Breast pump PSA

homediva

Morning Ladies! I'm not sure if anyone posted this already, but I just called about ordering my breast pump (I have a prescription and it is completely covered by my insurance) and the guy at the store told me if I got the order in before the end of the year, I could get another one next year if I wanted. Could be a good way to refresh the whole system in a year, or even donate the extra one to a milk bank (I've heard of this before), or just have one for home and one for work if someone was so inclined! Anyway just thought I'd let you know in case anyone needed/wanted two pumps and had this option.

I'm going for the Medela Advanced backpack. He asked how old I was (31) and said the ladies over 30 usually get the backpack and the ladies under 30 usually get the tote. I looked them up and preferred the backpack. But it was just kind of funny and weird, LOL! I was like "Over 30. Does that mean I'm old or young?" WTF.

MamaFantastic

i'm getting my prescription and my pump (it's waiting at the pharmacy) tomorrow, actually!  nothing like waiting until the VERY last day of the year, right?!

FWIW, i'm donating mine to a local crisis pregnancy center.  if i could get two, i think they would LOVE that!  my freestyle is still perfectly usable, so i have no need for a new pump.

sugarrush

Another good breastpump PSA thread: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/comment/78918733/

MamaFantastic

there would be no enforceable way to monitor an insurance user's activities or intentions for a product once it's received.  sorry you're offended about that.  i'm quite happy with my intentions.

Andrewsgal

LalaMama81 said:

Is getting one with the sole purpose of donating it even allowed? It's a benefit of your health insurance via ACA, it kind of rubs me the wrong way just to get one because you can, even to donate.

I could not agree more this seems wrong to take advantage of something like this.

Serenla

Wait wait wait, donating a breast pump to someone in need if you do not need it after funneling money into a service that provides it is...bad.

Ok

I'm sure giving it to a friend would be poor in choice as well. Are you planning on using it @MamaFantastic ? That is just me being curious, I'm getting one from my insurance.

homediva

I don't think I would get 2 specifically to donate one, but if my insurance (which I pay into) covers another one in a year and I want a fresh one, and can donate one to a mother in need and potentially help another baby get breast milk, I don't think it is unethical.

sugarrush

homediva said:

I don't think I would get 2 specifically to donate one, but if my insurance (which I pay into) covers another one in a year and I want a fresh one, and can donate one to a mother in need and potentially help another baby get breast milk, I don't think it is unethical.

This!  My insurance actually allows me 2 per year (which I thought was kinda awesome!) and mine is being delivered tomorrow, so I will be eligible for 2 come 2014.  However, i'll use the one I have and when im done, donate it.  

Twirple

My insurance does not provide a pump that I am happy with.  I ended up purchasing my own.  After LO is born, I'll be getting the pump through my insurance and donating it.  I have paid for this through my premiums and if it helps another baby get breast milk, I am all for that.

DemoDoll

Andrewsgal said:

LalaMama81 said:

Is getting one with the sole purpose of donating it even allowed? It's a benefit of your health insurance via ACA, it kind of rubs me the wrong way just to get one because you can, even to donate.

I could not agree more this seems wrong to take advantage of something like this.

I have to agree. It's not free, someone is paying for it.

homediva

But isn't that "someone" me when we pay into our insurance?

Serenla

Mmm

homediva

Um yeah good call! I wasn't trying to start a debate, was just sharing the info the guy at the medical supply store told me!

MamaFantastic

the freestyle i currently own (purchased by me in 2010 for my first baby) is still in great condition and i'm just going to use it again to pump the small amounts i will want to freeze as a SAHM with this new baby.

the free pump benefit wasn't available 4 years ago, which is why i just outright bought mine back then.  now that it's available, i'm going to use my insurance benefits (which cover the pump at 100%) to get a new pump and donate that new pump to my local crisis pregnancy center.  the women who visit that center have no insurance, and therefore would have very limited ability to procure a good breast pump through a program like this.

i hope that clears things up.

we pay through the nose for our excellent insurance benefits and i have zero qualms about using items received via that paid service to meet a need for underprivileged moms in my community.

