United Healthcare Breast Pumps
United Healthcare (UHC) is an insurance company dedicated to helping people live better. United Healthcare began as UnitedHealth Group in 1974 and has since evolved into one of the nation’s leading insurance providers. One of their goals is to help make the healthcare system better for everyone, from birth through retirement. To achieve this goal, United Healthcare has expanded their coverage to new and expecting mothers across the country. They understand that while welcoming a new baby into the world is exciting, it also creates colossal changes. For both new and existing parents, one thing is clear—the benefits of breastfeeding are incomparable. With busy schedules, however, not all new moms are able to handle every single nursing session and that’s okay. Breast pumping is an excellent way to make sure your baby is still getting essential nutrients and vitamins at every feeding. To help support your journey through breastfeeding, here is a United Healthcare insurance coverage guide to breast pumps.
Making the Choice to Breastfeed
Choosing to breastfeed is a great decision. It provides numerous health benefits to both mom and baby. It will also help you strengthen your bond during those first few weeks of your baby’s life. Skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding has an even more pronounced effect. As time moves on, babies who breastfeed are less likely to suffer from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, childhood obesity, certain infections, respiratory diseases, and more. To get the most out of these benefits, make sure that you breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of your baby’s life and then slowly begin to incorporate solids. Keep using breast milk as a source of nutrition until your baby is at least one year old.
United Healthcare understands that choosing between breastfeeding and formula feeding is a personal decision. However, if you’re struggling with breastfeeding and are becoming discouraged, consider speaking with a lactation consultant prior to switching to formula. Many UHC plans include coverage options for lactation counseling to help you get the support you need. We’ll discuss this coverage option in more detail below.
Understanding the Affordable Care Act
Making the decision to breastfeed is great, but exclusively nursing is a big commitment. This requires you to be with your baby at all times. As many mothers understand, this is almost impossible—especially if you work or want to have even a few hours of time to rest. Breast pumping allows you to create a milk supply that can be bottle-fed to your baby while you’re away. This also gives your partner and other loved ones a chance to strengthen their bond with your baby. However, buying a breast pump out-of-pocket is expensive and may not be a priority on your list. That’s where the Affordable Care Act comes in.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a comprehensive health care reform law that was enacted in March 2010 in an effort to make affordable health care more available, expand the Medicaid program, and support innovative medical care methods. Within this expansion of benefits, law makers made it a legal requirement that health insurance providers must provide plans that cover breastfeeding support, counseling, and certain equipment throughout the duration of breastfeeding. These services can be provided both before and after birth. Breast pumps fall under the category of covered benefits as they’re considered durable medical equipment (DME) and facilitate the proven health benefits from breastmilk.
While this coverage is a requirement, the details of different plans and health insurance providers vary. There are certain exceptions for grandfathered plans and different companies may require specific eligibility for hospital-grade pumps. You may receive a rental unit with some plans, or you may be able to choose a new pump and keep it for years to come. Your insurance provider also determines the type (manual or electric), length of use if renting, and when you’ll received your insurance covered breast pump.
United Healthcare Breast Pump Coverage Details
Since breast pumping between regular nursing sessions has been shown to help new mothers maintain their milk supply and provide support to families with hectic schedules, it’s considered essential to a healthy development. Under qualifying United Healthcare plans, you’ll be eligible to receive an insurance covered breast pump with zero out-of-pocket costs.
Most of the United Healthcare benefit plans include coverage for the purchase of a personal-use, double-electric breast pump at no cost. It’s been shown that these breast pumps mimic the process of breastfeeding more than other pumps, which can help you build a strong milk supply and reserve. If you’d prefer a different type of breast pump, you can look into your coverage details for manual pumps, hospital-grade pumps, or hands-free pumps. While most United Healthcare policies do not require a prescription to receive your insurance covered breast pump, there are exceptions to this rule.
Unfortunately, UHC coverage varies for different types of pumps and many plans only offer complete coverage for double-electric options. For example, United Healthcare insurance plans generally do not cover hospital-grade breast pumps. If you think that you will need the additional suction and specialized programming, such as in the case of a baby in the NICU or diagnosed with medical conditions, talk to your doctor and insurance provider about your options.
For more information on which type of breast pump you’re eligible to receive, contact United Healthcare or one of their national network providers. Byram Healthcare is proud to be a breast pump provider recommended by UHC and our representatives are here to help you through the ordering process.
UHC Timeline: When Should You Order a Breast Pump
We recommend that you begin your search for a breast pump early in your pregnancy. There are a lot of options on the market and you want to find something that’s going to meet your unique needs. Qualifying United Healthcare members can order their breast pump up to 30 days before their delivery date. Within certain states and plans, this timeline may vary. Always check with your policy holder to get a better understanding of when you can order a breast pump.
If you don’t receive your breast pump until closer to your delivery date, don’t worry. Most models are easy to understand after reading through the instruction manual. As a silver lining, those who receive their pumps later will have warranty coverage for longer periods of use. Many breast pumps come with a one-year warranty, which begins as soon as you receive it regardless of if you’re using it or not.
During the ordering process, if everything goes smoothly and you have all the required documentation, Byram Healthcare will make sure that your breast pump is shipped and delivered within 4-7 business days following insurance processing.
Deciding Between UHC Insurance Covered Breast Pumps and Purchasing One Out-of-Pocket
Since United Healthcare policies almost exclusively cover double-electric breast pumps, you may be considering purchasing a different model out-of-pocket. Unfortunately, due to grandfathered stipulations, your policy might not cover a breast pump. For a complete understanding of your eligibility and coverage options, make sure that you call your provider and discuss any concerns regarding your policy. If you need to buy a breast pump out-of-pocket, Byram Healthcare has a wide range of options with affordable pricing. However, before making any decisions, get started using our easy-to-follow qualifying form. It only takes a few minutes and can help you better understand your coverage options.
United Healthcare’s Coverage for Additional Maternity Support
In addition to insurance covered breast pumps, qualifying United Healthcare plans can help offset the cost of other maternity support and products. UHC has 24/7 maternity support to help offer tools and specialized guidance for before, during, and after pregnancy. This support is conducted using a network of registered nurses that will help you better understand how to support a healthy pregnancy, track milestones, and even set appointment reminders.
Postpartum, if you’re struggling with breastfeeding, look into your coverage options for a lactation consultant at no cost to you. Many United Healthcare insurance plans cover lactation counseling with a network provider or during an office visit alongside lactation support classes. For those who deliver in a hospital, coverage for a lactation consultant may be available during your inpatient stay. UHC plans also extend coverage for maternity compression garments (belly bands), which help to provide support and stabilization during pregnancy and postpartum healing. Additional breast pump supplies, such as flanges, tubing, and milk storage bottles, may also be covered under your insurance plan.
Byram Healthcare is a proud partner of United Healthcare insurance. We strive to make the process of ordering a breast pump covered by insurance as easy and efficient as possible. To get started, simply browse our selection of breast pumps and begin your order. If you have any insurance-related questions or concerns, contact your UHC representative or live chat with one of our breast pump experts at Byram.
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