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Providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia can be challenging on a tight budget. Luckily, Medicaid provides many benefits that can make care more affordable.

If you’re caring for someone with Medicaid or a waiver, there may be some benefits that could help. Not everyone knows about these benefits, so we’ve highlighted some of them here.

Many don’t know it, but most state Medicaid plans currently provide coverage of absorbent incontinence supplies. Medicaid recipients may be eligible to receive products like adult diapers at little to no cost.

For caregivers, that means less money spent out of pocket on supplies. Incontinence products can be expensive, costing on average $5,000 per person annually. Using Medicaid benefits to get supplies from a provider (like Home Care Delivered) ensures you have products available when you need them.

Depending on the state, Medicaid could also cover In-Home Assistance. In-Home Assistance covers the cost of an aide to help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as bathing, cleaning, and eating. In-Home Assistance is great for caregivers with busy schedules. Not only does it provide additional care for the patient, but it also helps with the cost, making quality care more affordable.

Medicaid could also cover the cost of an Adult Day Care Center (ADCC) that specializes in Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Adult Day Care Centers are facilities that supervise and support elderly and disabled adults during the day.

The cost of Adult Day Care Centers can be expensive. The average cost can be as high as $27,000 per year. Medicaid can make adult day care centers affordable for professional-level support when it’s needed most.

Many Medicaid plans provide coverage of Home Health Services. With this benefit, people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia may qualify for a range of medical services while at home.

Home Health care can cost between $4,000 and $6,700 per month, depending on location and level of care. That adds up to $48,000–$80,000 per year, which is more than many families can afford. Fortunately, Medicaid can significantly reduce or even eliminate these costs for eligible individuals, making it a crucial resource for families managing dementia care at home.

Medicaid could also cover respite care for friends and family members who are caring for the individual. Respite care covers the cost of providing care for a few hours a day/week.

Respite care is great for caregivers who have many responsibilities to manage. It provides them with more time to handle their own needs while ensuring their loved ones are getting the quality care they need.

Medicaid also could cover transportation to and from doctor’s visits or other healthcare appointments. For disabled individuals, this can also include help with mobility needs, such as getting to and from a vehicle.

This benefit allows patients to get the care they need even when their caregivers are not available to transport them. It also reduces the cost of transportation, which can anywhere from $50 to $200 per trip.

There are many other benefits that Medicaid could provide, including Medicaid benefits for seniors and the elderly. Some of the additional benefits available for people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia may include:

• Catheters & urological supplies
• Lab work
• X-rays
• Bandages & wound care products
• Dentures
• Diabetic supplies
• Prescriptions
• Nursing Facility

Of course, it is also important to consider when it might be time for an Alzheimer’s patient to require more attention that what may be available at home. While caring for someone with this condition, watch out for signs that they may not be able to live alone.

To find out if any of these benefits are an option, call the number on the back of the Alzheimer patient’s Medicaid card.

Living with a chronic condition that requires medical supplies?

Let us help you get the products you need — delivered discreetly to your door.

Many people manage ongoing health conditions, and the right medical supplies can make all the difference. The team at HCD works with you, your doctor, and your insurance plan to support a wide range of needs, including urological, ostomy, diabetes, and wound care. We’ll help ensure you get the supplies you need to manage your condition with confidence.

Call 866-938-3906 to see if you qualify or reach out through our Contact Us form by selecting “An individual looking to see if I or a loved one qualifies for medical supplies.”

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Incontinence is the involuntary release or loss of urine or feces.

There are two basic categories:

• Urinary incontinence (also called bladder leakage) is the accidental loss of urine. It’s the most common type, especially among women.
• Fecal incontinence is the accidental loss of a bowel movement. People who experience fecal incontinence often experience urinary incontinence as well.

Lots of things can cause incontinence, such as weakened muscles, nerve issues, and cognitive disorders.

There are four basic types of urinary incontinence:

• Stress Incontinence occurs when the pelvic and sphincter muscle weaken, making it difficult to contain urine.
• Urge Incontinence occurs when there’s a quick, sudden urge to use the bathroom that’s followed by leakage.
• Overflow Incontinence occurs when the bladder does not empty properly, causing it to overflow and leak urine.
• Functional Incontinence occurs when another medical or physical condition prevents an individual from reaching a bathroom in time.

Absorbent incontinence supplies are discreet products that absorb urine and stool. They’re filled with a special polymer that pulls leakage away from the skin, keeping it clean and dry. Incontinence products are very thin and can be worn under clothing without notice.

There are three basic types of incontinence products:

• Bladder control pads
• Disposable protective underwear (Pull-Ons)
• Adult briefs

Each one is designed to handle different types of leakage. To learn more, read this article about types of incontinence products.

Incontinence supplies can be expensive, costing as much as $900-$4,000 per year. Here are some ways to help reduce the cost of getting the supplies you need.

