https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:33:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-1477477 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 08:59:50 +0000 tarabonno 1477477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a similar experience this morning so wanted to bump this thread and see if anyone has any additional insight. I have Anthem BCBS, and the woman I talked to told me they only cover manual pumps, but will reimburse up to a certain amount for an electric pump. First she said it would be $150, then she backtracked and just kept saying I could submit a claim and "they would pay whatever they would pay." </p> <p>So... that's not super helpful!! Should I just keep calling back until I talk to someone who knows what they're talking about? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-572273 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:27:22 +0000 matador84 572273@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@foodnerd81 I'm going to call again today and see what they say! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-572268 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:24:11 +0000 Foodnerd81 572268@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@matador84: Did you ask them this year, or has your insurance renewed since August? The Affordable Care Act says they HAVE to cover some kind of pump. It's just that it might just be a manual.<br /> Well-- I think. I should look that up too. But they consider it preventative since the health benefits of BFing are worth it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-572262 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:20:28 +0000 T.H.O.U. 572262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Yea, I think you need to talk to someone else because I dont' think they really make any just battery ones. They are all battery+electric or just electric. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-572235 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:03:30 +0000 matador84 572235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have BCBS TX and they told me a pump wasn't covered at all...and I even had a prescription. I want to look somewhere to find it in writing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-572226 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 11:57:02 +0000 Foodnerd81 572226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thehistoryofus: But wouldn't that make it electric? They specifically said (and know I think this is wrong anyway) that they did not cover electric, but did cover battery. I kind of don't see how it could be battery but not electric. </p> <p>I also think she just didn't know what she was talking about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-571749 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 08:08:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 571749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Lots of pumps are battery powered. In fact, most electric pumps have a battery. You can also plug them in but they do operate on battery. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-571236 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:15:50 +0000 tlcbaby 571236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: That was going to be my advice-to just call and speak with someone else. There are so many people it is easy to get different answers each time.</p> <p>I am due in June and I was lucky. When I called, the rep was very knowledgable about the coverage and gave me a list of suppliers. I am about to switch insurance companies so I hope their coverage is just good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-571081 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:49:50 +0000 allison 571081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have BCBS of NC, and I got a Medela double electric from Edgepark. I definitely second what @Mrs. Tricycle: said about placing an order then seeing what Edgepark says you owe. If your insurance won't cover it 100%, they'll call you and let you know and you can cancel the order. I'm willing to bet the person you talked to from BCBS just didn't know what they were talking about, because it seems ridiculous to me that an insurance company would decide to cover battery-operated pumps but not electric. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-571043 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:58:31 +0000 Foodnerd81 571043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@boiledpnut: I have a feeling the lady I talked to didn't know what she was talking about. I spoke to someone at work who had a baby last year, pre affordable care act, and didn't have any major issues BFing, and she had a double electric paid for with the same insurance that I have. I'm going to wait a few months and try again. I'm not due until July. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-571024 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:34:34 +0000 boiledpnut 571024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I'm beginning to feel really lucky! I have BCBS as well and they covered a double electric pump for me. When I called, they knew exactly what was going on and were very helpful. I'm Spiteri so many of you are having such a hard time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-570990 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:59:25 +0000 umlo 570990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have Anthem BCBS and they said I was covered 80% for a Medela Pump In Style, double electric in and out of network but using a DME supplier. Anything purchased in retail would NOT be covered. After a long wait due to the restock of pumps, I received my pump fully covered. No out of pocket expense as they initially said. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-570986 Sun, 17 Feb 2013 11:55:18 +0000 sylvie_b 570986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For anyone who has united healthcare, I found this thread super helpful!