Help with getting a breast pump

Megncowan2

 I am writing with a question about getting the breast pump through my insurance. My midwife said I would need to give her paperwork from my insurance. My insurance said there is no paperwork to give her... I'm so confused and wondering how you all went about getting yours, and yes my case is unique (maybe, maybe not?) because we are using a midwife not sure if that makes a difference but our midwife said she has filed for plenty of clients to get their pumps in the past.

redrockmama

I just called my insurance company and they gave me the names of three suppliers I could get a pump from and said to contact them. I contacted one of them and they said I couldn't order it until my due date was 30 days away. Did your insurance company tell you what you needed to do to get one? I read you need some sort of authorization from your dr/midwife, but since I haven't ordered mine I haven't been asked for one yet myself. 

Megncowan2

Well I finally got an answer from the supplier... they won't provide one to me with a perscription from a midwife. Awesome...

sschwege

Megncowan2 said:

Well I finally got an answer from the supplier... they won't provide one to me with a perscription from a midwife. Awesome...

Wait, I'm confused a prescription from a MW doesn't work?  What about asking the pedi to write one?

khaalid00

My mama friends got their breast pump through their health insurance. They encouraged me to call my insurance directly to see if they offer a free breast pump. So a week ago, I did just that and most health insurance does offer a free breast pump to keep, or rental of one. If it wasn't for my mama friends I would have not known this valuable info...the ACA, Affortable Care Act passed in August, 2012. I did my research. Anyways, my insurance does cover it and the representative on the phone sent me a PDF list of medical suppilers near my home in my city that accepts my insurance in order to get one free of charge. In order to get a breast pump, the insurer asked to have me get a prescription from my doctor stating that I am pregnant and near my due date. So I got my prescription on my next prenatal checkup and went to the medical supply store nearest to me. At the store all I needed to do is present my prescription, fillout and sign a simple insurance form giving them permission to bill my insurance, and take a copy of my insurance card. In less than 15 minutes, I recieved my new medela breast pump starter kit. Very easy for me. FYI, when I first called the medical supplier a staff told me that in order to get a breast pump that I have to be 30 days out before my due date. Makes sense to me in a lot ways and I am within the timeline. And I think in order to get a prescription is that it has to come from a doctor. Check your health insurance representative.

barista411

Have you tried a DME like aeroflow? That is where I ordered mine from. They were great to work with. They checked to make sure my insurance covered ordering from them. Then I asked my MW for prescription, faxed the prescription to them, paid $25 for shipping and had my pump a week later. I didn't even have to wait till 30 days before my EDD like the supplier my insurance provided.

You can also try other local medical supply stores in your area. They are normally really easy to work with.

Eta: here is the website:
https://breastpumps.aeroflowinc.com/breast-pumps/

postcards

I called my insurance & they gave me the name of 3 companies they contract with for breastpumps. I used Byram Healthcare & they accepted a prescription from my midwife. That's all my midwife needed to do. I filled out a form specifing which one I wanted. If your midwife is licensce to prescribe I don't know why they wouldn't accept it. If that was the case I probably would have went to any prescribing doc (like my PCP) & got an Rx for it.

jmknox

Who is your insurance through?

Aarg

I would speak with your primary health care physician and ask if they wouldn't mind writing the prescription for you!

DebateThis

Aarg said:

I would speak with your primary health care physician and ask if they wouldn't mind writing the prescription for you!

Ditto - or when you go do pediatrician interviews ask if the pedi will write one for you in the hospital when you deliver. I've seen a lot of insurance companies refuse to purchase one for you prior to birth (and there's really no reason to have one prior to birth anyways) so that might be an option for you.