UHC Breast Pump and Lactation Consultant Coverage!

mommy0411

Hi ladies! I just wanted to let you know that United Health Care does cover a breast pump at 100% as long as its from an in network durable medical supply company. This includes in network hospitals! Also you do not need a prescription from your doctor.  

They also cover lactation consultants at 100% as long as they are in network! 

I know there have been several posts about this but I thought it was pretty cool they also cover lactation consultants!

I hope you are all having a great day! 

caden1206

Wow, that is great.  I wish I had that coverage.  Does anyone know about BCBS?

illchick24

Were you able to order a pump at all? I called Apria and they no longer sell pumps, tried to order one from Lucina and they were out of stock on the Medela PIS, and sent an email to Edgepark about the Medela PIS and have yet to hear back. The Medela is the one I am after. Just curious if anyone else has had any luck finding it!

 

And yay for them covering lactation consultants! They didn't tell me that when I called!

Bailey17

That's great news for me! Thank you!

smash1228

caden1206:

Wow, that is great.  I wish I had that coverage.  Does anyone know about BCBS?

I have BCBS FL and they are processing mine right now!! They said it will cover an electric pump but I have heard from some other people that it is only a manual...so I am a little confused on that. The lady called me a couple days ago to update me on the the process and said "electric breast pump request" so we will see I guess. Not sure about lactation consultant. 

caden1206

smash1228:

caden1206:

Wow, that is great.  I wish I had that coverage.  Does anyone know about BCBS?

I have BCBS FL and they are processing mine right now!! They said it will cover an electric pump but I have heard from some other people that it is only a manual...so I am a little confused on that. The lady called me a couple days ago to update me on the the process and said "electric breast pump request" so we will see I guess. Not sure about lactation consultant. 

Guess I should maybe get working on that.  Thanks for the info.

corkietn

caden1206:

smash1228:

caden1206:

Wow, that is great.  I wish I had that coverage.  Does anyone know about BCBS?

I have BCBS FL and they are processing mine right now!! They said it will cover an electric pump but I have heard from some other people that it is only a manual...so I am a little confused on that. The lady called me a couple days ago to update me on the the process and said "electric breast pump request" so we will see I guess. Not sure about lactation consultant. 

Guess I should maybe get working on that.  Thanks for the info.

I was just looking at my brochure for this info out of curiosity. My BCBS plan (federal employee, Basic option) covers an Ameda Manual Pump kit or an Ameda Double Electric Pump kit. The kit includes 150 milk storage bags, which can be refilled every 90 days if desired. The only footnote is that it has to be ordered through a specific pharmacy (CVS).

PinkGlitter2012

I have Cigna and they will only cover breast pumps if the child or mother needs to be hospitalized for an extended period of time or if the baby is born with a birth defect that will prevent the baby from latching.  

wishuponastar1

PinkGlitter2012:

I have Cigna and they will only cover breast pumps if the child or mother needs to be hospitalized for an extended period of time or if the baby is born with a birth defect that will prevent the baby from latching.  

I have talked to them a few times about this and I always get a different response.  Once I was told no prescription needed but it couldn't be hospital grade, the next i was told prescription and only hospital grade.... 

Moosemonkey

caden1206:

Wow, that is great.nbsp; I wish I had that coverage.nbsp; Does anyone know about BCBS?

They told me you have to be approved, which I took to mean verify you haven't received a pump in a certain amount of time, then buy through their provider.

MOMama987

I have BCBS PPO, and they will cover purchase or rental of a pump - electric or manual. From what I understand, until December 31, it was only manual, but as of Jan 1, electric is covered, too. It has to be ordered from an "in-network medical supply provider," and I have a list of a few places in my area, but other than that, I don't have any details. 

PinkGlitter2012

wishuponastar1:

PinkGlitter2012:

I have Cigna and they will only cover breast pumps if the child or mother needs to be hospitalized for an extended period of time or if the baby is born with a birth defect that will prevent the baby from latching.  

I have talked to them a few times about this and I always get a different response.  Once I was told no prescription needed but it couldn't be hospital grade, the next i was told prescription and only hospital grade.... 

I may try again because the document that I found online said that it would be covered for a lactating mother and to initiate breast feeding, so I don't know!  The lady I spoke to said coverage wouldn't be reviewed again until June of this year and they MAY change the requirements.   

mommy0411

illchick24:

Were you able to order a pump at all? I called Apria and they no longer sell pumps, tried to order one from Lucina and they were out of stock on the Medela PIS, and sent an email to Edgepark about the Medela PIS and have yet to hear back. The Medela is the one I am after. Just curious if anyone else has had any luck finding it!

 

And yay for them covering lactation consultants! They didn't tell me that when I called!

I am working on ordering it! I am trying to get the Medela too. I have a call into my hospital lactation clinic right now to see if they can order one for me through insurance! My insurance representative said I should be able to get it through the hospital since they are in network. If not I think I am going to get the Lucina Melodi. It seems like a good pump.

 

illchick24

mommy0411:

illchick24:

Were you able to order a pump at all? I called Apria and they no longer sell pumps, tried to order one from Lucina and they were out of stock on the Medela PIS, and sent an email to Edgepark about the Medela PIS and have yet to hear back. The Medela is the one I am after. Just curious if anyone else has had any luck finding it!

 

And yay for them covering lactation consultants! They didn't tell me that when I called!

I am working on ordering it! I am trying to get the Medela too. I have a call into my hospital lactation clinic right now to see if they can order one for me through insurance! My insurance representative said I should be able to get it through the hospital since they are in network. If not I think I am going to get the Lucina Melodi. It seems like a good pump.

 

 

Maybe I'll try that route! Thanks for the heads up!

sugarmamma

My bcbs does cover it through a med supply company. I'm still working out the kinks as to when I'm allowed to get the script filled. Before or after baby.
I'm in PA and have ppoblue.

cecemama1

AllisonO78:

I have BCBS PPO, and they will cover purchase or rental of a pump - electric or manual. From what I understand, until December 31, it was only manual, but as of Jan 1, electric is covered, too. It has to be ordered from an "in-network medical supply provider," and I have a list of a few places in my area, but other than that, I don't have any details. 

Really?  I have BCBS PPO, and was told yesterday that it covered 100%, but only up to $75.  She did seem like she had no idea what she was talking about though.  She said to just buy one anywhere and then ask for reimbursement.  Hmmmm.... 

DefiantRose

My UHC Healthy Pregnancy consultant mentioned that to me on our last phone call. I'm going to wait until I get into 3rd tri, and then will call to see what it's going to take to get the pump.  The consultant told me that I could somehow actually have UHC order it themselves and have it delivered right to my door.  We'll see, I'm not sure it's going to be quite that easy.

 ON the other side - I'm at high risk for GD, and was told that unless it's being controlled by insulin, UHC won't cover the testing strips.  The cheap meter and sticks aren't as accurate from my understanding, and the strips for the meter I have cost $58 for a pack of 50.  Ugh.