Attends

[justej]

The only thing my insurance will cover is attends and those are crap. Guess I am never leaving the house. I hate this so damn much.

[Patrick]

I regretted reading of the limitations imposed by your insurance carrier. Do you have access to any other resources that might supplement the cost of more effective protection? Are there any charities or local home health organizations that could assist you? As with other incontinents, my experiments have included brands that failed; that taught me what works and what does not. An inferior product can be exasperating, even when that failure teaches you what to avoid.

[justej]

Thanks Patrick.
Unfortunately I am all alone in this. I have checked every local org and have come up with nothing. These are supposed to be the heaviest they offer but I don't know. I have had leaks and issues with every breathable diaper I have tried. Even premium ones. My expectations are low. I am going to try to get booster pads and I just got some diaper covers (I need to get more but its a start) to hopefully make these things work.

I'm trying.

[greenbank]

Thanks Patrick.
Unfortunately I am all alone in this. I have checked every local org and have come up with nothing. These are supposed to be the heaviest they offer but I don't know. I have had leaks and issues with every breathable diaper I have tried. Even premium ones. My expectations are low. I am going to try to get booster pads and I just got some diaper covers (I need to get more but its a start) to hopefully make these things work.

I'm trying.

Have you ever written to the better diaper companies to offer your services to test new products or appeal to their better nature.

[HumanFly]

Have you ever written to the better diaper companies to offer your services to test new products or appeal to their better nature.

Diaper manufacturers don't by and large trade with actual incontinent people but with institutional buyers and insurers. This has been the case for decades. They know that actual users and carers are often dissatisfied with the products but buyers are only interested in the bottom line and manufacturers compete for their trade, not ours.

[justej]

These are absolutely NOT going to work. Baby diapers are thicker than these! I broke down crying. Ive been fighting for months. For nothing. I cant do this anymore

[sociologygeek]

Hi Elijah!

I thought you were getting Tranqulity ATN?? What is your waist size? Perhaps sometime in the future I can gift you a case when finances are looking better. We can't have you going without. Still dreaming of the premium supply nonprofit, but non profit formation costs money I currently dont have.

Hoping you have better days ahead.

Rob

[sociologygeek]

These are absolutely NOT going to work. Baby diapers are thicker than these! I broke down crying. Ive been fighting for months. For nothing. I cant do this anymore

I got something similar from my UPHP worker via Medline. FIrst the send me the wrong size.. and then its a fitright.. barely thicker than a kotex pad. Umm not unless im at home. Not wearing that to work. NOPE!

[justej]

Rob - I thought so too! The supply place told me everything got approved and I was all ready to go. Then I get a call that their vender cant bill the atns to insurance or some crap.

I have something worked out with someone (can't go into detail) but I am ok for the foreseeable future.

[MikePNW]

In general, I find insurance companies and health care providers to be clueless when it comes to incontinence. The doctors keep pushing medications that, not only do not stop the incontinence (so pads or diapers are still required), but cause side effects that are worse than the incontinence itself. And, the doctors deny that the medications are the cause of the side effects (how many times have folks heard a doctor say: "It can't possibly be the medication!").

Of course, the insurance companies will cover the pills (generic equivalent to brand name) without question, probably because they also own the pharmacy benefit management companies that are affiliated with the pharmacies themselves. And, depending on the health care system the doctor works for, they might also be pocketing a kickback from the drug manufacturer (not all health care systems allow this practice, to be fair).

Perhaps, if doctors would respect their patients' wishes and just write prescriptions for absorbent incontinent products (diapers, pads, etc.) that work best for their situations, things would change. My guess is that the diapers would be less expensive for the insurers (and safer for the patients) in the long run than the pills.

Insurance companies pay for "tools" and DME like eyeglasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, CPAP machines, and even adjustable beds. So, why not cover diapers?

My mother and I battled healthcare providers and insurance companies for nearly 30 years as my father fought a long battle with dementia (he passed in December 2021). I lost nearly all respect for the medical profession over that time. I fear that the medical profession and insurers treat incontinence like they treat dementia: once the diagnosis is made, they forget about you, and you are on your own.