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When it comes to incontinence, there’s nothing more important than understanding the products. There are many different kinds, and one is designed to handle the specific needs of each individual. Knowing these differences will help you choose the right product for you.

Knowing the differences of the many different kinds of incontinence products will help you choose the right product for you HCD health

Bladder Control Pads are thin, absorbent pads designed to protect against lighter outputs of urine. They’re made with a layer of special polymer that absorbs liquid and locks it away, keeping the skin clean and dry.

An advantage of Bladder Control Pads is that they are extremely discreet. They’re among the smallest of products, making them ideal for active people. However, their small size limits the liquid they can absorb, which is why they are typically only used for light leakage.

NOTE: Bladder Control Pads may be covered by Medicaid.

Male Guards are bladder control pads specifically designed for men. They function just like a regular pad, except that one end is tapered to better accommodate male needs.

Like other bladder control pads, male guards are small and discreet. The polymer layer can handle the same amount of leakage as a normal bladder control pad. Male Guards also work best for managing lighter types of incontinence.

NOTE: Male Guards may be covered by Medicaid.

Protective Underwear provides both more absorbency and a larger area of protection.

Protective Underwear, also known as “pull-ons,” are slightly larger products that can replace underwear and fits underneath clothing. The polymer layer is bigger than in Bladder Control Pads, providing both more absorbency and a larger area of protection. When fitted properly, they help prevent leakage from traveling down the leg and dampening clothing.

Although Protective Underwear is bigger than a bladder control pad, they’re still designed to be discreet and comfortable. They’re a great choice for people who experience moderate leakage, or for people who need more absorption at night.

NOTE: Pull-ons may be covered by Medicaid.

Like Protective Underwear, adult briefs are wearable protection made to fit underneath clothing. They have one of the largest polymer layers and provide more area coverage than other absorbent products. Unlike pads and pull-ons, Adult Briefs can handle both urinary and fecal incontinence.

Adult Briefs are great for managing heavier outputs of urine and any level of fecal incontinence. While they are larger than other products, the special design of their polymer layer allow them to be surprisingly thin. They can still be worn underneath clothing with relative ease and comfort.

NOTE: Adult Diapers and Briefs may be covered by Medicaid.

Booster Pads are a supplemental product designed to be used with another absorbent product. As the name suggests, they “boost” absorbency by providing an extra layer of protection. Booster Pads can only be used with another absorbent product, such as bladder control pads, adult briefs, or pull-ons. They do not have a waterproof side, which means they cannot be used by themselves.

NOTE: Booster Pads may be covered by Medicaid.

External Catheters, also known as condom catheters, are a unique incontinence product in that they don’t work by absorbing liquid. Instead, they collect urine into a drainage or collection bag. There are three basic parts to an External Catheter system: The External Catheter, the collection tubing, and the collection bag. Urine travels through the catheter into the collection tubing, which carries it to the collection bag. Once the collection bag is full, it can either be thrown away or emptied, depending on the model.

NOTE: Condom Catheters may be covered by Medicaid.

Underpads are soft, thin sheets of absorbent materials attached to a waterproof barrier on one side. They are designed to protect surfaces from leakage during the changing of an incontinence product. There are two types of underpads: disposable and reusable. Disposable pads are thrown away after use, while reusable pads may be washed and reused. Most underpads do not contain a polymer layer, which means they will stay wet once they absorb liquid.

NOTE: Underpads may be covered by Medicaid.

Understanding the types of incontinence products is a crucial first step for successfully managing your condition. With this knowledge, you’ll be better prepared to choose the right incontinence product.

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 one of the 25 million Americans with incontinence, there’s something important you should know: The incontinence product you use during the day probably is not the one you should use during the night.

It’s very common for people to use more than one kind of product, and for good reasons. Sleep means more time without changing and different body positions your daytime product may not be able to handle.

So that leads to the big question: What product is best to use during the night?

That depends on your experience and needs. Here are the most important things to consider when choosing a product for your night-time needs.

One thing to consider is how sleep will affect your ability to change products. For most people, sleeping results in longer periods of time without a product change. That means more leakage, which requires a product with more absorption.

A good place to start is by comparing your changing frequency to the number of hours you sleep. For example, if you have to change your product every 5 hours during the day, but you sleep 8 hours, then you may need a more absorbent product to cover those 3 extra hours.

Another important consideration is the position of your body while sleeping. Incontinence products work best when firmly pressed against the skin, and some positions may cause products (especially bladder control pads) to shift away from the body. This could result in unabsorbed leakage.

To determine if you may need a better-fitting product, examine the absorbency area when you wake up. If it’s dry (or mostly dry) and you’re experiencing wet clothing or sheets, then it means your product is not fitting snugly enough while you sleep. If the product is damp or wet and there is no outside leakage, you’ve found the perfect product and fit.

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’ve ever tried to use your health insurance benefits to cover medical supplies, you may have been told that you first need a Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN). That begs two questions: What is it, and how do I get one?

A Certificate of Medical Necessity is a document that confirms a need for medical supplies. It’s a vital part of the healthcare process, because it ensures that healthcare dollars are being used as efficiently as possible. And it will help you get medical supplies.

A Certificate of Medical Necessity (CMN) is an official state document that establishes why you need certain medical supplies. It lets insurance companies know that you’ve seen a physician, and that the physician has determined you need medical supplies as part of your treatment.

Each state has its own requirements for what information needs to be included. This could include:

• Doctor’s diagnosis
• Product type
• Quantities needed

Some states will only accept CMNs that they have issued. Because of this, you may not be able to use one state’s CMN in place of another (even if the information on them is the same).

The first step to getting a Certificate of Medical Necessity is visiting your doctor to get a diagnosis. Only a doctor or physician can determine if the supplies you need are medically necessary.

