Paying for Incontinence Supplies

In this video, we discuss some of the ways parents fund the things they need for their child’s incontinence, such as medication, diapers, and even equipment.

Associated Resources:

• The resource Tammy references is “Healthcare Financing for Your Child with Special Needs: Six Ways to Access Medicaid and Other Healthcare Benefits” by the Vermont Family Network. (pdf)
• Go to the “Get Support” page of the Vermont Family Network and select “Funding for Families” to see the most up-to-date information and contacts for the Medically Necessary Supplemental Fund. (website)
• The current supplier for Medicaid-subsidized incontinence supplies is ActivStyle. (website)
• Updated Guidelines for VT Medicaid Subsidized Diapers (VCP blog post)

A full transcript of the video appears below.

Hi, I’m Tammy Willey. I’m a family resources consultant. And today we’re going to talk about paying for incontinence supplies.

Did you know Vermont Medicaid covers supplies of medication for underlying medical conditions that contribute to incontinence?

Let’s be specific.

Medicaid

Your child is likely covered if they have Medicaid. Dr. Dynasaur and Katie Beckett are other common names for Medicaid, and if they have an underlying medical condition, constipation, some developmental diagnoses, and other qualifying medical diagnoses.

Coverage for over-the-counter products, such as diapers and pull-ups, and medications, such as MiraLax and other medications, are available with a prescription from your doctor. Products will be distributed via an online supply provider: ActiveStyle.com, while medications will be through your local pharmacy.

Not Medicaid

And if you don’t have Medicaid, contact your insurer to see if supplies related to your child’s medical condition are covered under your policy.

Also, consider Medicaid’s secondary coverage.

Contact a family support person at Vermont Family Network or visit their website to access a document called “Six Ways to Access Medicaid and Other Healthcare Benefits.”

There’s also something called the Medically Necessary Supplemental Fund. This fund helps pay for items that are medically necessary, but not covered by insurance or Medicaid. It can cover expenses of special equipment such as the Squatty Potty, handheld bidets, and other items. It has income guidelines and families can reach out to Joanne Wechsler at vermontfamilynetwork.org to find out if they qualify.

Additional Resources

Additional resources are available at Children with Special Health Needs. This organization helps families of children with chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities get support to navigate funding and care coordination support.

Remember, these resources exist to help families.

Don’t hesitate to get more information and have some help offsetting some of these costs.