Overwhelming Product Options.

Check with your insurance. If they pay for the supplies, they usually have a contract with a specific supplier, even if it's on the other side of the country. Watch for yearly maximums, co-pays, etc. You want to keep track of the dollar amounts, the suppliers aren't good about telling you when you've met your max, they just bill you.

Sometimes insurance will say they don't cover "durable medical supplies" but will cover "prosthetics for missing body parts" which can also be a category they're covered under.

It's nice that you have shops in town for an emergency, and hopefully you have knowledgeable clerks that can help you and answer your questions. Sometimes these little shops will have an ostomy day where they bring in speakers and ET nurses for any questions you have. They'll also have representatives from the different ostomy companies pushing and giving out samples. Ask around.

After your stoma has stopped shrinking, it's nice to get a pre-cut flange. Your first step is to choose 1 piece or 2 piece, closed end pouch or open end pouch, flat or convex flanges. After you answer those questions it's just a matter of personal choice. And you're not locked in, you can always try something new, change anything. When I used to work in one of those little shops, all the company reps would give me the new stuff to try. It was great, and I would have first hand experience to talk to the patients and ET nurses about.

Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.

I know you can deduct medical expenses, I have for years, but don't ask me any details, I just give my accountant the info and he does the rest. I'm luck these days, I have an HMO with a great clinic and my out of pocket expenses are pretty minimal.

Yes, the insurance companies over here are covering less and less. It used to be that my supplies were completely covered, no co-pay. Now, I have a co-pay, and a yearly maximum. I only have that because my doctor fought the battle for me, they were trying to say they weren't covered at all, but they are considered a prosthesis for missing body parts, so they have to cover them. Unfortunatley, most prosthesis, like limbs, have a one time amount, so my yearly is pretty low. I use a lot of supplies, I have a real problem stoma, and stool like acid that eats through everything so it can get pretty expensive by the end of the year.

Medical bills can be deducted, but you have to have 7.5 percent of your income in bills.