Getting a Free Breastpump from an Insurance Company: It's Harder Than You Thought

I get this statement all the time as a lactation store owner, " Getting a free breast pump from my insurance company is harder than I thought."  I hear it from moms every day.  Many insurance companies  representatives tell moms to find out who takes my insurance instead of giving them an accurate list.  Or if they do offer a list, the insurance company does not have the pump they wanted in stock or offer that model at all.  Another issue is that when the mom does get her pump, it doesn't come with any extras.  No cooler carrier to take back and forth to work or breast pump replacement parts are provided.   In other words, the insurance companies pare down the pumps to keep costs down leaving moms unprepared when their valves go down the disposal.

Lactation Connection offers the largest selection of breast pump replacement parts around including brands like Ameda, Hygeia, Spectra, Bailey, ARDO to name a few of the more popular brands.  You may want to bookmark these links so you have access once you finally get your insurance pump. You are going to need it!  As for the pump itself, below is a list of the most popular health insurance companies:

UnitedHealth Group

Kaiser Foundation Group 

Anthem Inc. (Formerly Wellpoint Inc. Group)

Aetna Group 

Humana Group 

HCSC Group 

Cigna Health Group 

Highmark Group 

Blue Shield of California Group 

Independence Blue Cross Group 

Centene Corp Group 

HIP Insurance Group 

BCBS of New Jersey Group 

BCBS of Michigan Group 

Guidewell Mutual Holdings Group 

California Physicians’ Service  

Wellcare Group 

Carefirst Inc. Group

Health Net of California, Inc. 

Molina Healthcare Inc. Group 

UHC of California 

Lifetime Healthcare Group 

BCBS of Massachusetts Group 

Metropolitan Group 

Cambia Health Solutions Inc. 

In order to secure a pump through these insurance companies some require a pregnancy notification form to be filled out such as Anthem.  The company you contact below will know whether or not this is necessary.  To reduce your time and headache in getting your pump, go to these companies first and then call your insurance company so you know what forms you need or what questions to ask. The following companies bill all or most of the insurance companies listed above, but remember to bookmark Lactation Connection so you can order an extra double pump kit, valves, diaphragms, filters or tubing as needed.  If your pump uses a duckbill shaped valve, plan on replacing it every 6 weeks.  If your pump uses a filter, plan on replacing it every 8-12 weeks.  Other breast pump parts are replaced as needed for convenience or if they get lost or destroyed; but it is best to have at least one or two of every pump kit part in reserve if you rely on your pump for working or are exclusively pumping.  The companies below offer quality brands like Ameda, Hygeia, Spectra, and ARDO, but may also offer Medela whose insurance pump quality has been called into question as of late and the do not settle for brands like Tomy and Nuk. 

Acelleron Medical Products
Phone Number: 877-932-6327

Aeroflow Healthcare Breast Pumps
Phone Number: 844-867-9890

Byram
Phone Number: 877-773-1972

Edgepark® Medical Supplies 
Phone Number: 800-321-0591

EHCS
Phone Number:  888-344-3434

National Rehab 
Phone Number: 800-451-6510 option 9

Shield Healthcare
Phone Number: 800-765-8775

Sterling Medical
Phone Number: 800-216-5500

If your insurance company allows you to purchase a breast pump and then file for reimbursement, and you can wait 30-60 days for your money; it is always best to pay for your pump instead of getting a "free". Breast pumps like the Hygeia EnJoye LBI are going to include a lithium ion rechargeable battery, a premium cooler bag, universal bottle adapters and other extra parts that the insurance company Hygeia Q will not include. And sometimes you can even get an allotment towards purchasing a higher quality DME pump such as the Hygeia EnDeare,  Ameda Elite or even an Ameda Platinum which is the best pump on the market today, including the Medela Symphony which is inferior in cycles per minute and suction to the Ameda Platinum.  It pays to do what you are doing right now, getting information and getting your ducks in a row.  Lactation Connection is a private pay DME and therefore provides appropriate insurance codes on your receipt for ease in filing for reimbursement, but always check with your insurance company to see if this type of reimbursement is available before purchasing.

And if the brand or model you want is harder to find, call or email the manufacturer for information on DME's they recommend.

Happy Nurturing!

Tanya