Does Medicare Cover Depend Adult Disposable Undergarments? 

In the United States today, over fifty percent of adults aged 65 and older report that they are living with some form of incontinence.  People may lose control of their bladder and experience urinary leakage due to the following conditions:

• Stress incontinence – happens when the bladder is forced by sneezes, coughs, laughing, exercising, or lifting 
• Urge incontinence – a sudden and intense urge to urinate that results in involuntary leakage 
• Overflow incontinence – caused by an obstruction or weak bladder muscles 
• Functional incontinence – impairments like arthritis or dementia can prevent someone from getting to the bathroom in time 

If you’re having trouble with urinary incontinence, you should discuss your condition with a health care provider. Some common causes of incontinence can be addressed to help you get back to normal, including but not limited to:

• Certain types of medications, foods, and beverages stimulate the bladder or act like diuretics
• Urinary tract infections
• Constipation
• Enlarged prostate
• Menopause
• Stones in the bladder or urinary tract
• Interstitial cystitis

Wearing disposable undergarments like the brand Depend can help you avoid the discomfort and embarrassment of urinary or bowel incontinence, but does Medicare help cover the cost?  

Does Medicare cover adult disposable undergarments like Depends? 

Unfortunately, Original Medicare Part B (medical insurance) doesn’t cover incontinence supplies or adult diapers of any kind, and you must pay 100 percent of the cost when you purchase them. 

If you’re an inpatient in a hospital that accepts Medicare assignment, and your physician orders adult disposable undergarments for you to use while you’re an inpatient, Original Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) covers them during your hospital stay.  

Do Medicare Advantage plans cover over-the-counter (OTC) products?

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you may have additional benefits that can help you cover a portion of your monthly out-of-pocket expenses for incontinence supplies. These days, more and more Medicare Part C plans are including over-the-counter allowance (OTC) cards in their benefits for enrollees to purchase over-the-counter products from participating pharmacies. 

Here’s how they work:

Your Medicare Advantage plan provider gives you an OTC card with a set amount of money available. Regularly – every month, two months, bi-annually, or annually – your card is topped up. You can use this card to make certain purchases allowed by your plan in retail stores and pharmacies that accept the cards. 

Each Part C plan has its catalog of products you can purchase, but some of the most common items include: 

• Badder control pads and adult disposable undergarments
• Vitamins and supplements
• Cold, flu, and cough medications
• Antibiotic ointments
• Pain relief medications
• Bandages and other first aid supplies
• Oral hygiene and denture products
• Sleep aids
• Stomach and digestion medications
• Orthopedic support products
• And others, depending on your plan

Your OTC benefit may also offer a home delivery option, so check your policy, or contact your provider if you need more details. 

How much do Depends cost without Medicare coverage?

There are many variables to consider when determining the average price of Depends or other brands of adult disposable underwear. Where you purchase them, the number of items in the package, the absorbability factor, and whether they’re designed for men or women may affect your costs.

Here are some examples of prices for Depend incontinence underwear available at a popular big-box retail store found everywhere in the United States: 

• Night Defense for women XL: $14.88 for 12 undergarments
• Fit-Flex for men maximum absorbency Large: $59.52 for 56 undergarments 
• Fit-Flex maximum for women Small: $14.88 for 60 undergarments