BCBS Insurance? You May Be Able to Get a FREE Pump!

A lot has happened since our February post about insurance and breastpumps!  We have a couple of local Durable Medical Equipment providers who will work with your insurance to help you receive the pump you're entitled to! Although every insurance plan is different, if you have Alabama Blue Cross Blue Shield, you should be able to receive a Medela Pump in Style, a Bailey Nurture III or an Ameda Purely Yours.

Which Pump Do I Want?

The Medela Pump in Style provided by insurance

All three pumps are high quality pumps. The Medela Pump in Style is a very popular single-user pump. One advantage for local mothers is that North Alabama hospitals use Medela products. I encourage every mother who gives birth to ask for her breast pump rental kit because it will provide you a spare set of parts for your Pump in Style. Furthermore, many mothers do find that renting a hospital-grade pump for the first week or even month can be very helpful in helping to deal with engorgement or for establishing a supply if baby isn't nursing well. The Pump in Style is a completely automatic double electric breast pump, making it easy to pump hands-free and do other things like read or type as you are pumping. 

The Bailey Nurture III Pump

The Bailey Nurture III is also a very reputable, reliable breast pump. The technology behind the Nurture III is a bit different, however. The suction is controlled by a dial, but the rate is controlled by the mother using the pump via a simple up and down motion of her finger which releases the pressure. The advantage to this system is that the mother can vary the speed as she sees fit. The disadvantage, however, is that she must be fully engaged with the pumping and does not have both hands free (she does have one hand free).

The Ameda Purely Yours pump

The Ameda Purely Yours  breast pump allows mothers to choose from 32 different combinations of pressure and speed. It is a closed pumping system, so it is impossible for any milk to ever get into the pump motor. It is completely automatic and works very well for mothers who need to pump hands-free. The only real disadvantage is that if you want extra parts for it, you must order them online.

How Can I Get My Pump?

That's the easy part! All you have to do is get a prescription from your doctor and bring it to us or have it faxed to us (256-489-2584). We will make a copy of your insurance card and have you fill out some simple paperwork. We will get your information to the appropriate DME provider and you will get a call within a week or less letting you know you can pick it up. We can even have it delivered to the hospital for you! Based on information received from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama just yesterday, you may request your pump during pregnancy and up to a year after your baby's birth as long as you have the prescription from a physician!

What If I Have a Different Insurance?

If you have a different Blue Cross Blue Shield (Federal or another state) it will most likely work the same way. We will just need to verify everything, and you might not be able to get your pump the day you bring your prescription in. 

Parents who do not have Blue Cross Blue Shield may still be eligible for a free breast pump. The Affordable Health Care Act mandates that insurance companies provide you a breast pump. Each company has the option of choosing what kind of pump they will provide. While some companies are only willing to provide a hand pump, many companies will provide you a double electric pump. Just bring in your prescription and your insurance card, and the wonderful insurance experts will be able to verify your coverage quite quickly.

If you've received a pump paid for by insurance, take just a minute to tell your story in the comments!