Can you buy catheters over the counter

However, a good rule of thumb to follow is to drink at least 8 8oz. Plus, we can also send you full-color, step-by-step catheterization instructions in booklets and DVDs with your order. Are you paying cash out-of-pocket for your catheter supplies? If you have health insurance, you may be able to save yourself some money! Many insurance companies today now offer intermittent catheter coverage.

Get in contact with us , and we can verify your insurance plan quickly to determine if catheters are covered on your health insurance. The FDA considers intermittent catheters to be single-use medical devices.

Additionally, many studies have shown that sterile use, which is using a sterile intermittent catheter one time and then throwing it away, may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. Most major insurance companies today, including Medicare, will cover enough intermittent urinary catheters for sterile use. This is because they know that reusing catheters often leads to infections, which can ultimately end up costing insurance companies more money.

It may seem like an easy way to get free catheters if a friend or family member no longer needs to use their supplies and offers them to you. However, it may be risky to use a catheter that is prescribed for someone else. Using the wrong catheter insertion tip for your body could cause damage or irritation.

Plus, their catheter supplies could be expired, which means they are no longer safe for clinical or personal use. When in doubt, consult your healthcare professional about what to do. Petroleum-based jelly will not provide the same smooth catheterization that sterile, water-soluble lubricant made for catheters can. It all depends on you or your child. Some people are more squeamish than others or more sensitive internally.

It is recommended that you practice a few times before needing to cath outside the home. For many bladder exstrophy patients, catheters are a source of frustration or embarrassment. Page last reviewed: 26 February Next review due: 26 February Catheter equipment You'll be given a supply of catheter equipment when you leave hospital and be told where you can get more supplies.

You'll also be shown how to empty and change your equipment. Intermittent catheters Intermittent catheters are usually designed to be used once and then thrown away. Indwelling catheters An indwelling catheter can either drain into a bag attached to your leg, which has a tap at the bottom so it can be emptied, or they can be emptied into the toilet directly, using a valve. Preventing infections and other complications Having a long-term urinary catheter increases your risk of developing urinary tract infections UTIs and can also lead to other problems, such as blockages.

To minimise these risks you should: wash the skin in the area where the catheter enters your body with mild soap and water every day wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after touching your catheter equipment make sure you stay well hydrated — you should aim to drink enough fluids so that your urine stays a pale colour avoid constipation — staying hydrated can help with this, as can eating high-fibre foods, such as fruit and vegetables and wholegrain foods avoid having kinks or bends in the catheter and make sure any urine collection bags are always kept below the level of your bladder Read more about the risks of urinary catheterisation.

Your regular activities Having a urinary catheter should not stop you from doing most of your usual activities. When to get medical advice Contact your community nurse the hospital or your GP practice can give you a number to call , your GP surgery, or NHS if: you develop severe or ongoing bladder spasms like stomach cramps your catheter is blocked, or urine is leaking around the edges your urine is bloodstained or has specks of blood in it you may have accidentally pulled on your catheter ; contact your community nurse if you continue passing bloodstained urine, or urine with blood specks you're passing bright red blood contact your GP surgery as soon as possible you have symptoms of a UTI , such as lower abdominal pain, a high temperature and you feel shivery your catheter falls out if it's indwelling and you have not been taught how to replace it Read more about the risks of urinary catheterisation.

Support groups and further information Living with a catheter can be challenging. If you have a question that is not addressed on this page, please contact us. We will do all your insurance billing for you. The cost of your catheter supplies depends on the type of insurance coverage you have. We are in-network with most major insurance plans in the United States.

Contact us to have us verify your catheter insurance coverage. Since Medical provides catheter supplies to those who have insurance, we do not set or determine catheter pricing.

Insurance companies set prices per catheter. For more information about insurance coverage for catheters and other urologic supplies, contact us. Additionally, we offer insurance-covered ostomy products. Our caring, highly-trained catheter specialists want to make your experience as easy and trouble-free as possible. With your health and comfort in mind, we want to get you set up on the best catheter for your personal needs.

We provide the best quality catheters and urologic supplies along with the best-trained staff, all so we can better serve you. In addition to calling us during our business hours, you can also contact us through our Live Chat on our website, email us, and can even text us! Click here to see all of the ways to contact us. To start the catheter sample request process, just reach out and contact us.

Since catheters can only be provided with a valid prescription, we do require this information as well. However, we make it easy for you by contacting your doctor to obtain your catheter prescription.

Yes, all urinary catheters require a prescription , regardless of the supplier you choose. At Medical, our specialists gladly lighten your load by doing a lot of the footwork for you. On the prescription, your doctor must include the type and quantity of catheters needed per month, along with a valid diagnosis of your condition requiring the need for intermittent catheters.

Prescriptions should also indicate the length of time your catheter supplies will be needed. Each insurance plan is different; please contact us today for us to verify your catheter coverage. Most insurance, including Medicare, will cover sterile use catheterization using one catheter and disposing of it each time. For instance, Medicare covers up to intermittent catheters and lubricating jelly packets per month every 30 days. However, the amount you may receive is based upon prescribed need and frequency.

No need to pay for anything upfront. Yes, Medicare currently covers intermittent catheters for sterile-use for up to straight catheters and individual packets of lubricant per month 30 days. For more detailed information, please read our Medicare Guidelines for Catheters blog post. Every insurance plan is different and may have varying guidelines as to what types of catheters they will cover as well as how many urinary catheters.

Our catheter specialists will also find out if your insurance requires any extra documentation or authorization. From there, one of our trained catheter specialists will contact you back directly to discuss your catheter supply needs. Contact us today to find out what your insurance plan covers. Give us a call to see if we are contracted with your plan.

Your catheter supplies will be shipped discreetly to your doorstep through UPS. Contact us to determine more exact timing depending upon your location in the United States. Make sure your prescribing healthcare provider is aware of the situation, as they may need to see you for an appointment in order to change your catheter prescription. If you contract a urinary tract infection or bladder infection, you may find yourself needing to use more catheters than normal.

This could potentially cause you to run out of your urinary catheter supplies sooner than your normal order would ship out. This will allow your doctor to both diagnose and treat your infection.