https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 12:59:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-530091 Sun, 27 Jan 2013 14:22:38 +0000 ohemgee 530091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BIRDOFAFEATHER: no problem. Hope everything goes smoothly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528973 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 12:03:50 +0000 birdofafeather 528973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ohemgee: wow, thanks for sharing that site! it works easily with aetna, which is what i have and i just ordered the freestyle. hope everything goes smoothly, but it looked super easy to do! you just saved me a lot of time, i think! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528835 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 09:21:01 +0000 LazyLightning 528835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have BCBS and was told that I would only be reimbursed if my baby had a medical need for pumping, as defined as her being hospitalized long term after I'd been discharged. And they only would cover renting, not buying, unless I could prove that buying was more economical than renting. </p> <p>My BCBS also does not cover birth control unless you prove it's medically necessary (wtf?) so I am not surprised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528724 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 06:57:27 +0000 dagret 528724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only found my local DME w breast pump rentals bc I tweeted about it! Another local mom told me.<br /> I bet the lactation consultants at the hospital you deliver at would be another good source of local DME info. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528693 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 04:40:54 +0000 LaineysMom 528693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: true.. Especially bc most places won't let you return a pump even if it's unopened. Hopefully insurance companies will become more familiar with the law and how their various plans have adapted to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528686 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 03:23:31 +0000 banana 528686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cupcake: I just contacted Edgepark and they did everything for me. It was really easy. I'd suggest calling them first! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528676 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:02:18 +0000 mrskc 528676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LaineysMom: true. But I don't know that I'd be comfortable buying one before and getting reimbursed like OP said. If I could get one beforehand for free with out paying first, then I totally would. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528660 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:20:32 +0000 LaineysMom 528660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>But it was worth it for a free pump that I use 4-5 times a day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528659 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:19:51 +0000 LaineysMom 528659@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: I complained to them after I called 30 suppliers on their list.. The rep was very nice and offered to call the rest for me. 1 supplier in the entire SF bay area.. And they were assholes once I got there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528658 Sat, 26 Jan 2013 01:16:36 +0000 LaineysMom 528658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: I think buying one and trying to get a free one through insurance are 2 completely different tasks.. There is no way I would have waited outside a pharmacy for 4 hours with a newborn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528616 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:39:30 +0000 shopaholic 528616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: This is what sems to happen when I call too! They told me to look on their DME list, but there were only about 8 in my area and I couldn't get ahold of one that sold Breast Pumps! I think I will have to be more vigilant and get someone there to specifically give me a DME supplier they will approve. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528586 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 22:52:00 +0000 Cupcake 528586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: I have anthem too! I contacted them 2 weeks ago and they said I could get a manual pump covered 100%. I wonder if I should call again? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528460 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:53:26 +0000 Anagram 528460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also have BXBS ppo, but every state and every "group" of benefits negotiates different things.</p> <p>My double electric will be covered 100%. BUT it look 3 phone calls to BXBS before I got an ACCURATE list of breastpump providers. First, they told me I had to go through their website and look for Durable Medical Equipment providers in my area. I called the first 6 on that list, and none of them did breast pumps. I called back and the second person I talked to was just as clueless. I called back a third day--two days ago--and finally got a knowledgable person who gave me a list right away of providers specifically of breast pumps. </p> <p>One was Edgepark (online), but they have a banner on their website saying that due to high demand, they are out of breastpumps. So then I just started calling down the list and finally found a random place about 2 hours from where i lived that have Medela pumps. That lady was SO nice and helpful, and they ship it to me for free.