When you receive incontinence supplies through insurance (or are comparing providers for the very first time), you may have noticed that many companies look the same on the surface.
Most promise the essentials: pull-ups, diapers, and help with all the necessary insurance paperwork.
But what really matters is what ends up arriving on your doorstep each month. Do you really know if you’re getting everything you possibly need? And what provider offers the best options for families who depend on these essential supplies?
Let’s take a look at what a typical order could include and some of the key questions worth asking before you choose a provider.
What Is Typically Included in a Monthly Incontinence Supply Order?
Every situation is different, and the best providers will help tailor deliveries to exactly what you need per your coverage. But with nearly all providers, pull-ups and diapers are the baseline.
Most providers, including UroStat, cover these once a doctor documents an individual’s medical necessity. The key is to look closely at the list of covered items that each provider offers.
For instance, many providers may list pull-ups, diapers, underpads, and barrier creams in the catalog of Medicaid-covered supplies (note that coverage will depend on your child’s specific plan and state of residency).
UroStat’s list includes these same items, plus one more: wipes, and wipes are one of those essential items that nearly every family needs.
You can learn even more in our guide to pediatric incontinence supplies, or see more about qualifying through Medicaid or Medicare.
What About Wipes?
Here’s a difference that many parents or guardians might not know: not every provider will automatically include wipes in a family’s monthly order. UroStat does.
And that single thing can be the difference between ordering supplies from multiple providers each month and getting everything (pull-ups, diapers, wipes, and more) from a single source.
How Does UroStat Handle Wipes and Other Extras for Incontinence?
When you know everything up front, getting the supplies you need is much easier. That’s why UroStat raises the full picture early in the process, verifying a child’s benefits as well as what else a particular plan may allow for.
That includes wipes, underpads, barrier cream, and more. All of these can then be added to a monthly bundle where you qualify, with wipes built into the bundle from the start (rather than having to request them separately).
Coverage may still depend on your child’s state and plan, so no single company can promise that every extra will be covered for a particular situation.
But what our team at UroStat can promise is that we’ll give you the entire picture clearly, so you know exactly what you might be eligible for (and the process by which to get it all at reduced or no cost to you!) We’ll handle the paperwork. You focus on what matters most.
For families who are navigating incontinence, focusing on support for your loved one matters most. Let the experts come alongside you and help you handle the details.
How Does UroStat Handle the Process When A Child Sizes Up?
As kids grow, they’ll need bigger sizes. That shouldn’t mean a gap in supplies. Every pull-up and diaper size is billed under its own HCPCS code, the specific code insurance providers use to authorize what gets shipped.
With some providers, families are kept on the original authorization until it expires. There is no adjustment mid-year, even after a child hits a growth spurt and needs a bigger size. That can lead to interruptions in supply right when a family needs it most. It’s also a common reason why parents and guardians consider switching providers.
UroStat handles the process differently. When your child sizes up, we end the existing authorization and get a new one started immediately, so there’s no gap in your supply. As your child grows, we grow with you.
For more on what changes as your child grows, check our guide to bigger diapers for older kids and teens.
UroStat vs. Other DME Suppliers: What Do They Offer?
| Other DME Suppliers | UroStat | |
|---|---|---|
| Pull-Ups & Diapers | May be covered when a doctor documents a qualifying diagnosis, such as autism or ADHD. | May be covered when a doctor documents a qualifying diagnosis, such as autism or ADHD. |
| Wipes | Not included in a family’s monthly order. | Included as a standard part of your child’s monthly order, where you qualify. |
| Underpads | Listed as a covered option, depending on your plan and state. | Included in the standard supply list, depending on your plan and state. |
| Sizing & Prior Authorization | Families stay on the original authorization until it expires. No adjustment when a child sizes up mid-year. | The existing authorization ends, and a new one starts right away when your child sizes up, so there is no gap in supply. |
| Company Focus | May be one part of a larger, multi-category home medical equipment company. | A smaller team means you get personalized support from a team of real humans. |
What Questions Should You Ask Before You Choose or Switch Providers?
When you’re looking for providers for incontinence supplies, a few questions up front can go a long way.
Here are some of the key questions you should have ready any time you are considering switching providers or are looking for one for the very first time:
- Does my monthly order include supplies such as wipes and underpads, or does it only include pull-ups and diapers? Can they be added?
- Who can I contact if my child’s needs change? Does your company offer a dedicated contact or just a general support line?
- Has anyone confirmed what my specific state Medicaid plan covers when it comes to incontinence supplies like diapers or wipes?
- If my child sizes up, will a whole new authorization be needed? How long will that take, and how will my supply continue in the meantime?
The way a particular provider answers the above questions will tell you quite a bit about their operation and how far they are willing to go to support your child and your family.
These are answers you’ll want before you spend time chasing down a lost shipment or updating supplies through a general support hotline!
Does a Bigger Provider Always Mean Better Service?
Larger providers may have access to a wider variety of supplies, but bigger doesn’t always mean better.
Some providers operate as a division within a larger, multi-category health company, offering supplies such as breast pumps, sleep equipment, mobility products, and more.
UroStat focuses primarily on incontinence supplies for children with specific needs. That means our entire team is focused on answering questions and getting the right supplies covered and sent to the right families on time (even families with children as old as 21).
Neither approach is wrong, but a more focused company may offer greater attention to your child’s specific needs and quicker adjustments when those needs change. It’s worth knowing which kind of company you’re working with before you invest the time and resources into your search.
Partner with UroStat
Does your child need more than the baseline pull-ups and diapers? At UroStat, we focus on helping families stay supplied with the full range of products they need, including wipes, and stay ready to adjust the moment your child’s needs change.
Call UroStat today at 888-845-8698 to learn more about your eligibility for Medicaid-covered supplies, including pull-ups, diapers, wipes, and cream. You care for your child every day. Let us help take care of the rest.