This topic is about navigating the complexities of Medicare, Humana Advantage, and supply limits for ostomy barriers and pouches. It can be quite confusing, especially when you're trying to ensure you have enough supplies to meet your needs. Here are some helpful insights and advice:

1. **Medicare Allowances & Prescriptions**
- Standard Medicare typically allows up to 20 barriers and 20–60 pouches per month. If you need more, your surgeon can authorize a higher quantity, like 30 per month for daily changes.
- Make sure your doctor specifies the medical necessity and frequency of changes in their order. This helps suppliers bill for the higher quantity you need.
- If you're being told you can only have five barriers a month, double-check with both your insurer and supplier, as this is unusual.

2. **Humana Advantage vs. Traditional Medicare**
- Humana Advantage plans replace original Medicare and usually require you to pay 20% until you reach the plan’s annual out-of-pocket maximum, which ranges from $2,500 to $6,500 depending on the plan.
- Once you hit the maximum, your supplies should be fully covered.
- With Traditional Medicare and a Medicare Supplement, you pay the Part B deductible (around $220), and the supplement covers the remaining 20%. You can't have both a supplement and an Advantage plan simultaneously.
- If you qualify for Medicaid "Extra Help," it often covers the 20% balance, eliminating out-of-pocket costs.

3. **Supplement & Secondary Policies**
- Oxford Medicare Supplement covers all Medicare-approved charges and includes a life-insurance component.
- Aetna Medicare Supplement users report no costs for supplies.
- The Blue Cross Garnet Advantage Program offers a $0 premium but includes a 20% coinsurance for 10 barriers and 20 bags per month.

4. **Supplier/Distributor Tips**
- Ensure your supplier is in-network for your specific Advantage plan. Some members have switched suppliers to maintain coverage.
- Recommended suppliers include Comfort Medical and Edgepark, though reviews for Edgepark are mixed.
- Under Medicare rules, you might be able to order a 90-day supply at once.

5. **Brands, Item Numbers & Spare Supplies**
- Hollister two-piece systems: spare barriers #11703 and pouches #18003 are available.
- Coloplast and ConvaTec two-piece systems are also used.

6. **Buying Extra Supplies Out-of-Pocket**
- Websites like stomabag.com, Vitality Medical, and eBay offer options for purchasing extra supplies, such as 10 barriers for around $21.

7. **General Cost Comparisons**
- Some members have saved around $15,000 a year in premiums by switching to a $0-premium Advantage plan with a $2,500 out-of-pocket maximum.
- Others pay about $2,500 a year, whether through Medicare + Supplement premiums or via Advantage coinsurance cap. The costs are similar, but the cash flow differs.

8. **Gloves Not Covered**
- Medicare does not cover disposable gloves, so any gloves included in an order will be billed entirely to you.