Holljade

I'm actually shocked to read people are offended by donations.

I thought I was being selfish by already having the freestyle and also ordering the free pump through my insurance to use... And possibly getting a third on just to be safe (bad experience with pump breaking last time)

I think donating a pump is such a great thing- I'm on the side of Go for it!!

MamaFantastic

generic equipment and supplies =/= prescribed medications

we're going to have to just agree to disagree here, folks.  nothing said in this thread has caused me to rethink my decision, nor doubt the legality of my choices.

pineconey

You might as well start handing out oxy while you're at it. ((Eye roll))
As someone who's paid for their own insurance for years and STILL paid over $4000 in medical bills last year, I'd say take what you can get and if you won't use it, give it to someone who can.
Insurance is a crock, and you're naive if you can't see that.

pineconey

So it would be ok if she got a new one and donated the old one??
HOW IS IT ANY DIFFERENT?!

Andrewsgal

pineconey said:

You might as well start handing out oxy while you're at it. ((Eye roll)) As someone who's paid for their own insurance for years and STILL paid over $4000 in medical bills last year, I'd say take what you can get and if you won't use it, give it to someone who can. Insurance is a crock, and you're naive if you can't see that.

lol at insurance is a crock. We'll since I did not have to pay the 200 grand in nicu bills for my first pregnancy I will have to disagree. The whole attitude of screw the man because they are screwing us is ridiculous.

pineconey

How is it screwing the man if you pay into it? I paid $190/month for 2 years AND GOT NO HELP when I had medical bills, despite the fact that I'd met my deductible.
And that $4000+ hit meant our savings account got slashed (hospital wouldn't help reduce the bill because we had "too much" in savings - because we had been scrimping and saving up to get our own place after spending the first year of marriage living with friends so we could afford to put DH through school) so I ended up having to apply for state insurance. I have a college degree, a full time job, and I can't even afford health insurance.
You're right, the system is perfect.
APPLAUD THE SYSTEM.
That's why everyone's so happy with health insurance.

amhah09

I can see it both ways. I don't know enough about the process of getting free pumps yet. I don't get a prescription for mine and I don't have to buy it at a specific location. I get reimbursed for any double electric pump regardless of where I buy it as long as I have the receipt. I think that's different than having a prescription specifically for me with specifics of what and where I can buy.

While a breast pump is not the same as a narcotic, the idea of it being a prescription specifically for you and you hand it over to someone else being somewhat unethical makes sense to me. But I also see where it was done with good intention (and not sold for market value on eBay) so I'm not sure where I stand here.

I have a perfectly working Medela PISA but I want a Freestyle so I'm getting it since my insurance will reimburse it. I don't know what category that puts me in.

misskristina21

I think you ladies who donate the pumps are awesome!!!

pineconey

Do I "need" the shampoo from a hotel if I brought my own? No. Do I take it anyway? Yep. I paid for the room, so it's my shampoo. I can do whatever I want with it.

TallaB

I'll take a donated pump, please!! OH! And the free oxy (mostly, I just want the oxy!)


ETA On second thought, I'll just regift my pump. I probably shouldn't breastfeed while I'm taking the oxy.

Andrewsgal

Do I "need" the shampoo from a hotel if I brought my own? No. Do I take it anyway? Yep. I paid for the room, so it's my shampoo. I can do whatever I want with it.

Yes because a $.50 bottle of shampoo is the same thing. We all pay insurance mine actually sucks worse than your I still don't feel the need to screw the company. Great lesson got my kids.

TallaB

M

pineconey said:

Do I "need" the shampoo from a hotel if I brought my own? No. Do I take it anyway? Yep. I paid for the room, so it's my shampoo. I can do whatever I want with it.

