Insurance Cut My Wafer Supply in Half - Help!

So my insurance, in all its lovely splendor, has decided to give me for Christmas a reduction in the amount of wafers I can get a month, down to 10 from 20, but they are willing to give me 20 bags and 20 rings. Make sense of that? What am I going to do with 20 bags and 20 rings and only 10 wafers? I need at least 15 wafers a month to cover how often I change my bag. Is anybody else's insurance this daft? 20 bags, 20 rings, and only 10 wafers. The doctor wrote the script for 20 wafers, 20 bags, and 20 rings. Doctor's orders. But insurance is being stupid.

Did you try contacting your insurance company 🤔

Are you on Medicare?  Is this something new?  That is not good.  I second the question:  Have you tried to talk to your insurance company yet?

You change your wafer every other day? No idea how Medicare works if that’s what you have but I’d think it’s all arguable with a doctor’s recommendation. 

It's Medicaid, not Medicare. Medicaid used to pay for 20 wafers and said nothing about it. Now, all of a sudden, they have an issue with it? I change every 2 to 3 days. The bag breaks down. I have to change it, and I don't want the wafer to get weak and leak. Otherwise, I would just change the bag without changing the wafer. But the wafer has to do a lot to stick and to not leak. When I take it off, I see near leaks, so I need to change it that often.

My Ostomy Journey: Kimberly | Hollister

I think my mom is going to try to figure it out. I don't know what she is going to do or who she will talk to about it. It's Medicaid. And it's always been Medicaid. And Medicaid had no problem before now providing me with what the doctor ordered.

trying to contact medicaid is like trying to scream out the window and hope they hear.

The problem with Medicaid is it is not uniform in every state like Medicare. Getting in touch with them is only part of the problem, getting someone that can help is a different matter. You have a technique that sort of works for you but you may want to start experimenting with other appliances and accessories that may last longer.

I can keep it for 3 days but then the bag turns yellow and starts breaking down.

The problem with Medicaid is you can get a person who says the problem is fixed, and then you go to order something and find out Medicaid says no, even if the person from Medicaid said yes. That happened with the COVID and flu vaccine; they said yes, I qualify to get them, and then I'd go to the pharmacy to get them, and it would be like they said no. Finally, I went to the health board and got the shots there, and Medicaid paid for it. Stupid, really.

Medicare gives you 20 wafers per month as well. I guess if you use more, you're on your own. You know, that is another gripe about healthcare. It is not like you wanted a nose job. You/we need these things. And, yes, trying to get some government offices on the phone (I don't do anything on the net) is murder. I recently heard that only 1 to 6% of government workers actually show up in an office. The rest "work" from home. I wish you luck, I really do. We are held hostage when our problem should not become bigger than it is.

You should try other appliances, the bag/pouch should not turn yellow after 3 days.

Exactly what I was just thinking. Yellow? Defect? Odd indeed.

When you say... wafer... what size do you need? In a pinch, Kas, a member, could help. I got donated some stuff too.

And forgive me. When you say wafer, that's the O-ring "thingamajig," right? 😊

I know like I need one more problem. I am still trying to figure out who is going to pay for my surgery, Medicaid or Medicare. I have Medicare Part A, hospital stays, but does that include surgery? I don't know. I really don't. It's so confusing, and I don't want to be left with the bill.

Maybe my output is too acidic or something? 

They are good products. Holister products. I like them.

No, I have rings. They give me 20 of those. And 20 bags. The wafer is the thing that sticks to your skin. 

Forgive again. I never heard it called this.

You have the rings, the bags.

Haha, the only thing left is the flange plate or mounting plate, which now I am schooled, thinking it's also called a wafer?

So your process from tummy outwards is: first wafer, then O-ring, then bag?

Mine is outwards from tummy: flange-mounting plate first, O-ring second.

Bag last, with of course extender C strips.

I'm late to this party (was in the hospital).

But I also don't know what it is that you need. Is it the part that the bag attaches to or the moldable rings that go around your stoma?

I keep a donation closet and may be able to help depending on what you need and size, etc., while you sort this out with Medicaid. Send me a private message with what you need, size, & contact info, and if I have what you need, I'll be happy to send it.

IC, do yourself a favor and contact Hollister to see if your pouch should be turning yellow after 3 days — I have never heard of this.

Mine also turns yellow after 2-3 days just like InfinityCastle.  I always assumed it was normal or from the meds I take.  

Mine turns poop color every time I poop, can’t figure out why. 🤔😁

I use a one-piece but am changing to a moldable after the first of the year. Right now, I can go a week or longer without changing, but I change every 5 days. I hope the two-piece lasts longer than what you're changing. Why change that often? Do they not hold up?

I use a one-piece but am changing to a moldable after the first of the year. Right now, I can go a week or longer without changing, but I change every 5 days. I hope the two-piece lasts longer than what you're changing. Why change that often? Do they not hold up?

Kas glad you are out of the hospital. Enjoy the holidays. I am praying for your continued health. I know it may not feel like it at times but you are blessed, the Lord recognizes the good you do in helping others. I admire and applaud you for your efforts. 🙏🏿

Thanks for admitting that. I am glad I am not the only one. I have taken to rinsing out my bag after emptying it, being careful not to rinse so high up it gets to the wafer. I don't want to compromise the seal. But still, a lightly yellow bag. I think it just happens that way. I think it must be normal, like just the wear on the bag. I guess it could be from meds; I do take a lot of medication. I don't know; I always assumed it was the acidic content of my output or something. I don't really know what causes it. But thanks for saying it happens to you too.

Very funny. That is why I started rinsing out my bag, up to the wafer but not above it. But still lightly yellow.

I use a 2 piece and still like to change it every 3 days.

I'm talking about the wafer. The piece that attaches to the bag.