</p> <p>In my insurance, I can get the pump right away, so I'm ordering mine next week. I think i'm going to go for the Freestyle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528452 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:47:13 +0000 mrskc 528452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You don't really need a pump right away. I waited until after he was born to buy one and didn't use until he was 4 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528416 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:13:34 +0000 LaineysMom 528416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: I know how that is.. I kept putting it off for about a month, but I'm happy that i took care if it before she was born. It would have been more of a nightmare after. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528408 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:09:09 +0000 shopaholic 528408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LaineysMom: Thanks for the tip! It fell to the back of my to-do's today so I will have to try calling Monday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-528383 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:58:55 +0000 LaineysMom 528383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: I didn't have to pay anything. I gave them a cc # just in case it wasn't covered, but BCBS assured me that it would be. I think I went 2 months before DD was born? This was in August and it seemed like no one at BCBS knew exactly when I could pick up my pump.. After hours I finally got in touch with a supervisor who said that it was covered even before DD was born. My advise would be to know the details of you plan, and get names of everyone you talk to just in case you have problems later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-526701 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 03:52:39 +0000 Mrs. Blue 526701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have BCBS, but I've had a totally different experience. First, they would only pay for an Ameda double electric or a manual pump. Second, I just had to call a special number, and they just ordered it for me. I didn't have to pay anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-526665 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:58:07 +0000 BSB 526665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's cool that insurance covers it now. </p> <p>@banana: I have Anthem, too. Good to know. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-526658 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:50:01 +0000 shopaholic 526658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@banana: I'm thinking this is what I'll do too. Our BF class told us we probably wouldn't want to pump right away anyways. I think she said to start around 6 weeks? </p> <p>@ohemgee: Thanks! I will check out that link!</p> <p>@LaineysMom: Yikes! I'm glad the BCBS supervisor pulled through for you! So you got it covered and didn't have to pay anything before your DD was born? I'm going to call them again tomorrow to re-confirm if baby has to be born first before they will reimburse what we have to pay upfront. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-526646 Fri, 25 Jan 2013 01:38:27 +0000 LaineysMom 526646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have BCBS and they only had one distributor in the entire area that carried the Medela pump in style. I showed up a couple months before DD was born and the workers were such a pain in the ass. They tried everything they could to not give me the pump. After 4 hours, a BCBS supervisor came through for me and pretty much forced them to give me the pump. I didn't have to pay anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-525336 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:16:38 +0000 ohemgee 525336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I ordered mine through Yummy Mummy and it was covered 100% You can see if it will work with your insurance. </p> <p><a href="http://yummymummystore.com/" rel="nofollow">http://yummymummystore.com/</a></p> <p>Go to insurance orders. eligible products. Pick which one you want. They will handle the insurance company for you and will keep you posted on the status of your order. </p> <p>Good luck. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-525295 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:10:03 +0000 banana 525295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have Anthem Blue Cross and they said the same thing. So I waited until after the baby arrived and ordered it right away. It only took maybe 4 days for them to get the approval and ship it! They had to call my OB's office to get a prescription for it. After that, they were able to ship it out really quickly. I didn't need the pump until the 2nd month so it just sat there anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breast-pumps-pay-up-front-amp-reimbursed-later-bcbs#post-525269 Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:05:18 +0000 shopaholic 525269@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I finally called our insurance again today since it's a new year. They changed the tune of what our plan covers and told me I'm covered 100% for an electrical pump! Spent a long time finding a DME supplier and finally found one nearby!</p> <p>Now comes the slightly confusing part. They told me I would come in and BUY the pump myself, give them the insurance info and they would confirm my coverage/benefits and submit the billing claim within 48 hrs. BUT, if I get the breast pump BEFORE the baby arrives, I won't get reimbursed by the insurance until after baby is born. And she said even though everyone keeps coming in saying their insurance told them they were covered $100%, sometimes the insurance comes back and says they only cover 80%. I guess even at 80% I don't really mind, but I'm just worried about buying it, holding on to it, and not getting reimbursed anything AFTER baby comes. </p> <p>Would you just wait to buy the breast pump AFTER the baby arrives so that they can issue a reimbursement right away?</p> <p>Anyone have real-life experience with this yet? FWIW - I have Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. </p> <p>Thanks! </p>