How to Get A Free Breast Pump Through Insurance: Everything You Need to Know
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Did you know that insurance companies in the U.S. are legally required to provide free breast pumps for new and expecting moms? Navigating the process can feel overwhelming, but I’m here to break it down step by step. In this post, I’ll share the legal requirements, how to claim your pump, and tips to find the best one for your needs. Plus, I’ll share my experience with Aeroflow and why doing your research is so important.
Let’s simplify this process so you can focus on what matters—preparing for your baby!
Ready? Let’s go!
Step #1: Legal Requirements to Know
Understand and research your rights! As an expecting mother, you need to understand your rights and insurance coverage. This will help you make the most of your benefits; after all, you are the one paying for them!
Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies must cover the cost of a breast pump for expecting or new moms. While each insurance plan may have slightly different rules (such as the type of pump they cover), you are entitled to this benefit.
Some Key Points to Note:
- Coverage typically includes either a manual or electric pump.
- The pump can be a rental or a new one for you to keep.
- A prescription from your doctor may be required.
- You may have to wait to order your pump until closer to your due date.
- Many insurance companies partner with third-party suppliers to make ordering easier.
What to look out for:
Be prepared with knowledge about breast pump coverage before contacting your insurance! This will help you have a better conversation and ensure you get the most out of your benefit plan.
Step #2: Contact Your Insurance Provider
Now that you know some of the legally required coverage benefits as a working mom you are ready to see what coverage your insurance provides. There are many third-party services you can order pumps from online, in my personal experience they don’t always reflect accurate coverage so be sure to take time to verify with your insurance!
So, the first thing you need to do is look at your insurance website or call your insurance company directly, I find calling is quicker and helps you to understand the coverage options more clearly.
What you need to know from your insurance company:
- The type of pump is covered – Manual or electric?
- The amount you can spend.
- Is a prescription required?
- Timeline of when to order the pump.
- Do they cover replacement parts? – Many pump parts need to be replaced every 2-3 months depending on how often you pump.
- How to order the pump? – Is this done through a supplier or does the insurance provide a reimbursement?
For example:
With my insurance, I could order any pump and there was no limit on the price, I could also order a few replacement parts. I did purchase this myself and then I submitted my receipt and insurance reimbursement form and I received a check in about 2 weeks! This was so amazing because this time around I decided to go with a wearable pump so my insurance covered the over $320 cost!!
Step #3: Choose a Breast Pump
At this point, you know what your insurance will cover so now you can start researching the pumps you can buy! This might seem overwhelming as there are so many options, but next week I have a new post coming out that outlines how to select a breast pump in more detail!
For now, let’s talk about some general guidelines for selecting the best pump for you!
One thing that is so helpful is to join Facebook groups for pumping moms, there are a ton out there! It’s a great way to get honest opinions and see what works and what are some challenges of different pumps. You can also join groups based on the specific pump you are interested in, like Spectra, Willow, or Elvie. If you have other mom friends who’ve pumped before definitely ask them as well, they won’t be afraid to share what they loved and hated about their pump!
Word of Caution
Right now wearable pumps are all the range, but if you are only getting one breast pump, you absolutely should get one that can plug into a wall. Obviously, these pumps aren’t as sleek or “sexy” (if that’s even possible for a breast pump??). Wall pumps are consistently more reliable when it comes to strong suction and helping you provide better milk output! When you have a clogged duct, you are going to want something strong and dependable!
Here are some things that were important to me when looking for a pump:
- Suction strength – For me, this was 270mmHg or higher (very close to hospital-grade pumps)
- Double electric – the ability to pump both sides at the same time
- Light on the pump – you will likely pump at least once during the night
- Number of parts to clean – you don’t want to be cleaning parts all day long
- Some portability – I selected the Spectra S1 this is a wall pump but can also be charged and used away from an outlet
Again there are a lot of things to consider when selecting the right pump for you and your needs, if you want a more in-depth guide come back to the blog next week.
Step #4: Get a Prescription (If Needed)
This step might not be required for everyone, it wasn’t for me! If you need a prescription your doctor can work with you. I am sure many OBs are familiar with the process and could provide a prescription quickly so you can order your pump!
Step #5: Order Your Pump
Now is the fun part! You’ve done all your research, you know what pump insurance will cover, and you know how to order!
Go out and purchase your pump according to the instructions from your insurance provider! Once you receive your pump I recommend taking it out of the box and learning all the functions and how to operate it so you are ready to go when the baby arrives.
What to look out for – My Experience with Aeroflow:
Aeroflow is a company that provides medical equipment and is a popular go-to for many moms who need to get a breast pump. It is convenient because they handle the paperwork with your insurance and take care of shipping your pump. However, my experience wasn’t great. I decided to test out the site, but after adding my insurance Aeroflow showed I would have to pay some money out of pocket for the Spectra S1 and the Willow Go. Both these pumps were 100% covered by my insurance when I followed their reimbursement steps. This is why I recommend verifying your coverage so you don’t have to pay out of pocket for the pump you want!
Bonus!
And finally, here’s a Bonus Tip just for you!
As mentioned earlier, I strongly recommend if you are going to get a pump to purchase a wall pump! However, if you want a wearable pump for its convenience and portability, I recommend using your insurance to buy this one as it is likely more expensive! You can then pay out of pocket for your wall pump. This might not be an option for everyone, but if you want a wearable or need two pumps this is the best hack to save money!
Key Takeaways
Congratulations! You are prepared to get your free breast pump! Follow the steps above to utilize your insurance benefits and get the best pump for you and your baby!
Here is a quick summary of the essential steps:
- Know Legal Obligations for Insurance to Provide a Pump
- Call Your Insurance
- Choose Your Pump
- Get a Prescription
- Order Your Pump
I’ve given you all my best tips, tools, and techniques to help ensure a smooth pump ordering process. You’ve got this mama!!
I’d love to hear from you, how was your experience getting a pump with insurance? Do you have any additional tips you want to share with other mamas, please tell us in the comments!
