As a new mom, there are so many challenges you might be faced with. One of those challenges being whether or not you will naturally breast feed. Seems like the simple choice, right? Well, you might find that there are many challenges you encounter when breastfeeding. The good news is that through your insurance company or state Medicaid, you’re entitled to all the necessary breast pump equipment you’ll need in order to set yourself up for success when it comes to breastfeeding for the first time. Not only will you be supplied with breast pump supplies, but it’s also a benefit of your insurance.  We will walk you through the steps to take to get your hands on your breast pump equipment.

How to order a breast pump through insurance

Step 1: Contact your insurance company

If you are covered by an insurance plan in the United States, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ensures that your insurance covers breast pump costs for you along with breastfeeding support. As long as your plan has been valid after the act was passed on March 23, 2010, your insurance company is required to provide you with a breast pump. However, with so many different types of breast pumps available, it’s important to figure out the specifications of the various pumps your insurance company will cover. By contacting your insurance company directly, you can speak to a representative who can further assist you through this process and let you know precisely what they cover in terms of equipment.

Step 2: Research breast pump options

As you might assume, there are many makes and models of breast pumps to choose from. A couple of the most popular models include the Medela Pump in Style and the Spectra S2Plus. Once you’ve narrowed down the certain breast pumps that will be covered by your insurance company, this step should be a little easier when it comes to researching the different options you have. There are pros and cons to different models of breast pumps, so it’s important to pick the right one that will benefit you the most. A few things to keep in mind when researching a breast pump include:

  • Battery/power options
  • Size of the pump
  • Suction Settings

 

View our comparious chart as a PDF.

Step 3: Purchasing your breast pump from CareLinc

There are many different ways to purchase your breast pump once you’ve decided on the right model for you. However, it is best to check with your insurance company first to see if they have a preferred way for you to make the purchase. A few different ways you can go about obtaining a breast pump include:

  • Order online (which you can also do from the CareLinc website)
  • Visit your local medical supply store or find your local CareLinc location

Whichever route you take, you’ll find that we make it easy to obtain a free breast pump. Simply see your doctor, get a prescription, choose your pump, provide your insurance information and the pump is yours!

How to get a free breast pump without insurance

If you don’t have insurance, no need to worry as there are other ways for you to obtain a free breast pump or one that is a lot cheaper than paying full price. Here are a few different routes to consider if you’re trying to get a breast pump and you aren’t covered by a health care plan:

WIC

Check to see if you qualify for WIC (Women, Infant, and Child) which is a program that provides grants and other financial support to mothers who are trying to raise a child while having low income. This program completely supports women breastfeeding and can help you find a breast pump to either purchase or rent as needed. The employees here are trained to help you with any breastfeeding support you might need and giving you access to durable medical equipment during your breastfeeding journey.

Medicaid

If you’ve wondered how to get a breast pump through Medicaid or a Medicaid HMO, CareLinc makes the process as simple as can be. Ultimately, the process is the same as it is with any other insurance provider. If you have questions about getting a breast pump through Medicaid and what models are available, visit your local CareLinc store or contact us online.