplies, etc.).
Idk about those with Medi-Cal only. I know with Medicare and no home health you can get a docs order and sending it to a medical supply company such as Shield Healthcare, and they will bill Medicare and send you the Chux or diapers, etc.
Let me research Medi-Cal only and see what I get. I will respond again later.
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