If you are pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant, or have recently delivered a baby you may be wondering about feeding the infant. You can choose between breastfeeding and formula feeding. Many women who choose to breastfeed also opt for bottle-feeding breast milk. This means you are going to have to pump your breasts regularly to get the milk for the bottles. The easiest way to do this is with a breast pump. Luckily, it is a law that a breast pump is covered by insurance, meaning you will not have to pay to have one at home. However, in order to get one, there are certain things you need to know and do.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Not all breast pumps are covered by all insurance companies. To ensure you will not end up paying for the pump, you should talk with your insurance company to find out what they cover. Some companies will allow you to purchase the pump outright while others will have you rent one. In addition, different companies have different styles or brands they will pay for.
Apply for the Pump
Insurance companies have different requirements when applying for a breast pump. You may need to have a prescription from your doctor or some type of preauthorization before they will approve it. Some companies allow you to get the pump when you first find out you are pregnant and others make you wait until after you deliver. It is also possible that you will need to go through a 3rd party supplier to get the pump.
Subsequent Babies
If you have another pregnancy and baby you may be allowed to get a new breast pump through your insurance. However, there may also be special rules regarding this. A common rule is the amount of time between pregnancies. If the next child is born too close to the first one you may be expected to use the old pump. For this reason, it is best to keep your pump and properly maintain and store it.
Once you know which breast pump is covered by your insurance, take some time to look over all the options. Pumping can take time and energy. You want to be sure you will be able to have enough breast milk on hand for when you cannot be there, for others to feed the baby, and when the infant is having a hard time with the breast. The right pump will keep you and the infant from becoming frustrated.
Reach out to an insurance service to learn more about breast pumps covered by insurance.
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