downloadable forms
breastfeeding insurance reimbursement
Affordable Care Act
In June 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the majority of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will redefine much of the US healthcare environment. One of the most valuable infant healthcare provisions requires health plans to cover breastfeeding support and supplies. That provision requires health plans to cover breastfeeding support and supplies without cost-sharing (i.e., no co-payment). Many health plans will need to implement this change with the first plan/policy year that begins on or after August 1, 2012.
Could my breastpump or lactation services be covered by my insurance?
While the ACA is greatly expanding benefits for breastfeeding, changes to coverage will vary among insurance plans.
Therefore, your first step is to understand the coverage and benefits available to you through your insurance plan. Your insurance company (or your employer’s benefits department) can provide you with a policy handbook detailing the benefits of your plan. After reviewing the policy handbook be sure to contact your health insurance plan’s member services department with questions. Most insurance companies offer a toll-free customer service number that you can call with specific questions about your health plan. (This number is typically found on the back of your insurance card.) The insurance plan representative should be able to explain your insurance coverage for any of the products or services that you receive.
In June 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the majority of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which will redefine much of the US healthcare environment. One of the most valuable infant healthcare provisions requires health plans to cover breastfeeding support and supplies. That provision requires health plans to cover breastfeeding support and supplies without cost-sharing (i.e., no co-payment). Many health plans will need to implement this change with the first plan/policy year that begins on or after August 1, 2012.
Could my breastpump or lactation services be covered by my insurance?
While the ACA is greatly expanding benefits for breastfeeding, changes to coverage will vary among insurance plans.
Therefore, your first step is to understand the coverage and benefits available to you through your insurance plan. Your insurance company (or your employer’s benefits department) can provide you with a policy handbook detailing the benefits of your plan. After reviewing the policy handbook be sure to contact your health insurance plan’s member services department with questions. Most insurance companies offer a toll-free customer service number that you can call with specific questions about your health plan. (This number is typically found on the back of your insurance card.) The insurance plan representative should be able to explain your insurance coverage for any of the products or services that you receive.
clinical studies - maternity support belt
Beaty, C.M., V.J. Bhaktaram, MD, W.F Rayburn, MD, M.J. Parker, BSRT, H.D.
Christensen, PhD, and K Chandrasekaran, MD: Low Backache During Pregnancy Acute
Hemodynamic Effects of a Lumbar Support. The Journal of Reproductive Medicine.
December 1999; Vol. 44 No.12; pp 1007-1011.
“Elastic/Velcro lumbar and abdominal supports relieved low back pain without
acutely afftcting the hemodynamics of the fetus and the mother. "
Christensen, PhD, and K Chandrasekaran, MD: Low Backache During Pregnancy Acute
Hemodynamic Effects of a Lumbar Support. The Journal of Reproductive Medicine.
December 1999; Vol. 44 No.12; pp 1007-1011.
“Elastic/Velcro lumbar and abdominal supports relieved low back pain without
acutely afftcting the hemodynamics of the fetus and the mother. "
clinical studies - elastic compression stockings
Hobel, CJ, L. Castro, MD, D. Rosen MD, JS Greenspoon MD, and S Nessim DPH: The effect of thigh-length support stockings on the hemodynamic response to ambulation in pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1996. Vol 174 No.6, pp.1734-1741.
“There are significant hemodynamic changes in pregnant subjects when they change from the sitting position to the lateral recumbent position and then change to standing with ambulation. Support stockings have a significant mechanical effect: they significantly increase afterload and systemic vascular resistance by preventing pooling of blood in the lower extremities. There may also be a biochemical effect that results in less catecholamine release. These results suggest that compression stockings could play an important role in supporting the circulation during ambulation. "
“There are significant hemodynamic changes in pregnant subjects when they change from the sitting position to the lateral recumbent position and then change to standing with ambulation. Support stockings have a significant mechanical effect: they significantly increase afterload and systemic vascular resistance by preventing pooling of blood in the lower extremities. There may also be a biochemical effect that results in less catecholamine release. These results suggest that compression stockings could play an important role in supporting the circulation during ambulation. "
clinical studies - wrist splints
Heckman, JD, R. Sassard: Musculoskeletal Considerations in Pregnancy. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. November 1994; Vol. 76 No. 11; pp 1720-1730.
“The second most frequent musculoskeletal symptom of pregnancy is pain in the hands and wrists, and carpal tunnel syndrome is the cause of these symptoms in many patients. Splinting of the wrist is the first line of treatment. A removeable, light, soft thermoplastic splint shaped to support the wrist in neutral or slight dorsiflexion should be used at night. " Ekman-Ordeberg, G.; Salgeback, S.; and Ordeberg, G.: Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy. A prospective study. Acta Obstet. Gynec. Scandinavica, 66: 233-235, 1987. “forty-six (82%) of fifty-six patients had good relief of symptoms after using a wrist splint at night for two weeks. "
“The second most frequent musculoskeletal symptom of pregnancy is pain in the hands and wrists, and carpal tunnel syndrome is the cause of these symptoms in many patients. Splinting of the wrist is the first line of treatment. A removeable, light, soft thermoplastic splint shaped to support the wrist in neutral or slight dorsiflexion should be used at night. " Ekman-Ordeberg, G.; Salgeback, S.; and Ordeberg, G.: Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy. A prospective study. Acta Obstet. Gynec. Scandinavica, 66: 233-235, 1987. “forty-six (82%) of fifty-six patients had good relief of symptoms after using a wrist splint at night for two weeks. "