Getting ostomy supplies requires a prescription from your doctor, an account with a supply company, and insurance information. The process is straightforward once you know the steps, but the first time can feel overwhelming, especially right after surgery. Here’s how the whole system works, from your first order to ongoing deliveries.
The Basic Ordering Process
Ostomy supplies are classified as prosthetic devices, which means you need a prescription before any supplier will ship them to you. Your surgeon or primary care doctor writes this prescription based on your type of ostomy (colostomy, ileostomy, or urostomy) and the specific products that fit your stoma.
Once you have that prescription, the ordering process follows three steps:
- Set up an account. Call a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier and create an account over the phone. You’ll need your insurance name and ID number, your surgeon’s or physician’s name, their office address and phone number, and a list of the specific supplies you need.
- The supplier handles the paperwork. After your account is set up, the supplier faxes the order to your doctor’s office. Your doctor signs it and faxes it back.
- Supplies arrive by mail. Once the signed order is processed, the supplier ships everything to your home.
For reorders, the process is simpler. Most suppliers keep your prescription on file and let you reorder by phone or online. Many offer automatic shipping on a monthly schedule so you never run low. Setting up recurring deliveries is one of the smartest things you can do early on, because running out of pouches or wafers creates a stressful situation that’s entirely avoidable.
What Happens Right After Surgery
If you’re still in the hospital or transitioning home, you may not need to handle ordering yourself right away. A wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nurse typically works with you before discharge to teach the basics: how to empty and change your pouch, how to order supplies, which manufacturers make products that fit you, and what complications to watch for. This nurse is your best resource for figuring out exactly which products to start with.
If you go home with home health care and have Medicare as your primary insurance, your home health agency is responsible for ordering and providing your ostomy supplies while you’re under their care. You only take over ordering yourself after you’re discharged from home health. If you have private insurance, you’re typically responsible for ordering your own supplies from the start.
How Insurance Covers Ostomy Supplies
Most insurance plans cover ostomy supplies, though the details vary. Medicare Part B covers medically necessary ostomy supplies as prosthetic devices. After you meet the annual Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount. Medicare covers whatever quantity your doctor says you need based on your condition, up to set monthly limits.
Those limits are generous enough for most people. For example, Medicare allows up to 20 skin barrier wafers per month, up to 60 drainable pouches per month (depending on type), and up to 40 adhesive remover wipes per month. Your actual needs will depend on your ostomy type, stoma location, and skin condition. If you need more than the standard maximums, your doctor can submit additional documentation explaining why.
For home deliveries, Medicare allows suppliers to ship up to a three-month supply at once. If you’re in a nursing facility, they can only send one month at a time.
Private insurance plans vary more widely. Some cover ostomy supplies under durable medical equipment benefits, others under prosthetics. Call the number on your insurance card and ask specifically about ostomy supply coverage, your copay or coinsurance percentage, and whether you’re required to use a specific supplier.
Where to Order Supplies
You have several options for where to actually buy your supplies, and the right choice depends on your insurance and personal preference.
DME suppliers are the most common route. These are companies that specialize in medical equipment and bill your insurance directly. Your WOC nurse or hospital discharge planner can recommend suppliers they work with regularly. When choosing a DME supplier, confirm they’re in your insurance network, ask whether they offer automatic reordering, and find out if they have ostomy nurses on staff who can help with product questions.
Online medical supply retailers sell ostomy products directly to consumers. Some bill insurance, while others operate on a cash-pay basis. Prices can be lower for specific items, but you’ll want to compare carefully after factoring in what insurance would cover through a DME supplier.
Pharmacies carry limited ostomy supplies in some locations, but selection is usually small. They’re better as an emergency backup than a primary source.
Free Samples From Manufacturers
The three major ostomy product manufacturers, Convatec, Coloplast, and Hollister, all offer free sample programs. This is genuinely useful, not just marketing. Trying different products helps you find the best fit for your body before committing to a full order.
Convatec lets you request samples through an online form on their website. You provide your name, contact information, surgery type, surgery date, and what products you currently use. Their support line (1-800-422-8811) can also walk you through options. Coloplast and Hollister run similar programs through their websites and phone lines.
Take advantage of all three. A wafer that works perfectly for one person can leak on another, and the only way to know is to try it. Your WOC nurse can also request samples on your behalf and help you evaluate the fit.
If You Can’t Afford Supplies
Ostomy supplies are expensive without insurance, and even with coverage, copays add up. Several nonprofit organizations exist specifically to help.
- Kindred Box is a 501(c)(3) that distributes donated ostomy supplies to uninsured and underinsured people across the U.S.
- S.T.O.M.A. (Strength Through Ostomy Medical Assistance) at stomasupplies.org provides supplies to anyone with a bowel or urinary diversion regardless of financial or insurance status.
- Osto Group at ostogroup.org offers supply assistance. You can reach them at 561-203-5886.
- Ostomy 211 runs an emergency supply pantry at ostomysupplies.ostomy211.org, with donations requested to help cover costs.
- Kinder’s Closet Ostomy Pantry provides short-term supplies. Contact them at [email protected].
The United Ostomy Associations of America (UOAA) maintains an updated list of these resources on their website. Local ostomy support groups often know about regional “ostomy closets” where people donate unused supplies for others to pick up at no cost.
Getting Supplies While Traveling
When traveling, pack more supplies than you think you’ll need. Delays, cancellations, and unexpected stoma issues can extend a trip, and finding the right products in an unfamiliar place is difficult. A good rule of thumb is to bring double what you’d normally use for the length of your trip, and split supplies between your carry-on and checked luggage so you’re covered if a bag is lost.
If you do run into trouble abroad, the International Ostomy Association has member organizations in over 70 countries that can help you locate supplies locally. The World Council of Enterostomal Therapists also maintains a list of international delegates who can connect you with local resources. The UOAA website has contact information for both networks, and it’s worth saving that information on your phone before any international trip.