Topic Explanation
The discussion centers around obtaining financial aid for Convatec supplies through 180 Medical for low-income families with health insurance. The original poster (OP) shares their experience of switching suppliers due to insurance issues and discovering a financial aid program at 180 Medical that significantly reduced their out-of-pocket expenses for medical supplies.
Advice and Insights
1. Financial Aid Availability:
- 180 Medical offers a financial aid program for low-income families with health insurance, which is not publicly advertised.
- The program can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for medical supplies.
2. Supplier Comparisons:
- 180 Medical's supplies are generally cheaper compared to other suppliers like Byram Healthcare.
- Example: Two boxes of pouches, one box of wafers, and two bottles of adhesive remover spray cost $36 at 180 Medical, whereas similar supplies cost more at Byram Healthcare.
3. Insurance and Coverage:
- Byram Healthcare may have limitations on what they sell based on insurance reimbursements, such as not selling adhesive remover sprays if they feel the insurance payment is insufficient.
- 180 Medical was able to provide adhesive remover sprays covered by insurance.
4. Application Process:
- To apply for financial aid, you need to express your financial concerns to 180 Medical, and they will send an application.
- The application process considers the income of the patient (in this case, the OP's mom) and not the caregiver's income.
5. Eligibility Requirements:
- Insurance is required to qualify for the financial aid program at 180 Medical.
- If you do not have insurance, it may be challenging to qualify for the discount.
6. Alternative Purchasing Options:
- For supplies not covered by insurance, consider purchasing from Amazon, which may offer lower prices.
- Safe n' Simple is a generic brand alternative to Hollister and Convatec.
7. Customer Service and Notifications:
- Some users have experienced issues with receiving email notifications for forum replies and have had difficulty getting responses from customer service.
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