Armed Forces

Military Mom, Baby, and Daughter

As a result of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA, 2010), most private health insurance plans cover breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling as preventive services for women. Coverage for military families under TRICARE—the Department of Defense health care program—does not fall under the ACA requirements, but the TRICARE Moms Improvement Act author was passed in 2015 and Tricare now covers the cost of breastfeeding counseling sessions and breast pumps and supplies as a benefit.

Resources for Breastfeeding Parents in the Armed Forces

Mom2Mom Global/Breastfeeding in Combat Boots website has pages dedicated to each branch of the U.S. military and includes information on policies, lactation space, breastfeeding in uniform, and other lactation-related information:

Breastfeeding in the Navy

Army Public Health Center Breastfeeding Resources

New parent / breastfeeding support group at the Presidio of Monterey

Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) - Many military families in the 831 area code qualify for WIC services. WIC provides local breastfeeding support through pump loans and pumping supplies; breastfeeding counseling with a peer counselor or an IBCLC; and benefits for nutritious foods during pregnancy, lactation, and for children up to the age of five.

To find out if you are eligible for WIC, visit the California WIC website eligibility page.

To make an appointment, call your local 831 WIC agency to make an appointment:

If you know of additional local resources for breastfeeding families in the armed forces, please let us know.