Once you’ve received your diagnosis, it’s time to contact us and enroll. We’ll handle the Certificate of Medical Necessity for you, so you won’t have to worry about it. The process is simple:

1. Once you’ve enrolled, we’ll contact your doctor and send them the correct CMN to fill out.
2. Your doctor will return it to us, and we’ll submit it to your insurance on your behalf.
3. If your insurance needs to authorize supplies before you can get them, we’ll handle that as well.
4. Once that’s done, you can start getting your medical supplies.

If you’ve already been diagnosed, contact us today. We can get to work obtaining your Certificate of Medical Necessity (or any other paperwork that’s needed) right now.

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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One of the challenges of incontinence isn’t the condition, but the cost. Incontinence supplies can be expensive, ranging from $900 – $4,000 annually. But if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), that cost can be greatly reduced.

It turns out that both the FSA and the HSA can be used to pay for incontinence products. Even if your insurance plan doesn’t offer coverage of incontinence products, you could still potentially use your FSA or your HSA. But in order to use these accounts to pay for incontinence products, you need to know a few things first.

Generally speaking, incontinence supplies are eligible for reimbursement with a Flexible Spending Account. One of the advantages of an FSA is that it covers medical needs that are often not covered by private insurance. For many FSA plans, this includes incontinence supplies. Refer to your FSA plan details to find out your coverage level.

If you use an FSA to pay for incontinence supplies, make sure you keep your receipts. You may need to demonstrate that the funds were used for a medical need.

A Health Savings Account may also be used to pay for incontinence products. The important thing to keep in mind with an HSA account is that you may need to demonstrate a medical need for your incontinence products. HSA funds must go towards expenses for items that are medically necessary.

The best way to provide this proof is to get an incontinence diagnosis from a physician or doctor. With a doctor’s confirmation of your condition, it will be much easier to demonstrate that your items are medically necessary.

Like an FSA, it’s also important to keep any receipts from purchases you make with an HSA. It’s very possible that you will be asked to show proof that the expenses are related to a

While it’s true that you can use FSA and HSA accounts to get incontinence supplies, it may also be true that your insurance will provide coverage for medical supplies as well. Many people don’t realize it, but Medicaid and some insurance plans will pay for incontinence supplies as a covered benefit. This could allow you to save your FSA and HSA funds for other medical needs.

Every insurance plan is different, so the best way to find out about your individual plan is to contact us. Our care experts can let you know if you’re eligible and what incontinence supplies you could receive. It only takes a few minutes and could save you a lot of money on your next product purchase.

*The information on this website is not offered as legal or tax advice. Examples of tax benefits are based on the stated IRS Guidelines and on other assumptions that may not apply to your personal situation. All material is presented solely as educational information. Always seek the advice of your tax advisor, attorney, or financial planner regarding your personal circumstances.

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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The word compliance doesn’t usually bring fun and games to mind. We tend to think of things like “Doing it by the book,” “Just the facts,” and “To the Letter of the Law.” In the medical supply industry, compliance is often associated with the latest news in fraud or privacy breach.

We hear about major busts involving large networks and billions of stolen funds , and it gives the impression that compliance is only there to keep the law off your back. It’s an unfortunate perspective, because it misses the two best outcomes that compliance provides: improved customer experience, and greater benefits to providers working on behalf of a customer.

Boiled down to its basics, compliance with healthcare laws is fairly straightforward:

1. Provide a service
2. Bill the service correctly
3. Document the service
4. Protect the health information

Every part of this process is governed by federal or state regulations, from notices to patients about rights, to billing the insurance provider, to documenting the patient condition in medical records, to safeguarding their health information (HIPAA , for example). Adhering to these laws ensures that funds are used correctly and that the patient is protected along the way.

Our commitment to health care compliance differs from many other medical supply providers. While some see it as an obstacle, we embrace compliance completely. By choosing to accomplish business goals compliantly, we can:

1. Build trust and integrity with our customers and partners
2. Focus closely on the customer service experience
3. Provide better assistance to healthcare professionals

Compliant practices foster trust, which attracts trustworthy people. By committing ourselves to doing things the right way (even when no one is looking), we’re able to attract top talent in the industry, making us an ethical business that other companies and insurance plans want to do business with. The result is a network of great people and companies working hard for patients and doing it in way that’s trustworthy and honest.

Compliance also means performing a lot of research, and we use it to enrich the customer experience. Thanks to the meticulous research efforts of our compliance team, we can focus entirely on the needs of our customers. All of the information we need has already been compiled into our technology systems, allowing fast answers to any issue a customer may have. The customer receives the care they deserve, as we don’t need to split our attention between listening to their needs and digging through reference materials.

In addition, complying to the requirements allows us to better assist other healthcare professionals. In order for patients to get medical supplies using their insurance, physicians need to include specific information on the paperwork. We know exactly what that information is, and we share it with the physicians of our customers. This saves physicians the headache of rewriting paperwork due to rejected claims. We also provide the right forms, so they waste no time spent searching for the right ones.

If a company is serious about helping its customers, it should take compliance seriously as well. Today’s public insists on it, and rightly so. The laws are there to protect us, and by adhering to them, we help to create a better, more efficient healthcare experience for everyone. We’ve certainly committed to compliance; it’s simply the better way to do things, and the benefits to our customers are too good to ignore.

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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At Home Care Delivered, we want you to have the information you need for successfully managing your Ostomy care. Here are some fact sheets that might answer some of the questions you have. Feel free to print them out and use them as you see fit. Don’t forget to check out our Ostomy articles for more helpful tips. And remember, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re always available to help!

Fact Sheets:

• Ostomy Facts

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.”