Paying for bras and prosthesis

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Houndmommy
Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
edited June 2014 in Living Without Reconstruction After a Mastectomy

I got my first bras and prosthesis this summer in a specialty store - didn't like the experience and hate some of the bras as well as the fit (can we say WAY TOO TIGHT!).  When you order online do you use your insurance or just pay out of pocket.  What if they don't fit or feel comfy - is it easy to return them?  Are prosthesis hard to order online?  This whole process is confusing.  I miss being able to go into a department store and just try on bras at my leisure instead of making appts and being limited in my selection.

Thanks!  Kim

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  • lovemygarden
    lovemygarden Member Posts: 342
    edited September 2010

    Hi Kim, I can relate because I had the same experience in a shop (tale related in my thread "Why do I 'need' expensive silcone breastforms?"). I ended up buying mine online because the best brand (IMHO) is Silique which is not sold in shops anyway.

     Almost all the online retailers have a 7-day return/exchange policy for breastforms. Check each one's policy because they may differ in whether or not there is a restocking fee if you return, rather than exchange. That said, the best prices I found for the Silique Comfort-Lite (if you want the lightest weight silicone ones) was at TrueKare.com Smile  and the lowest price for Silique's "First Choice" microbead form (by far the lightest and most comfortable for a BMX, and IMHO the ultimate for everyday wear)  is from the TLC Catalog. They are not identified as Silique's product but that is what they are. They are $20 cheaper per form for THAT one than anyone else, although they are more expensive than the other sites for the other Silique models (go figure).

     I can't answer re: insurance because I am self-pay (no insurance) and so I pay out of pocket 100% for everything. I'm sure that one of the other gals who has ordered foobs online can answer you about the insurance/payment thing.

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  • TokyoSing
    TokyoSing Member Posts: 140
    edited September 2010

    Hi , are you within driving distance of a Nordstrom's?  I get my bras and breast forms from them and they bill my insurance company directly.  If you have a  regular bra you like, they will also sew pockets ( for free). The first time, I just showed up and they had somebody there to help me.  In August, when I was back in the US, I went to Nordstrom in Michigan ave in Chicago  again and told them about living in Tokyo.  They assured me they will send  my stuff overseas. 

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  • Moissy
    Moissy Member Posts: 550
    edited September 2010

    I have never found a mast. bra that I really liked the fit of on me. When a Nordstom's opened near me, I went there having heard about them. They completed insurance forms for me; however my insurance views them as an "out of network" provider, so they reimbursed me at a lower rate than I would have gotten at an "in network" provider.

    I have ordered forms online from truKare also, and no problem returning when I had a problem. But I have never had any luck getting an online provider who would do the insurance paper submissions on my behalf as Nordstom's did.

    So I kind of do both....If my insurance covers something, I may go to a local mastectomy store and get it through them. But if I want something extra, I wouldn't hesitate to order online.

    I have taken my own bras to Nordstom's and had pockets put in. Yes, as Tokyo said, it's free! Even the sales person when I came in to pick my bras up couldn't believe it. This is the option that I have ended up being happiest with. 

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  • Erica3681
    Erica3681 Member Posts: 1,916
    edited September 2010

    I've had the same insurance experience as Moissy -- the online stores (which are generally good about returns) won't submit to insurance for you. You have to do that yourself. The retail mastectomy shops will submit, but their prices are usually much higher. Even though my insurance pays most of it, it annoys me.

    On the other hand, I'm glad there are some physical stores that sell mastectomy products. Sometimes, it really helps to try them on in person. 

    Houndmommy, I just want to say I empathize about the too tight bras. Most fitters want you to wear a very tight band. They seem to think the bras will ride up otherwise, or something. I was always sensitive (even before bc) and never liked tight bands. I'm even more that way now. I get my bras a bandsize looser than the fitters recommend and they work MUCH better.

    I've had a lot of success ordering bras (and even breast forms) online. But I've returned my share of items, too...

    Barbara

    BreastFree.org

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  • Houndmommy
    Houndmommy Member Posts: 377
    edited September 2010

    Another question I just thought of....Do you need a prescription to order bras/prosth online?  I am assuming you don't unless you want to put a claim into the insurance.

    Thanks!

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  • lovemygarden
    lovemygarden Member Posts: 342
    edited September 2010

    I've never seen an online order form for any mastectomy product that asked for a prescription. Smile

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  • Moissy
    Moissy Member Posts: 550
    edited September 2010

    No scripts needed.

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