<br /> <a href="http://community.babycenter.com/post/a39049516/breast_pumps_covered_by_united_healthcare" rel="nofollow">http://community.babycenter.com/post/a39049516/breast_pumps_covered_by_united_healthcare</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556905 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:12:23 +0000 Foodnerd81 556905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tricycle: Actually, Edgepark is the only one of the three they told me to call who carried pumps, but they only have electric and the woman on the phone at BCBS said they will only cover the battery powered. But the lady on the phone at Edgepark was really nice at least. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556902 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:10:49 +0000 Mrs. Tricycle 556902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have BCBS and I had to order from a medical supplier. Id try calling Edgepark -- if you go to Edgepark.com, you'll see a notice about ordering pumps at the top of the site. You place your order and then the company contacts your insurance company. Edgepark then calls you back and tells you if you owe a co-pay -- if you do, you can cancel your order - so its a good way to see if you can slide something through. And my BCBS covered a double electric w/o an Rx. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556892 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:01:35 +0000 Foodnerd81 556892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JessiBee: I think this is the best idea. In fact, it's what I SAID I would do when I first heard about people getting misleading info and long waits... then I got impatient and wanted to plan ahead and had a day at home to make phone calls... </p> <p>Yes, I'll just wait a few months until they work it out and then try again. Really, there is nothing to pump before the summer anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556888 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:59:14 +0000 dojo 556888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I too spent some time on the phone trying to figure out what my insurance will cover - I have two insurance providers and so far I have found that BCBS will only cover the manual pumps with a prescription (or the electric after deductible is met) and I will not know what the changes to my Premera plan will be until they renew in March/April (after I am due) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556862 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:44:23 +0000 mrs. wagon 556862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does anyone have Harvard Pilgrim? I'm dreading calling!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556860 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:43:42 +0000 JessiBee 556860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say wait and call again in a couple of months. It sounds like they're all still figuring out exactly what to cover and what the process is. If you don't need it yet, let them work out the kinks in the system, and call when you're a little closer. Hopefully you'll get better, faster information then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556847 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:32:10 +0000 eeh 556847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they're going to pay for it, get the manual even if you don't use it very often. I have a Medela double electric and a medela manual. I took the manual on vacation because I pump one side every am but didn't want to lug the big one around. Worked out great. It's also handy to leave in a ziploc in the car in case of some kind of emergency. </p> <p>Then, based on your needs and how much you're wanting to pump I would still buy a good quality double electric even if insurance doesn't pay for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556841 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:29:25 +0000 Alivoo01 556841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also have BCBS, and they will only cover a manual pump as well (boo!). I can get mine from Target or Wal-Mart, fill out the provided reimbursemnt form, and send it in. I too am debating if it's worth getting a manual pump because I was planning on getting a double electric from the beginning... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556792 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:04:19 +0000 regberadaisy 556792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do know that with my insurance if I needed to I could pay out of pocket first then file a claim for reimbursement. So I could say buy it from Amazon then file a claim to get reimbursed.</p> <p>My Ameda can be plugged in OR use batteries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/insurance-and-breast-pumps#post-556785 Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:01:05 +0000 Foodnerd81 556785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I decided to call my insurance today to find out what kind of pump they cover and how I can get it, since I'm working from home and it's really slow, because of the storm. </p> <p>I've spent about an hour now between calling, being on hold, calling, etc, to get nowhere, really. Insurance (Horizon BCBS of NJ) tells me my plan covers only battery powered or manual pumps, and gives me three names of pharmacies/medical supply providers that are in network. First 2 don't carry breast pumps at all. 3rd one only carries electric (because who wants the other kind??) </p> <p>Can anyone tell me how they had success figuring out what was covered? I'm not due until July, but I had a feeling, and was right, that it wouldn't be a very straightforward process, so I just want to find out my options early, knowing I will have other things to worry about later on. Right now, seems like my option is to call insurance, have them read out a long list of places, then go online or call each place to find out what they have? And then guess at what pump is actually included? I realize this is new, but come on, we've know this was coming for 6 months. </p> <p>Any short cuts or advice? Is a battery powered pump even a thing? I have never heard of that. Is a manual worth it? I don't plan to return to work, but I do plan on pumping sometimes so I can leave the baby for a few hours. </p>