Breast pumps are becoming more and more popular and are considered essential for a lot of new moms, especially those who are on the go or returning to work. These breast pumps vary in cost and can add extra strain to an already expensive time in a new mom’s life. Getting your breast pump through insurance can help reduce and even remove this cost. Many insurances follow the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires insurances to cover breast pumps. This means you could potentially save 100’s of dollars. Milk Moms is here to help guide you through this process and make it as quick and easy as possible.
In this guide, we will explain everything you need to know about breast pumps through your insurance, from understanding your insurance coverage to placing an order.
Why Do I Need a Breast Pump?
Breastfeeding is one of the most natural ways to feed your baby, however, there is a lot of work and time involved. This can make it difficult for new moms to breastfeed their baby, especially for moms who are returning to work or are frequently on the go. A breast pump can help provide breast milk for your baby while you are away and can help increase your milk supply or keep it constant.
What Are the Different Kinds of Breast Pumps Through Insurance?
There are three main categories of breast pumps through insurance: manual breast pumps, electric breast pumps, and hospital grade breast pumps. Electric breast pumps are the most common type of breast pumps and are the ones we will be discussing in this guide.
Breast Pumps Covered Through the ACA
The ACA was signed into law in 2010 and mandates that insurance’s cover a breast pump. Most insurance plans have adopted the ACA and follow these coverage guidelines, meaning it is more than likely that your insurance plan covers a breast pump. The requirement for most plans is that you are pregnant or have given birth. A lot of plans will also provide coverage in the case of an adoption.
How Do I Know If My Insurance Covers a Breast Pump
The easiest way to determine if your insurance will cover a breast pump is to contact them directly. You will want to ask how they cover a standard electric breast pump. Most plans will cover the breast pump under some sort of Women’s Preventive coverage following the ACA. This means that they will cover a standard breast pump in full. Reaching out to insurance to get an estimate of this coverage information is apart of Milk Moms’ process and something we do for each order.
When Can I Get a Breast Pump Through Insurance?
Most insurances will allow you to get a breast pump at anytime during or after your pregnancy. However, there are some plans that have restrictions on this. For example, your insurance may require you to wait until your third trimester of the pregnancy to get the breast pump or to be within 30 days of your due date. It is a good idea to ask about this when you speak with your insurance regarding the coverage of the breast pump.
What Do I Do If My Insurance Plan Does Not Cover a Breast Pump
While it is uncommon, not all insurance plans will cover a breast pump. In these cases, you will need to purchase a breast pump out-of-pocket. Milk Moms offers discounts in these instances. You will want to contact us directly for discounted pricing. Purchasing a breast pump through us allows you to use your HSA/FSA/Flex accounts, which can help relieve some of the financial burden of purchasing a breast pump out-of-pocket.
Base Model Breast Pumps vs. Upgraded Breast Pumps
There are two categories of electric breast pumps: base model breast pumps and upgraded breast pumps. Upgraded breast pumps usually have more features or accessories than base model breast pumps and go above and beyond what would be considered medically necessary. Due to this, upgraded breast pumps have an upgrade charge. This upgrade charge is not covered by insurances and is an out-of-pocket charge. Just because a breast pump is considered an upgraded breast pump it does not mean it is “better” than a base model breast pump. Pricing varies from insurance plan to insurance plan for these upgrades. You can fill out our Fast Track Form to get pricing on our breast pumps.
What Does Insurance Need For Me to Get a Breast Pump?
Insurances will typically require a prescription from your provider and a medical claim to be submitted into them. Most providers know that breast pumps are covered through insurance and are more than happy to give you a prescription for a breast pump. Milk Moms can help to get a prescription for a breast pump from your provider. We even have our own prescription templates available to make it easier for your provider.
How Milk Moms Helps You Get a Breast Pump Through Insurance
Milk Moms has been billing breast pumps through insurance for over 20 years and has a full understanding of the insurance process. Here is how we make it easy for our moms:
- Insurance Verification: We verify each patient’s insurance eligibility and handle all of the paperwork.
- Widest Selection of Pumps: We offer the widest selection of breast pumps through insurance to ensure we have a pump to suit each mom’s pumping needs.
- Expert Guidance: We offer free breast pump consultations with each order to help navigate the many options available.
Conclusion
While it is true that getting a breast pump through insurance does have some additional steps when compared to purchasing one at retail, it does not mean that it needs to be any more difficult for you. Milk Moms can help you navigate the insurance process and will do most of the work for you. From gathering documentation to verifying insurance eligibility to even helping you choose the right pump, Milk Moms is here to help you navigate this process. If you have any questions about the process or if you are ready to start this process now, fill out our Fast Track Form and one of our reps will reach out to help.