Diagnosing Incontinence: How It Can Help You Get Medical Supplies

Diagnosing Incontinence: How It Can Help You Get Medical Supplies

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It’s not often that going to the doctor can actually help you save money. But if you’re one of the 25 million Americans that experiences incontinence, talking to your doctor may help you access the supplies you need — and could reduce your out-of-pocket costs.

Why Should I Get Diagnosed?

Diagnosing incontinence could help you get incontinence supplies at little to no cost. Many don’t know it, but Medicaid and some private insurances cover them as a healthcare benefit. But in order for insurance to cover supplies, the supplies must be considered medically necessary to treat your condition. The only way to show that is for a doctor to diagnose you and then write a prescription for products.

Doctor diagnoses helps you get supplies.

Once the cause has been determined, you and your healthcare professional can establish a treatment plan that includes the medical supplies needed to treat incontinence.

How to Get Diagnosed

Getting a diagnosis starts with calling your doctor and making an appointment. Speak with them honestly about your symptoms and the kind of output that you have. It may be a sensitive situation that’s hard to discuss, but you owe it to your health and happiness to take this step towards a healthy solution.

Once you’ve been diagnosed, then it’s time to contact us or enroll online. With your incontinence now officially a medical need, we can get you onboard to receive your supplies. The process is simple:

  • Provide your information using the step-by-step process.
  • We obtain all the paperwork from your doctor and submit it to your insurance.
  • You receive discreet, monthly deliveries of quality incontinence supplies right to your door.

Signing up takes just minutes and may help reduce your costs for trusted incontinence products.

image collage of incontinence products computer monitor and cell phone showing online way to see if you qualify for insurance covered incontinence supplies

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.

The 5 Most Important Things You Should Know About Incontinence Products

The 5 Most Important Things You Should Know About Incontinence Products

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The 5 Most Important Things You Should Know about Incontinence Products

Of all the factors that contribute to successful management of incontinence, one stands above others: using incontinence products correctly.

Incontinence products are not as simple as they seem. There’s a lot that can go wrong when used incorrectly, so it’s worth taking the time to learn about the differences and how they should be used.

Here’s a list of 5 tips that can help you avoid the common mistakes people make when using incontinence products.

1. Find the Right Product

An important part of managing incontinence is making sure the product is right for the need. Incontinence products are designed for specific types of leakage and output, so understanding their differences is key.

Here’s a quick guide to the different incontinence products and the leakage they’re designed to handle:

ProductOutput
Bladder Control PadLight Urine
Protective Underwear/Pull-OnsMedium Urine
Adult BriefsHeavy Urine/Fecal

Keep in mind that every person’s experience will be different. Leakage differs from person to person, so ultimately, the right product is the one that best takes care of the need.

To find out what product works best for you, enroll online to see our recommended product. Our enrollment platform matches your symptoms with the best product and then will help you determine if you can use your insurance to help cover the cost.

2. Make Sure The Size Is Right

Proper protection isn’t only about the right product; it’s also about the right size. Just like with clothing, incontinence products need to be fitted properly in order to provide comfort and protection. Here are few tips about how to know if the product fits correctly:

Bladder Control Pads – For bladder control pads, size correlates to the length and width of the pad. The larger the size, longer and wider the pad will be. Choose a pad that is comfortable when worn but is big enough to provide the right protection.

Protective Underwear/Pull Ons – For protective underwear, success is all about proper sizing. The product should not droop or dangle away from the body when worn. Make sure that waist fits snugly, and that the product firmly makes contact around the legs. Any gaps could cause leakage, so be sure that the fit is nice and secure.

Adult Briefs – For adult briefs, sizing is also very important. A good indicator of the correct size is the location of the fastener when the product is worn. Here’s what to look for:

  • If the fastener reaches the center of the hip when tightly pulled, then chances are the size is correct.
  • If the fastener is loose at the center of hip, then the product is probably too big.
  • If it doesn’t quite reach the hip, it’s most likely too small.

As with protective underwear, it’s also important to make sure that the briefs fit snugly around the upper legs with no gaps.

3. Use One Product at a Time

With the exception of booster pads, all incontinence products are designed to be used by themselves. “Doubling up” on a product by using two items together does not double the protection from leakage.

Incontinence products have two distinct sides. One side allows liquid to pass through, while the other side does not. This is what keeps leakage from passing through and dampening skin and clothing. When two products are used at the same time, the waterproof side of one product will prevent liquid from passing through to the other.

If one product isn’t providing enough protection, then it’s probably time to consider a new one. There are plenty of options available for different absorbency needs. If there are questions about what will work best, then call one of our team members, and we’ll help find the right product for you.

4. Don’t Replace Other Products with Booster Pads

Booster pads have a very unique purpose in incontinence management. As the name suggests, they are meant to “boost” leakage protection by providing a little extra absorbency. They are not meant to serve as the only source of protection. Here’s why:

Booster pads are not waterproof. They’re designed to allow leakage to pass through to another product. If there’s no other product in use, then the leakage will pass through the booster pad and dampen the skin or clothing.

Regular use of booster pads is a good indication that the product you’re using is not absorbent enough for your needs. Contact us to learn about better product options.

5. The Right Product for Fecal Incontinence

One of the tricky things about the term “incontinence” is that it can actually refer to two different categories: urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence. While there are many products to handle urinary incontinence, only one kind handles fecal incontinence, and that’s the adult brief.

Adult briefs differ from protective underwear and bladder control pads in two ways; They provide a much larger area of protection and can absorb more than urine. No other incontinence product offers this same kind of protection, so if fecal incontinence is in any way experienced, it’s imperative that briefs are the products that are used.

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.

Will Your Insurance Cover Your Medical Supplies?

Will Your Insurance Cover Your Medical Supplies?

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When it comes to insurance coverage of medical supplies, there’s one big concern that people have: Will my insurance cover them?

In many cases, the answer is “yes.” Many people don’t realize they may qualify to receive medical supplies through their insurance plan. Things like incontinence supplies, catheters, and gauze could be paid for using your benefits.

Every plan is different, so to find out what you’re eligible for, there’s a few things you need to know.

How Medical Supply Coverage Works:

For an insurance company to cover a product, it usually needs to be considered medically necessary. Insurance companies define this in different ways, but there’s one thing that’s always consistent: The need for a doctor’s diagnosis.

In order for any product to be considered medically necessary, a healthcare professional must confirm that the supplies are needed for treatment. A diagnosis provides that to your insurance. Without proof that supplies are needed, insurance won’t usually cover the cost of supplies.

How Can I Start Using My Insurance for My Medical Supplies?

The first step is simply to visit your doctor about getting a diagnosis. Your doctor may recommend supplies as part of your ongoing health support. If you already have a diagnosis, then contact us as soon as possible. You may already be eligible to receive products as a covered benefit.

Once you have your diagnosis, you should contact us at (866) 938-3906 or sign up online. We’ll work with your doctor to build you’re personalized product solution, verify your insurance, and coordinate the paperwork for you. Once all the insurance requirements are met, you’ll receive monthly shipments of supplies covered by your insurance.

Don’t forget that health insurance is meant to be there when you need it, so learn about your benefits and know what they cover. It may help you save money. If you ever have questions, let us know. Our team is always happy to help you get the care you need.

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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