The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010 by President Obama. In addition to mandating companies to accommodate breastfeeding employees at work, the act requires health insurance plans to provide breastfeeding support, counseling, and equipment for the duration of breastfeeding. These services may be provided before and after birth.
Insurance Coverage for Breast Pumps
Breast pumps are medical devices regulated by the FDA, used to express breast milk. For specific information on types of pumps and how they work, explore the FDA breast pump webpages. Your health insurance plan must cover the cost of a breast pump. It may either be a rental unit or a new personal pump. Your plan may have guidelines on whether the covered pump is manual or electric, the length of the rental, and when you’ll receive it.
In most cases, clients need a prescription/authorization from their health care provider to get a breast pump through insurance. Medical device companies (DMEs) can often contact your doctor on your behalf if you don’t have a prescription, or you can share your prescription with them. CCAH members can also ask an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for a pump prescription.
It’s a good idea to talk to a breastfeeding professional, e.g. IBCLC to learn the pros and cons of different types of pumps. For example, if you need to pump at work, you most likely want a pump that expresses milk from both breasts at the same time, in order to save time. You may have to pay an upgrade fee (the difference in cost between what your insurance will pay and the cost of the pump) to get the breast pump you want. Make sure you do your research before you decide.
Call the phone number on the back of your insurance card to get a list of their approved pump vendors. You may not get reimbursed if you buy a pump first.
We do not endorse specific pumps or vendors but are providing options on this website for your convenience.
Breast Pump Vendors
Central California Alliance for Health lists contracted lactation consultants and pump vendors on their website. CCAH usually provides a personal pump only once every 3 years so research your options.
Below are local businesses who can provide a personal breast pump for CCAH subscribers (call first to see what their options are):
- Star Pharmacy (Salinas): 621-5558
- Watsonville Pharmacy (Watsonville): 728-1818
- Merced Medical Supply (Merced) (209) 259-2472
Note: Call the CCAH Health Education line at 800-700-3874, ext. 5580, for additional lactation consultants or pump vendors
Online Pump Vendors (list is not complete)
There are many online pump vendors who can ship you a personal pump. Call first to see if they accept your insurance (private/CCAH/Medi-Cal) and what kind of pump you qualify for. Some vendors have side by side comparisons of different pumps to help you decide. You may have to pay an upgrade fee to get the pump you want.
A Breast Pump and More (Hygeia brand only)
Abreastpumpandmore.com
855.786.7296
Advanced Home Medical
advancedhomemed.com
800.230.4761
Byram Healthcare Centers
Byramhealthcare.com
877.773.1972
Edgepark Breast Pumps
edgepark.com
855.504.2099
Simply MaMa
simplymamabreastpumps.com
844.470.7867
Pumping Essentials
pumpingessentials.com
866.688.4203
WIC Pumps
If you are a WIC participant, you may qualify for a free manual pump or can borrow a hospital-grade double-electric pump until you can transition to your own personal pump through insurance. Most personal pumps are not adequate to establish a full milk supply. Talk to a WIC breastfeeding professional about strategies before ordering your personal pump. Go to the WIC page on this website for contact information.
Resources for Pumping and Storage of Breast Milk
Pumping and Storage of Breastmilk - CDC
Safe Storage of Breastmilk - CDC
How to Keep Your Pumping Equipment Clean - CDC
Pumping and Storing Breastmilk – Office of Women’s Health
Expressing and Pumping Milk – USDA WIC