If you are a pregnant mama, congratulations! Exciting, wonderful, and exhausting times are ahead. If you are a pregnant working mama and are planning to breastfeed, you will need a breast pump in order to express breast milk when you are away from your precious bundle of joy. Breast pumps comes in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. Luckily, most pregnant nursing moms in the U.S. are eligible for a free breast pump through insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act. When the Affordable Care Act was signed into law back in 2012, it made it mandatory for all health insurance plans to cover the cost of a breast pump for every pregnancy.
Related article: The Complete Guide on How to Pump Breast Milk
As you have probably learned by now, navigating the world of new motherhood is incredibly overwhelming. There are decisions surrounding your pregnancy and delivery that you need to consider, baby registries to make, a baby nursery to arrange, work coverage to determine, and the list goes on and on. Let us help you figure out exactly how to get your free breast pump through insurance so you can cross this item off your pre baby to-do list!
Related article: The Top 3 Best Breast Pumps for Working Moms
How can I get a free breast pump through insurance?
1. Call a breast pump provider
This will be the most direct and easiest way to obtain a breast pump. The other options we list below will call a breast pump provider for you, however they will call on their timeline–not yours. Since it is best to eliminate the middle man in order to get your pump as quickly as possible, we have found that calling a breast pump provider directly is the fastest way to receive a free breast pump through insurance.
Additionally and most importantly, a breast pump provider will give you more breast pump options than calling your insurance company or obtaining a pump through your doctor’s office. We know of several moms who went through their insurance company directly to get their free breast pump, only to learn that their pregnant coworkers (with the same insurance plans) who went through a breast pump provider were able to get a better breast pump (for free!) that their insurance company did not directly offer. Oftentimes an insurance plan will cover multiple different breast pumps, but an insurance representative may not be aware of all of the available options for plan members. A breast pump provider company will know all of the details and breast pump options for your specific insurance plan since they obtain breast pumps through insurance day in and day out.
Related article: The 5 Best Hands Free Pumping Bras According to Real Moms
Aeroflow Breastpumps is our choice for the best breast pump provider. Aeroflow is one the most popular breast pump suppliers among pregnant moms, and is a preferred breast pump provider with most insurance plans. In fact, many of our moms have used Aeroflow to request their breast pumps and have had nothing but great experiences. Aeroflow Breastpumps makes it hassle-free by allowing you to simply fill out a form on their website with your insurance information. A representative will then verify your insurance coverage, obtain a prescription from your OBGYN if necessary, and contact you with a list of breast pumps your insurance plan will cover, and if your plan has any upgrade options. After you have made your decision, they mail you your new pump. Easy as that and with no cost to you (they get paid by your insurance company as per the Affordable Care Act).
Related article: The Best Breast Milk Storage Bags on the Market Today
What our moms say about using Aeroflow….
“I loved working with Aeroflow to get my breast pump. They were great to work with and continue to be great now. They email regularly with discounts for accessories and extra parts—saves a lot of money, especially on Spectra breast pump parts.” – Amanda M.
“Aeroflow can often get you more options than your insurance company will offer directly. When I called my insurance, they only offered an Ameda Purely Yours. When I contacted Aeroflow out of curiosity, I was able to get a Spectra S2. It’s easy to fill out their form and see what they can provide to you. They do the work and it’s a free service so there is absolutely nothing to lose.” – Lauren B.
“I have nothing but positive things to say about Aeroflow. They did everything for me which was so nice because I had a hard time getting information from my insurance company with my first baby. They have excellent customer service and are so well educated on breastfeeding. They even email me once in a while to see how I’m doing and if the pump is still working well!” – Christina D.
2. Contact your insurance company directly
If you would prefer to reach out to your insurance company yourself or your insurance plan does not allow you to work with a breast pump supplier, call the customer service line on the back of your insurance card or contact your Human Resources department to see if they have a direct line for new mothers to call. Some insurance companies have an R.N navigator who will work with plan members who are expecting a baby. They can offer support and answer any questions you have, in addition to ordering your free breast pump through insurance.
If you decide to call your insurance company directly, make sure you have researched breast pumps and picked out 1 or 2 that you would prefer to use. There are lots of breast pumps on the market. See our article on the Best Breast Pumps for Working Moms for help on picking out a free breast pump. As we mentioned above, sometimes your insurance company will only offer you one breast pump when in reality your plan actually covers several other (more expensive) pumps. Make sure to be vocal with your insurance company about what breast pump you want. If they do not cover your first choice of breast pump, ask if they will provide partial reimbursement if you purchase it yourself. Or go fill out Aeroflow’s form and see if they can actually get you the breast pump you want for free.
Related article: Pumping Laws at Work Explained
3. Ask your OBGYN’s office
Depending on the size and busyness of your OBGYN’s office, you can ask your doctor if they provide someone in their office to help obtain your free breast pump through insurance. The only caution here is that you are likely one of hundreds of patients in your OBGYN’s office who need a free breast pump. It will probably take much longer for your doctor’s office to verify insurance and find out which breast pump options are available to you than if you take care of it yourself. In all likelihood, they are just contacting a breast pump supplier like Aeroflow to obtain your free breast pump. Additionally, your doctor’s office may not find out all of the breast pumps available to you since every patient’s insurance plan is contracted to offer different breast pumps. They may only offer you the breast pump that is most popular in their office.
Related article: Pros and Cons of Pumping Before Birth-Good Idea or Not?
How often can I get a free breast pump through insurance?
Under the Affordable Care Act, you are entitled to a new breast pump for every pregnancy. That means it does not matter if this is your first or second baby (or your fourth!), you are entitled to a new breast pump. And if you are really adventurous and have Irish twins (two babies born less than a year apart…God bless you), you are, indeed, entitled to two breast pumps!
Related article: Hand Me Down Pump: Good Idea or Not?
Can I get a free breast pump through Medicaid?
Medicaid programs vary state by state, so unfortunately there is not a blanket answer to this question. Most Medicaid programs will not cover a breast pump until after you have your baby. However, you can start the process of qualifying for a breast pump while you are still pregnant. Reach out to your Medicaid provider, Medicaid enrollment office, or contact Aeroflow for help in obtaining your free breast pump.
Related article: How Often To Replace Pump Parts – Everything You Need to Know
Can I get a free breast pump without insurance?
If you are pregnant and do not have insurance, you likely can qualify for Medicaid in your state as maternity care and childbirth are covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) throughout the United States. Having a baby allows you to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) which means you can enroll in or change insurance coverage outside of the normal twice yearly enrollment period. Additionally, you may be able to enroll in the Special Supplemental Nutritional Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) which can help you obtain a breast pump. Contact your local health department or WIC clinic to see what aid is available to you in your state.
What is the best free breast pump through insurance?
As we mentioned, breast pumps come in all shapes and sizes. Check out our article on the Best Breast Pumps for Working Moms to see our top two free breast pumps as determined by our working mom collective. (It’s the Spectra S1 and Medela Pump in Style!)
After you receive your breast pump, make sure to check out the following guides for help navigating your milking machine:
- Complete Guide on How to Pump Breast Milk
- Complete Guide on How to Pump at Work
- Pumping Supplies: All the Essentials You Need (and What You Don’t)
- The 5 Best Hands Free Pumping Bras According to Real Moms
- The Best Breast Milk Storage Bags On the Market Today
- How Often To Replace Pump Parts – Everything You Need to Know
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