Many people don’t realize it, but most Medicaid plans cover incontinence supplies. If you have Medicaid, you may be eligible to receive monthly supplies delivered and covered by your benefits.

Each state has its own requirements and coverage. To learn more about your state’s coverage, visit our Medicaid Coverage of Incontinence Supplies Guide.

Diaper banks provide incontinence supplies to people who can’t afford them. The supplies are usually donated, which means that the same products may not always be available.
For more ways to afford incontinence supplies, read our guide to incontinence supplies for lower incomes.

You or a loved one dealing with incontinence?

Let us help you get the supplies you need to feel supported, comfortable, and confident.
If you’re managing bladder or bowel incontinence — from light to heavy needs — our team at HCD will work with you, your doctor, and your insurance plan to deliver a personalized product solution that fits your specific situation.

Call 866-938-3906 or share your information through our online enrollment form to get started.

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In today’s digital world, you can sign up online to get just about anything you need: Razors, groceries, and for the first time ever, Medicaid-covered incontinence supplies.

That’s why HCD offers online enrollment for Medicaid-covered incontinence products, so you can start the process anytime, from anywhere.

If you have Medicaid, you can now enroll for free monthly delivery of supplies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Traditional enrollment often means long phone calls, inconvenient hours, and sharing personal details over the phone. This can cause a lot of frustration and discomfort.

Online enrollment gives you flexibility and privacy by letting you start the process when it works for you. You choose when you start enrollment, and also when you finish it.

HCD Online Enrollment Benefits

• Start anytime, 24/7
• Complete the form at your own pace
• Quick confirmation call — no long phone conversations
• Mobile-friendly, so you can enroll from anywhere
• 100% private & discreet
• No credit card required
• Mobile friendly – sign up anywhere!

Getting started is easy and designed to fit your schedule. Simply click the button below and follow the step-by-step instructions. Once you submit the form, our team will handle the next steps—like verifying your insurance and coordinating with your doctor.
How It Works:

• Fill out the online form at your convenience. What You’ll Need:
  1. Medicaid member ID
  2. Doctor’s contact information
  3. Your contact details
• We’ll verify your insurance coverage right away if you provide your Medicaid ID.
• Our team will follow up with a quick confirmation call to make sure your product and size are right for your needs.
• We’ll work with your doctor to collect any required documentation.

We’ll also give you a quick confirmation call to make sure your product and size are right for your needs. After everything is confirmed, your supplies will be shipped discreetly to your door.

You or a loved one dealing with incontinence?

Let us help you get the supplies you need to feel supported, comfortable, and confident.
If you’re managing bladder or bowel incontinence — from light to heavy needs — our team at HCD will work with you, your doctor, and your insurance plan to deliver a personalized product solution that fits your specific situation.

Call 866-938-3906 or share your information through our online enrollment form to get started.

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If you’re a Medicaid recipient, you may already know that many state Medicaid plans cover incontinence supplies for adults. But what about children? Can you get diapers for your kids with Medicaid? The answer depends on a few different factors.

Medicaid coverage of children’s diapers is available, but for Medicaid to provide coverage, the diapers must first be considered medically necessary. This means that a doctor or physician must confirm that the diapers are part of a treatment plan for a specific condition.

Many state Medicaid plans also have age restrictions for covering children’s diapers. Generally speaking, children must be older than 3 or 4 years old to be eligible to receive diapers. For more information about your specific state requirements, check out our Guide to Medicaid Coverage of Incontinence Supplies.

To get children’s diapers with Medicaid benefits, you should first check to see if your state Medicaid will cover the supplies. After that, you need to visit a doctor and get a diagnosis. A diagnosis from a physician means diapers are a medical necessity for your child and are part of a treatment plan for their condition. Once your child has been diagnosed, Medicaid benefits may cover their cost (depending on specific state rules).

After they’ve seen their doctor, contact us about getting diapers for your child. We’ll collect the paperwork and submit it to the Medicaid office on your behalf. If your child is eligible, we’ll be able to send you diapers each month and bill Medicaid for the cost.

You or a loved one dealing with incontinence?

Let us help you get the supplies you need to feel supported, comfortable, and confident.
If you’re managing bladder or bowel incontinence — from light to heavy needs — our team at HCD will work with you, your doctor, and your insurance plan to deliver a personalized product solution that fits your specific situation.

Call 866-938-3906 or share your information through our online enrollment form to get started.

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Choosing the right incontinence pad should be a simple, straightforward task, right? You just look at the products, compare their features, and pick the one you think is right for you. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy.

Incontinence pads are not so simple. They come in many different varieties and are often described with unfamiliar terms that can be misleading. Companies also use different words to describe similar products, making comparisons even more difficult.

