Struggling with Stoma Care Without Insurance Coverage

So, here's the deal:

My insurance doesn't cover supplies. Plain and simple. I had stockpiled some from after my surgery, but now that I've run out, I'm having a lot of trouble keeping the skin around the stoma healthy. It's red, irritated, bleeding when I change the dressing, and itchy/sore. As I live in Texas, it's very hot and I sweat at work (mechanic). So I've gotten the Hollister spray adhesive - which I think I'm allergic to (taking Benadryl for now) - and am using stoma powder, skin barrier wipes, paste to fill in dimples, and milk of magnesia. What really helped was the stretchy barrier rings, but $80.00 for ten is way too much. Any suggestions?

Goodness!  Not to have insurance.......this stuff is sooo expensive.  Well, the Eakins seals are quite dear, but Hollister and Coloplast also make seals that work as well (at least for me they do) and are less expensive and the cheapest are the Convatec paste strips (Stomahesive strips)  15 to a box and I cut in half lenghtwise and press into a circle and apply.  I don't see a price but think they were about $30 a few years back.  And as for the sore skin,  I developed an allergy to the Hollister barrier tapes.  Switching to tapeless helped a lot. You might try that.  

hi sven call the suppliers and explain your situation an maybe they have a program for uninsured people, and if nothing else ask for samples.  good luck

There are a few programs to assist folks without insurance. The first is Hollister Assist program 888-7456 ext 3454, another is Ostogroup 877-678-6690 and Convatec ostomy access program 800-979-8716. You can also reach all of these programs online. I just happened to have the phone #'s, so I thought I'd share those too. Good luck!