A breast pump can be helpful for breastfeeding mothers. Breast pumping can help build up your breast milk supply and allow someone else to feed your baby when you are not available. In cases where you want your baby to have breast milk when you go to work, a breast pump would make doing that easier.
It is possible to get a breast pump through insurance. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers free breast pumps to new moms through their insurance policy.
Every new mom is entitled to get a breast pump without making any payment through their insurance. Breast pumps are offered to new moms to make breastfeeding easier and to give their babies breast milk even when they are not available.
What Type of Insurance Can I Get a Breast Pump Through?
To get a breast pump through insurance, you need to have a health insurance policy. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) offers you a free breast pump through insurance. In cases where you do not have health coverage, you cannot get a free breast pump.
How to Get a Breast Pump Through Insurance
The breast pump you would be getting from your insurance is brand new and has not been used. Some mothers consider that before getting a breast pump through their insurance.
Most health insurance companies cover breast pumps like Spectra, Willow, Medela, Dr. Brown, and Lansinoh on the market, and they offer a brand-new breast pump, not a used one. To get a breast pump through insurance, you need to:
Contact your insurer
Inform your insurer that you would like to get a breast pump. Check your coverage to see if a breast pump is offered by your coverage. If there’s any added, review the list of pumps included in your policy for free.
Ask your insurer the below questions:
- Is the cost of purchasing or renting a breast pump covered by you?
- Is the cost of a breast pump covered with no cost-sharing?
- Do I need to get a doctor’s prescription? If yes, where and how?
- What type of breast pump will you pay for?
- Where do I get the pump?
Ask for a prescription from your doctor if required by your insurer
If you are required to get a pump for medical reasons, you will need to get a prescription from your doctor.
Hand over the prescription as your insurer has instructed you to
Follow the right processes required by your insurer and ask when your pump will arrive.
Once this process is complete, you will receive a new breast pump delivered directly to your doorstep. All you need to do is follow up on the right process and ask the right questions from your health insurance company.
FAQs
Do I Have to Wait Until My Baby Arrives to Order a Breast Pump Through Insurance?
No, you can get your pump as early as six months before you give birth. You can also get it up to six months after the arrival of your baby.
ACA will hold on to your pump until the date your health insurance company says you can have it. Within 5 to 10 days, you should get your pump at your doorstep after it has been shipped.
Do I have to do anything after I place my breast pump order?
While some companies require you to fill out a form and wait until you are contacted concerning your breast pump options, companies like Babylist Health allow new moms to easily order breast pumps online.
This means you do not necessarily need to visit in person to place an order. After your order has been completed, they will handle the rest.
What types of breast pumps can I get through my insurance?
Depending on your health insurance company, the type of pump you can get is determined. If your policy covers it, you will receive a new breast pump from one of the mainstream breast pump brands you know.
Some types of pumps you can get include electric breast pumps, hospital-grade pumps, double electric pumps, top-rated wearable pumps, and so on. All you are required to do is select what is best for you.
Can my insurance company refuse to cover a free breast pump?
Your insurance company may say your policy does not include a free breast pump due to reasons like your policy being considered a grandfathered policy.
These types of policies existed before ACA was founded and have not started offering free breast pumps. New moms with this type of insurance policy may experience refusal of free breast pumps by their insurance company.
