I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Medicare/Insurance => Topic started by: Chris on September 19, 2010, 06:23:53 PM

Title: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Chris on September 19, 2010, 06:23:53 PM

Saw this on Facebook, but no further information was given that insurance will pay for Ensure drinks. The person received a case a month was the only other information given. Has anyone else done  this and how did they order it. A case of one flavor would make me  :puke;  especially when the doctor wants me to drink 4 a day.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: cloud393 on September 19, 2010, 07:40:06 PM

No, I haven't heard this but would be interested in knowing more about it myself.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Pam on September 19, 2010, 09:34:12 PM

I have a HMO and they will cover Ensure. They will not cover Boost though. The eaiest way to find out is to get the Dr. to write a script and take that to your pharmacy. The Pharmasist can can tell you if it is covered or not. I'm pretty sure that Medicare- Medicaid cover Ensure for Cancer patients.
Pam

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: needlephobic on September 19, 2010, 10:17:44 PM

what about Nepro

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Zach on September 20, 2010, 11:06:35 AM

Another possibility id use Novalsource Renal--17 grams of protein per eight oz:
http://www.walgreens.com:80/search/results.jsp?Ntt=novasource+renal

8)

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: thegrammalady on September 20, 2010, 02:15:21 PM

when i was on midicaid covered zone bars. however they came through a medical supply group and they could only send a case at a time and that ment one flavor. gets old in a hurry. i now qualify for one from dialysis so at least i can switch between a couple of flavors. in general though i can't stand to eat the things.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: casper2636 on September 20, 2010, 03:21:14 PM

I order Nepro (which is specifically for renal patients as it's low in potassium, phosphorous, and high in protein) through a Chronic Renal Disease Program. It's called a Pace Program. I can get a case of Nepro for $9.00 when it's normally $45-50. It's through a medical company and comes in three flavors which you can mix in a case (vanilla, butter pecan, and berry). I live in Pa. so I don't know if you have access to any kind of programs like I have, but it's worth asking your social worker about. The drinks really aren't that bad and work in a pinch when I'm not feeling too hot and my stomach doesn't want anything solid.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: kamar55 on September 20, 2010, 03:22:15 PM

Here in Delaware we have the Chonic Renal Disease Program which pays for various supplements---all free. My dialysis dietician/nutritionist ordered them from CVS Caremark Specialty Pharmacy.  It also pays the 20% that Medicare doesn't cover so all my prescription drugs are free. Also free are my bus tickets for Paratransit. The CRDP has been a godsend   :2thumbsup;

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: lola on September 20, 2010, 03:35:25 PM

my neighbors mom gets a prescription for it so ins will pay.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: gothiclovemonkey on September 20, 2010, 04:51:07 PM

I was told medicare will cover Boost for renal patients, They deliver them to ur home. Unfortunately they arent that tasty, so id suggest trying one before u sign up, u can get them at walmart, and probably any other grocery.
 and some outside insurance companies cover the yummy lemon protien cookies (sooo much tastier than the bars! and moist too!) But medicare doesnt cover those! 

Also, I was told that the AKF has grants for things like this, as well as transportation costs, so u might ask ur clinic about it, or contact them urself!
:) good luck

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Chris on September 20, 2010, 06:38:07 PM

gothiclovemonkey (http://ihatedialysis.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=47337)[/t]How did you go about getting it from Medicare? Did you call Boost first? I have Medicare and Medicaid, but usually have trouble with local pharmacy with OTC products that Medicare or Medicaid will pay for if there is a prescription. This is why I l am leaning towards mail order.   Got another prescription from another doc for Ensure.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: gothiclovemonkey on September 20, 2010, 07:03:14 PM

The social worker at the clinic was going to set it up for me, but i couldnt handle taking the boost, it made me sick. I think its a texture thing with me...
Does ur clinic have a social worker? u might see if they can assist, i think its quite a large bit of paperwork

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Chris on September 20, 2010, 07:33:23 PM

Ahhh,
Social Worker I do not have. If I knew ahead of time before my recent hospital visit, I would have asked the social worker at the hospital.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: gothiclovemonkey on September 20, 2010, 08:46:52 PM

No reason u couldnt get in touch with the SW at the hospital even after being discharged......

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Trikkechickk on September 21, 2010, 02:18:07 PM

Chris

I order my Nepro direct from Abbott Labs (Ross Division) for $45/case of 24.  Normally it retails for $90 but being "special" you get a 50% discount if you are a kidney patient.  They will ask which clinic you go to.

It you order more than one case, no $$ for shipping.

Contact # 800-986-8502

I don't know about any insurance coverage for me.  I use nepro to replace meat as I hate to cook!

Nepro is formulated for us Dialysis types - more calories, diabetic friendly, less K+ and less PO4 plus the correct vitatmins.  Ensure and Boost have alot of the bad things for us.

Cindy

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Rerun on September 21, 2010, 03:21:53 PM

I drink Nepro too.  I save it for dialysis as a snack.  I like the butter pecan.  I think I will ask my Dr. for an Rx and send it in and see what happens.  Right now I pay the $45 for a case which is $1.88 a bottle.  I pay more than that for coffee!   ::)

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Chris on September 21, 2010, 09:33:03 PM

Today I tried calling social workers at my local hospital where I normally go and at my transplant hospital, but I did not get a call back yet. Tied local chain pharmacy who then referred me to a couple home health supply places. Had no idea where one place was which I found out later the street name given is rarely known because most people go by the US Route nmer. So the place I went to say's Medicare does not cover Ensure unless I was already on tube feeding  ???  but will try to go through Medicaid and was told that was a lengthy process. However there was no diagnostic code on prescription, so I need to go back to my doctor for that. Never heard of having a diagnostic code on a prescription.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Quickfeet on September 24, 2010, 04:23:35 AM

I am applying for free supplements. they will ship the cases to your clinic. it is for nepro and ensure. it is from abbott.
 :shy;
http://www.abbottpatientassistancefoundation.org/medical_nutritionals.asp

the pdf on the site is the same form my social working gave me.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Riki on September 29, 2010, 01:25:35 AM

I've never heard of the bars before.  I was on Boost as a kid, with a protein supplement and Kayexalate added to it. I hated drinking it, but if there was a bar that was easier to take, I probably would have prefered that than drinking the "formula" as we kids called it.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Chris on November 02, 2010, 04:44:08 PM

I got a letter today from my state's Medicaid office. I was approved for them to pay for the Ensure drinks. Now I have to wait for medical supply place to get on track with the informationso the can ordr my supply. One flavor for a months supply is gonna suck, but hope I can get two flavors with the amount I am supose to drink a day.

Title: Re: Insurance paying for Ensure type drinks?
Post by: Riki on November 02, 2010, 08:41:16 PM

I'm wondering if those bars are available in Canada.. I'm intrigued... or those lemon cookies that GLM mentioned might be cool too...