Please help - Breast pump/Tricare

CoachAP · August 2013

Hello all

I am hoping you could help me with some information acquiring a breast pump with Tricare or WIC. This is not actually for me, but rather a cousin who's husband is in the USMC and she gave birth to her LO 2 weeks ago at 26 weeks. the baby is obviously in the NICU at this time and she is pumping with the hospital's pump, but her mother was asking me about breast pumps since I just gave birth in April. They hadn't looked into acquiring one through Tricare or WIC before his early arrival, so they are trying to do so now so i am trying to help.

I know she is covered with one since he is a preemie, but was does she need to get one for when they go home. Mine was free with Obamacare provisions, but i understand that is not the case with Military insurance. She apparently is also eligible for WIC from what i understand - not sure how that works though either?

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

Avion22 · August 2013

Her husband should talk to their doctor and their Tricare rep now. She should get a pump at no cost, but it might be a hand/manual pump not an electric one. I'm not sure, but Tricare may cover part of the cost of an electric one? Or maybe possible for the hospital to supply her with one to use for the first few weeks. Unfortunately the parents, as the ones enrolled, are going to have to do the legwork on this one. It should be easy to sort out with a phone call or two.

drcolleen · August 2013

They will need to call Tricare = United Health Care since things may have changed since the takeover but before that they would pay for rental of a hospital grade pump while the baby was in the NICU if you had a prescription which you could get from the NICU or just do the rental through them in the hospital will bill tricare.

ufsandra85 · August 2013

Depending on where she lives it might not be united healthcare. south has humana. anyway,

she should call and have her doctor order one and see if it will be covered. Also, she should see if her hospital will rent them out. Oftentimes, you can borrow/rent from FFS or another organization.

ArmyWife114 · August 2013

There should be a Tricare office somewhere on post (usually in the hospital), her husband should go into the office, explain the entire situation, and ask what their options are in terms of insurance covered breast pumps. The lactation consultant at the MTF I delivered at knew all the requirements about breast pumps and Tricare, so she should ask her what she knows about renting from WIC, the local hospital, and Tricare policies. If they can't get the information out of one of these people, she and her husband should go see the ombudsman/patient advocate (usually in the hospital), they're a great office and know how to help in difficult situations.

CoachAP · August 2013

thank you everyone for taking the time to reply - will definitely let her know all of your responses!

wendylouwhoknew · September 2013

MOST E-5 and below qualify for WIC because they get paid so well (not). La Leche League may also be a good resource for locating pumps. I know most hospitals rent them. Back in 2006, it was $35 a month through Sharp Mary Birch in San Diego.

TheDairyQueenx3 · September 2013

I was able to get one with my first 3 years ago with Tricare prime. I got a hospital grade electric as well as a hand held both Medela brand. I had latching issues with the first weeks with my son so I had to pump for the first 2 weeks but they did cover the cost of buying one from a medical supply company in the area. She will have to call in and talk to tricare and they will help get her the proper paper work and all that jazz that will need to be done. It is a process and does take time so she will need to start now. They are not easy to work with on this subject but they did cover it for me. From my understanding now however the initial cost is out of pocket then they will reimburse costs as long as it comes from a medical supply facility or the hospital. So she cant go to babies r us and pick one up.

Kneal0416 · September 2013

I know this wasn't my OP but I was wondering the same thing, thanks for all the insight ladies!

RelativeChaos00 · December 2013

My husband was an E5 when we had our first son and we qualified for WIC. They loaned us a hospital grade pump for a few weeks and then gave us a double electric pump after we turned it in. At the time we were told that Tricare didn't cover anything as far as a pump went, but that was almost two years ago now.

Want a personalized experience?

Please help - Breast pump/Tricare

Re: Please help - Breast pump/Tricare

Choose Another Board

Search Boards