But don’t worry. This guide will help you cut through the confusion and get to what matters: finding a pad that’s right for you. We’ve put together some important tips that will help you know what those words on the package really mean, and how to know if it’s the right product for your needs.

Incontinence pads are thin, absorbent pads designed to manage light urine leakage. Other names for incontinence pads are:

• Bladder Control pads
• Incontinence diapers
• Adult liners
• Insert pads

Generally, incontinence pads are made of soft, absorbent fabric that’s filled with a liquid-absorbing polymer. When urine touches the polymer, it becomes trapped, keeping the skin clean and dry. The back of the pad consists of a waterproof layer that keeps leakage from passing through

One thing that confuses people is the absorbency of incontinence pads. When shopping for products, you may see words like “super-absorbent,” “maximum,” or “ultimate” on the package. That does not mean that the incontinence pad can manage moderate or heavy flows.

No matter how they are described, incontinence pads (bladder control pads) can only handle light leakage. Light leakage is characterized by drops of urine or moderate heavy dribbles. If you experience leakage that’s heavier than a few drops, there are other types of incontinence products that are better suited to support you and your specific condition needs.

Here is the absorbency scale for the incontinence pads in this guide. Keep in mind that this range represents different levels of light leakage only, and not heavier types of leakage:

Knowing the right pad size can cause you some uneasiness as there are many words used to describe them: regular, moderate, ultra-long, classic, normal. How do you know which size is right?

The first thing to understand is that the team at HCD is here to work with you, understand your specific needs, and work with you and your physician to determine the right product and size to support you. Keep in mind, incontinence pad sizing is different for each manufacturer. Some brands use their own terms to refer to their sizes, so we are here to help navigate this process for you.

For example, one company may use the word “petite” to describe their small size. Other brands use the traditional “small,” “medium,” and “large,” but just like clothing, these sizes may be slightly different from one company to the next. What counts as a medium in one brand may be longer or shorter than a medium in another.

There are two ways to choose the correct size: The first is to focus on the actual pad length. Almost all incontinence pads are measured in inches, and most manufacturers put these measurements somewhere on the packaging. Using the actual pad length will help you know the exact size of the pad regardless of what a company calls it.

Another option is to go by the hip and waist size. Some incontinence pads are sized based upon the waist (just like when you buy pants). For these pads, choose one made for your waist size.

Although companies use different words to describe size and absorbency, there are some common terms you may see across brands.

Note: Some brands might use “ultimate” for their biggest size, so it’s important to look at the actual length and determine if that will meet your needs

It’s not only the size of the pads that can be difficult to choose, but also the style. Incontinence pads come in many different varieties: thin, lite, etc. Here are some of the most common styles of incontinence pads you’ll see.

As the name suggests, rectangular pads have a rectangular shape. They tend to be less bulky than other pads, but they don’t contour to the curves of the body as well. For this reason, they are best used for lighter leakage.

Shaped pads are the most common type of incontinence pad. Their shape aligns with the contours of the body, providing comfort and protection. While they can be a little bulkier than rectangular pads, they tend to provide more protection than rectangular ones.

When long is used with incontinence pads, it usually comes after another term (moderate-long, ultimate long, etc…) The “long” indicates that the pad is longer than the regular version, but has the same absorbency level. Generally speaking, a long pad is 1-3 inches longer than the regular version.

Male guards/shields are incontinence pads designed specifically for men. Their unique shape accommodates the anatomical needs of men while still providing protection against leakage. Just like normal incontinence pads, male guards come in a variety of sizes and absorbency levels.

Scented and odor-reducing pads are designed to help with unwanted odor that urinary incontinence might cause. Scented pads work by releasing perfumes when urine hits the polymer (similar to household odor sprays). Odor-reducing pads have materials that work to prevent the creation of odor-causing particles.

• Features an absorbent layer of polymer for better leakage absorption.
• Reduces odor and pulls moisture away from the skin.
  Features a special insert that helps the pad keep its shape, preventing it from bunching up.
• Made with comfortable, cloth-like material that’s latex free.
• Individually sealed with a wrapper that can also be used to dispose of the pad.

Did you know that Medicaid and some private insurance plans cover incontinence supplies? It’s true, and it could potentially save you money on the cost of your products.

If you have Medicaid, then you may be eligible right now to get incontinence pads as a covered benefit. Learn more about getting bladder control pads covered by Medicaid. We’ll find you the right product, deliver them discreetly to your door, and bill your insurance for the cost. It only takes a few minutes to enroll and could save you hundreds on your out-of-pocket costs.

You or a loved one dealing with incontinence?

Let us help you get the supplies you need to feel supported, comfortable, and confident.
If you’re managing bladder or bowel incontinence — from light to heavy needs — our team at HCD will work with you, your doctor, and your insurance plan to deliver a personalized product solution that fits your specific situation.

Call 866-938-3906 or share your information through our online enrollment form to get started.