Affordable Care Act: Breastfeeding

[MamaMaui24]

Has anyone seen/heard any changes in your health insurance coverage for pumps, supplies, consultations, etc?

I haven't contacted my insurance yet.

www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2011/08/womensprevention08012011a.html

•Breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling: Pregnant and postpartum women will have access to comprehensive lactation support and counseling from trained providers, as well as breastfeeding equipment. Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive measures mothers can take to protect their health and that of their children. One of the barriers for breastfeeding is the cost of purchasing or renting breast pumps and nursing related supplies.

[sometimesrunner]

My insurance now pays 100% of everything you mentioned in your post. It became effective 8/1/12.

[Brie]

I contacted my insurance. Our plan year doesn't renew until January 1st, so you can't get anything before that, and when it DOES renew they're only covering manual pumps. Lame.

[doublemint]

Even though the effective date of this part of the law was in August, (non-grandfathered) health plans don't have to make the changes until the first renewal period after this went into effect. So, if your plan renewed in July, they don't have to make any changes until July 2013. If you renew in January (the majority of plans, but certainly not all, renew 1-1) they do not have to start covering these things until 1-1-13. So, the reason why you probably haven't heard anything from your health plan yet is that they aren't covering it yet (though they can do it early, but most will not). You should get more information about changes during your open enrollment period.

Also, regarding breast pump coverage, many people don't know that plans only have to cover the rental cost of a breast pump, not the purchase (though some are now covering purchase anyway). So, this is also something for people to investigate, too.

I'm due with DD2 in October and though I already have my pump, I am excited that they will have to cover my IUD or getting my tubes tied after 1-1 without me having to meet my crazy high deductible first (in case I can't get it done in the few months after delivery when my deductible is already met)!

Hope this helps! If you call your insurance company or plan administrator, they should be able to give you more information now!

[schrodinger]

We've always had 100% coverage for ~3 LC visits in-home if desired. I called a few weeks ago about coverage for pumps and they will only cover manual pump purchases. Our plan restarts in April, so that's the earliest I can get a pump.

[MamaMaui24]

Sept 17, 2012 15:54:24 GMT -5 doublemint said:

Even though the effective date of this part of the law was in August, (non-grandfathered) health plans don't have to make the changes until the first renewal period after this went into effect. So, if your plan renewed in July, they don't have to make any changes until July 2013. If you renew in January (the majority of plans, but certainly not all, renew 1-1) they do not have to start covering these things until 1-1-13. So, the reason why you probably haven't heard anything from your health plan yet is that they aren't covering it yet (though they can do it early, but most will not). You should get more information about changes during your open enrollment period.

Also, regarding breast pump coverage, many people don't know that plans only have to cover the rental cost of a breast pump, not the purchase (though some are now covering purchase anyway). So, this is also something for people to investigate, too.

I'm due with DD2 in October and though I already have my pump, I am excited that they will have to cover my IUD or getting my tubes tied after 1-1 without me having to meet my crazy high deductible first (in case I can't get it done in the few months after delivery when my deductible is already met)!

Hope this helps! If you call your insurance company or plan administrator, they should be able to give you more information now!

Thanks for the info, doublemint!

My plan just started 9/1/12 so I'm curious if they've made any changes.

[chicken]

Under the new law, our insurance covers pumps, but only if there is a medical need. Meaning, if the baby is premature and in the NICU, allergic to formula, if the mother is discharged first, etc. Once both the mother and baby are discharged, unless there is a formula allergy they will no longer pay for a pump. A pump is considered a "medical preference" and not "essential equipment." I guess that is technically true but still makes me sad.

[doublemint]

Sept 17, 2012 16:28:24 GMT -5 MamaMaui24 said:

Sept 17, 2012 15:54:24 GMT -5 doublemint said:

Even though the effective date of this part of the law was in August, (non-grandfathered) health plans don't have to make the changes until the first renewal period after this went into effect. So, if your plan renewed in July, they don't have to make any changes until July 2013. If you renew in January (the majority of plans, but certainly not all, renew 1-1) they do not have to start covering these things until 1-1-13. So, the reason why you probably haven't heard anything from your health plan yet is that they aren't covering it yet (though they can do it early, but most will not). You should get more information about changes during your open enrollment period.

Also, regarding breast pump coverage, many people don't know that plans only have to cover the rental cost of a breast pump, not the purchase (though some are now covering purchase anyway). So, this is also something for people to investigate, too.

I'm due with DD2 in October and though I already have my pump, I am excited that they will have to cover my IUD or getting my tubes tied after 1-1 without me having to meet my crazy high deductible first (in case I can't get it done in the few months after delivery when my deductible is already met)!

Hope this helps! If you call your insurance company or plan administrator, they should be able to give you more information now!

Thanks for the info, doublemint!

My plan just started 9/1/12 so I'm curious if they've made any changes.

Just saw this now! No problem! If your plan renewed 9-1, unless it is considered a grandfathered plan they should have implemented all of these changes to be compliant:-) I'd give them a call! Good luck!