I already have one (that I bought for $250) just SEVEN months ago, but since we now have this Obamacare thing, I get a free one and I'm taking what's coming to me.... Now I can have one at work and one at home.
I missed the first time home buyer's credit of $10,000 by 1 year, as well so, I'll wallow if I want to. 
Has anyone else taken advantage of getting a free breast pump?
squash / 13199 posts
Dh suggested this, but I decided not to. Since I already bought one before the obama care free pump came into effect.
Is there a limit on how many free ones you can get within a certain time frame? Because I didnt want to get a free one now and then if I have a baby in a few years not be able to get another one then.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Hmm, I never really thought about getting one even though I have a new one.
I guess if you really wanted to cheat the system you could get the new one and sell it on craigslist (since it would be sealed).
eggplant / 11716 posts
I'm not sure about a limit, but you'd *think* they would have 1 per child/pregnancy. I wonder if insurance companies have thought that far ahead! If it would save them money, I'm sure they wil start limiting.
I was paranoid that my insurance would *stop* covering them 100%, so I ordered already and I'm only 16 weeks.
grapefruit / 4669 posts
Ugh, we are having such a hard time getting a free pump...every time DH calls the insurance co, they tell him something different. And there's a list of 200 places he's supposed to call to figure out where to rent a breast pump (because apparently they only pay for a rental, not purchase?) yet none of those places rent them, they only sell them. I don't think it should be this hard. Glad yours is on the way, but bummer that you're already out the money for your first one! Maybe you should save the new one in box and it'll be fresh for the next baby?
squash / 13199 posts
@Bao: @Anagram: Yeah the reason why Id ont think its one pump per child is that some people have children very close to gether would that mean they would get a new pump every year?
I'm also holding out because I know new models come out very often with improved designs so I dont want to have a new one unopened sitting around if a better design is about to be released soon.
@tororojo: wow I thought insurance companies had to cover the cost of purchase
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
Under our insurance, it's 1 per child. I'm guessing if you had multiples, they probably would still only provide 1. I've been thinking for a while how nice it would be to have one at home and one at work and my work one is acting funny sometimes so, this at least makes me feel a little better knowing I'll have a backup in case this one dies!
@tororojo: my insurance company said they don't rent anymore. They gave me the name of a company that they work with that provided the pump. Can you call customer service and ask who provides the free pumps? Believe me, we have some pretty cruddy insurance through my husband's company but, it's BCBS and they cover a Medela PISA in full....
Oh and...no more babies here.
eggplant / 11716 posts
@Mrsbells: I've had some friends whose insurance will only cover rental, and some whose insurance only covers a maual pump (the cheapest they can get away with and still be following the law). That's why I was paranoid my insurance company would catch on and start only paying for manual pumps.
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
Awesome!
I looked into it last August but it was such a hassle - they wanted me to call a billion different numbers and no one knew what they were talking about - so I got frustrated and gave up.
coconut / 8234 posts
I received mine for free before the Affordable Care Act kicked in, so there are probably various insurance companies that were already doing this? Mine was covered under the "durable medical equipment" portion of my insurance and I just needed to buy it after LO was born and have a prescription from my midwife.
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
My insurance only covers a manual pump. Boo!! I'll have to add the breast pump to my registry unless I find a killer deal on one.
grapefruit / 4669 posts
@Mrsbells: @mediagirl: Their story seriously changes every day! I know because he's been calling every day. We have BCBS also but no one working there seems to know anything concrete. All they gave us was a giant list of places that MIGHT offer pumps...waaaah!
pomegranate / 3225 posts
I think I should get one, since I'm just borrowing one now. I also have BCBS, i'm just dreading all the hoops we'll have to jump through to get it.
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
i got mine free through bcbs w/a prescription.
it came in a medical box, not the retail box..so may not get away with reselling 
persimmon / 1408 posts
I'm doing the same thing! I got one in September and wasn't eligible for the free on yet. I'm getting another now - so I'll have one for work and one for home.
