Medical Supply Companies?

[danilynn]

I have had no issues with Edgepark, but I order online and use mostly the same products every month. I can imagine ordering over the phone could be a problem, especially if they do not understand the particular products you need. Hoping you find some way to get the items you need in good order.

My experience with Edgepark is the same, only I order quarterly. I don't really change anything so it's just a matter of logging on and clicking.

My only other experience has been with McKesson (back when they were, I think, Sterling Medical?). Setting up my initial few orders was a challenge - they would not believe that my ostomy was permanent and had me down as an eventual reversal, so they would send only a fraction of my order - but after a few months it was sorted out and went smoothly from there.

[sassie]

Diane:
The Medicare guidelines that outline monthly ostomy supplies are not set in stone. They are guidelines. Useful guidelines. Left to open discretion, there are those (unfortunately) that would abuse no limit on ostomy orders - amassing extra supplies and selling them for a monetary profit on E-Bay or Craig’s list.

Private medical insurance plans (state or federal ACA/Obamacare plans) and employer-provided medical insurance plans tend to use Medicare guidelines in defining monthly ostomy supply quantities.

But anyone with a legitimate need for extra ostomy supplies (ex. additional wafers, pouches, barrier rings, skin prep spray/wipes) need only discuss with their prescribing primary care physician or surgeon and have the physician submit to Medicare or insurance provider a written request for additional supplies.
This is often called a “prescription override” in medical legalese. The prescription override usually needs to include the type of ostomy supply requested, the amount needed per 30 day supply, and a brief statement of necessity.

Honestly, filing for a prescription override is no big deal.

I find that I private pay 3-4 times a year for ostomy supplies of one sort or another. I save all private pay medical receipts for end-of-the-year tax filings. Medical insurance is not designed to cover medical expenses at 100%. There will always be some degree of private pay, even with the best of medical plans.
Karen

Very correct, I called me medicare and was told, everyone has different needs, have your Dr. called in a script if you need more, it will be approved..
Best of luck, sassie

[Diane C]

Karen/Button,

I hadn't seen your reply til today. Have been busy -- with pre-op, other medical appmts, arranging things for surgery -- still very behind! But thanks for the info about the prescription over-ride. I'm so busy right now that I'll stick with Edgepark for the immediate future. It's been easy ordering from them. I've also used Sterling and perhaps Byram. Switching is not difficult -- but it will have to wait.

Thank you!

Diane C

[Debmilwil]

I used Edgepark for over 10 years but, like the others have stated÷÷÷÷they have gotten worse over the last few years. I have had to call billing 3 times within 5 months to correct problems. Now I am hunting a new supplier.

[ot dave]

I loved the ease of Edgepark for many years, especially their online access. But, they kept overbilling me while I was using a flex spending account to pay my co-pays. Since my insurance always pays for my supplies (minus the co-pays), I had no idea what was being charged. The company that oversees my flex spending account would find that I was being overbilled, and made ME pay back what Edgepark was overbilling. Edgepark did refund me the correct amounts each time, but if the overbilling hadn't been detected by the folks that manage my flex spending, Edgepark would have kept that money. That's pretty shady, and they lost a life time user of supplies over shady practices...
I have since been using Byrum. Their online ordering isn't as user friendly and intuitive as Edgepars, but so far their business practices have not led me to look elsewhere.

David

[KBD]

There was a box you could tick with Edgepark where they automatically applied funds to an order. I did not tick that box. I figured you might end up paying twice if you did, once with ins. and again from your own account.
Thankfully I've not had any issues with Edgepark. I do everything online and have it set so they don't ship my supplies automatically, but need my approval. That way I can skip a month if I'm ahead.