Don't forget the pinecones!!

rockstarlaw

Insurance is not the problem - at least not health insurance costs. Medical malpractice insurance premiums may be a good portion of the problem, but you people don't seem to be debating the that. Health care costs in this country are the problem. That, and people cheating the system - which raises premiums for everyone.

Insurance is a risk transfer system. It doesn't work correctly when people don't play by the rules.

I'm not trying to be judgmental here, but it's a simple actuarial fact.

People also argue they should get what they can get from Foodstamps, welfare, etc and make similar arguments. I don't agree with those arguments either. The reason those systems are so problem-plagued is largely because people people take advantage of them.

pineconey

Andrewsgal said:

pineconey said:

Do I "need" the shampoo from a hotel if I brought my own? No. Do I take it anyway? Yep. I paid for the room, so it's my shampoo. I can do whatever I want with it.

Yes because a $.50 bottle of shampoo is the same thing. We all pay insurance mine actually sucks worse than your I still don't feel the need to screw the company. Great lesson got my kids.

Your insurance gives you LESS than nothing? Oooh do share!
And good idea bringing the kids into this- an extra breast pump is a GREAT toy for kids!! Much more useful than donating it to someone in need who allegedly qualifies for their own free pump but for whatever reason has not applied for state assistance and is in a women's shelter and in need of a pump for any given reason.

Serenla

LalaMama81 said:

yes, that's a great attitude to have and teach your children - "take what you can get, even if you don't need it." Gag.

Yes because donating it to a womens shelter is totes selfish.

TallaB

Serenla said:

yes, that's a great attitude to have and teach your children - "take what you can get, even if you don't need it." Gag.

Yes because donating it to a womens shelter is totes selfish.

Please. Women's Shelters (Childrens Shelters too, for that matter) have enough stuff. We don't want to spoil them.

Rogue237

If 50 cent shampoo =/= a breast pump, can we at least agree that a breast pump also =/= a prescription drug? This argument seems a bit ridiculous.

Andrewsgal

You will never convince me taking advantage of insurance to even donate something is appropriate.if you want to donate something then do it the right way. Misusing and abusing any systems costs everyone more in the end.

Rrrrrachel

And there's something to be said for the obnoxiousness factor of coming on every thread about breast pumps talking about how you're getting one just to donate that.

TallaB

Rrrrrachel said:

And there's something to be said for the obnoxiousness factor of coming on every thread about breast pumps talking about how you're getting one just to donate that.

What???

Andrewsgal

So no matter how you get an item as long as you donate it there is no way it is unethical. Sure makes perfect sense. Good deeds totally negate dishonestly and abuse of systems.

TallaB

People do unethical things all the time. Don't say you never have. People just pick and choose what they think "crosses the ethical line". 

Rogue237

Should we start asking if people would steal a loaf of bread to feed their starving families now?

Rogue237

TallaB said:

Rrrrrachel said:

And there's something to be said for the obnoxiousness factor of coming on every thread about breast pumps talking about how you're getting one just to donate that.

What???

Yeah, I'm not sure what this means? Was this brought up on another thread too?

BiggerinRealLife

Rrrrrachel said:

And there's something to be said for the obnoxiousness factor of coming on every thread about breast pumps talking about how you're getting one just to donate that.

Yeah, because @MamaFantastic is totally a braggart who just goes around throwing her philanthropic tendancies in everyone's faces. Puh-leeze. I need a Michelle Tanner gif in here.

TallaB

BiggerinRealLife said:

And there's something to be said for the obnoxiousness factor of coming on every thread about breast pumps talking about how you're getting one just to donate that.

Yeah, because @MamaFantastic is totally a braggart who just goes around throwing her philanthropic tendancies in everyone's faces. Puh-leeze. I need a Michelle Tanner gif in here.

Gotchya covered.

Rogue237

KendraColeslaw said:

Rogue237 said:

Should we start asking if people would steal a loaf of bread to feed their starving families now?

"I would not steal the bread and I would not let my family starve." Michael Scott, The Office

@KendraColeslaw - I heart you, because that's exactly what I was thinking of when I wrote that.