How to get a breast pump from my insurance provider.

As an expecting mother, you need all the support you can get to facilitate a successful delivery and provide proper care and support for the mother and baby. Health insurance companies are required by law to provide expecting mothers with a breast pump. Here is how to get yours.

How to get my insurance covered breast pump?

The Affordable Care Act mandates that health insurance companies provide “coverage for breastfeeding support, counseling, and equipment”, this includes your free insurance-covered breast pumps.

The first thing you should do is contact your insurance company. You can do this in your third trimester. You need to ask them vital questions regarding the kind of support they offer. Some of such questions are the type of breast pump you will get; is it going to be a double electric or single pump? Will it be a hospital-grade pump? You need to know these things. Insurance companies work with Durable Medical Equipment (DME) suppliers to provide you with pumps, for instance, Highmark Western NY BCBS insurance Breast pumps come in a myriad of options. You can ask for a list of their providers to find a suitable one.

You should also ask if you need a prescription from your OBGN doctor or physician -you don’t want to be scrambling for a pump at the last minute.

Which type of breast pump should I get?

When it comes to pumps, there are a ton of options. However, the most important thing is to find a breast pump that is most comfortable for you. Before you get one, you may hear terms like open system, closed system, manual pumps, double electric, etc. You might need to read a dedicated blog to understand these things, but we will touch on the most important things ( check out our post on types of breast pumps)

Manual pumps: Manual pumps do not require electricity, and

are operated by hand.

Electric pumps: These pumps require electricity to operate. You get the option of double or single electric pumps.

Closed system: This type of pump minimizes the interaction of breast milk with other components.

When to order your breast pump

You can order your breast pump any time during your pregnancy till one year after delivery. However, we recommend you order early, especially if you need your pump as soon as possible. The delivery time depends on your insurance policies. It may range from a few days to a month.

What if my insurance company refuses to provide breast pumps?

If your insurance provider refuses you free insurance-covered breast Pumps then it could either be one of two things. The first is that you are on a “grandfathered” plan. Mothers in this category registered with their insurance provider before 2010 ( when ACA was enacted). Insurance providers are not obliged to provide you with necessary support items.

The second case may be that the company wants to play games, if you believe you are on a recent plan that covers breastfeeding support, you can take legal action.

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