And in reality - it's not free. You and/or your company pays premiums for your insurance. Because of Obamacare, insurance premiums have adjusted 1-3% in cover things like "free" contraceptives, preventive care, breast pumps, etc. So, you are paying for and you shouldn't feel bad about taking advantage of it!
grapefruit / 4717 posts
I'm gonna do the same thing w/ the same timing. Just need to find the time to call my insurance!
persimmon / 1408 posts
FYI - I just called the DME place I'm getting my pump through (Medela PIS). According to them, Medela is having some big meeting today because they can't keep up with production needs.
There's a 30 person waiting list at the place I'm trying to get mine through :o( They were supposed to get 18 on Monday, but they still haven't shipped because of the production issues.
grapefruit / 4442 posts
My insurance said they would cover it if dd was in the nicu. I wonder if my plan was grandfathered
pomegranate / 3716 posts
I had no idea you could get a free pump, or that insurance even covers them?? I just assumed you buy the Medela ones from BBB or something... where I can find more info about this free pump program?
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@CarrieLouWho: yeah, except ours went up 27% this year. So, yeah. I take advantage of EVERYTHING I can when it's "free."
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@sweetchic: just call your insurance company and they'll put you in the right direction. My insurance company said they allow women to get their pumps 30 days before their delivery date or after the baby is born (if born early). It sounds like everyone's is different, though!
hostess / watermelon / 14932 posts
if anyone is in the MA/RI/etc area, let me know! I use BCBS-MA and I went through an extremely easy to use place.
Also, I remember @allison posting that she was able to get a pump through her local hospital!
cherry / 204 posts
@tororojo: I had posed the question to BCBS and they did the same thing saying that I could get a manual pump or rent one... was bummed. Please let me know if your husband is able to make any headway with that (and what was said etc to get an appropriate answer ;))!!!
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
I bought a used one off a friend last summer and will be getting a free one, too. This way, I can have one for work and one for home!
My insurance told me that I can submit the paperwork now and they can verify everything but that it looks like I can't try to get it until I have the baby (which, um, what if I want to pump the week I have her?...) but that there is no time limit on when I can obtain one after her birth.
cherry / 134 posts
I wish! Apparently Tricare doesn't have to follow the same rules as everyone else. 
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
Mine ended up costing me $50, but I can get a new one with the next child.
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
@sorrycharlie: can you post info on my wall?? thanks!!! (I don't have BCBS though. We have Harvard Pilgrim.)
kiwi / 506 posts
I have Kaiser and they just gave me a manual pump 
I can rent one for free, but only for a month. It would be so great to have one at work!
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
@drealeah: I have the same insurance! Did you get the pump while you were at the hospital or afterwards?
grapefruit / 4669 posts
@SouthPaw: Sure, I'll let you know if we find anything out. It's possible that we won't know anything until the baby is born...which seems like way too late to be dealing with it! Due date is now less than a month away; I just wish they would act like they care!
cantaloupe / 6206 posts
We got a $230 credit toward one, so ours isn't free- we'll pay a $120 copay for a PIS-Advanced.
pomelo / 5228 posts
A suggestion for anyone who finds herself with 2 pumps. How about donating the extra one to women in need? In my area, there is an organization that has a "Baby Boutique" for mothers at risk and/or getting out of homelessness and I know they would love pumps.
grapefruit / 4235 posts
If you can't find a dme supplier with breast pumps, try calling your local hospitals lactation consultants - they should be able to point you in the right direction.
I kept getting the wrong info from my insurance's customer service line - I finally got the right answer from the insurance's "healthy pregnancy" program.
grapefruit / 4441 posts
@Mrsbells: With BCBS federal I was told I could get one per year that I was breastfeeding. It was super easy to order from CVS Caremark and came within 2 weeks. It was the Ameda Purely Yours and came with 150 bags. They will send more bags 3x per year.
ETA: They said I could have ordered it 15 days before the baby was due.
kiwi / 506 posts
@autumnlove: they gave it to me at the hospital. I haven't used it though, it seems like a chore! Thankfully I'm borrowing a medela Pisa from my cousin!
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