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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.

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.

That's cool that insurance covers it now.

@banana: I have Anthem, too. Good to know. Thanks!

@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.

@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.

I also have BXBS ppo, but every state and every "group" of benefits negotiates different things.

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.

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.

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.

@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!

@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.

@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.

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.

My BCBS also does not cover birth control unless you prove it's medically necessary (wtf?) so I am not surprised.

@BIRDOFAFEATHER: no problem. Hope everything goes smoothly.