Lame. I completely forgot to update this with blog posts lately. I've been slammed at work and on Fiverr, so it's been tough to find time to think, let alone to update a blog. Excuses, excuses, yes, I know I'm horrible.
Anyway, I learned some very valuable information today for anyone who's currently pregnant or expecting a baby. Apparently most insurance companies started offering free double electric breast pumps to new moms or expectant moms because of some changes to the healthcare law made in 2012. They're not horrible pumps either - we're talking name brand items like Ameda, Madela and Hygeia.
Excited? I was too.
So, how do you qualify? Well, you'll have to call your insurance company to get the details, but it turns out that with mine all I have to do is get a Dr's prescription from my OB and then order it through a contracted Durable Medical Equipment provider. That's it. They even ship that bad boy right to your house, or if you live locally you can just pick one up. There are zero out of pocket costs, but you'll have to get the cheapest one they offer. You can upgrade to a deluxe package with bells, whistles and everything else by paying a little bit of money (for me, it was $55 to get the carrying bag and some random accessories. I don't pump on-the-go a lot, so no big deal.)
I went to the website of a Durable Medical Equipment company that I found and they are super easy to work with. There's a form you download and fill out with the Rx box built right in. Your doctor just fills it out with their information, then you send it in via mail or fax. They call you after they get the form and get authorization from your insurance company, then they help you pick out a pump and ship it to your house about a month before you're due. Your insurance is billed so there are no out-of-pocket expenses.
This is really great news to me because I had issues with my middle child. I had a clot that she couldn't get out and that my breast pump (a Playtex one) couldn't get out either. It led to mastitis that went undetected which later turned into an abscess which had to be surgically drained. It was the most painful experience ever and I have contemplated not breastfeeding this baby because of it. But, just in case I decide to go ahead and do it, I'll now have a high-quality pump that was not in my budget before ready to go to help me out. I've also heard lactation consultants after delivery and discharge from the hospital are covered in full now, so I'm sure I'll take advantage of that as well! If only my co-pay wasn't so high...
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