If I Switch Insurance Can I Get Another Breast Pump?

Understanding Your Breast Pump Benefits After Changing Insurance

Yes, you can typically get another breast pump if you switch insurance plans! As someone who has tested numerous breast pumps and navigated insurance changes during my breastfeeding journey, I can confirm that changing insurance often resets your breast pump benefits. This is great news for moms who need a new pump due to wear and tear, changing needs, or simply because their previous pump isn’t working well for them anymore.

How Insurance Breast Pump Benefits Work When Switching Plans

Through my experience reviewing insurance policies and testing breast pumps for countless mothers, I’ve learned that breast pump benefits generally work in the following ways when you switch insurance:

1. New plan = new benefits: Each insurance plan typically provides its own separate breast pump benefit that resets when you join the plan.
2. Pregnancy/birth requirements: Many insurance plans tie breast pump coverage to pregnancy and birth, offering one pump per pregnancy or birth event.
3. Calendar year or benefit period limitations: Some plans limit coverage to one pump per calendar year or benefit period.

For more comprehensive information about getting breast pumps through insurance, check out my Definitive Guide to Free Breast Pumps Through Insurance.

When You’re Most Likely to Get Approved for Another Pump

Based on my years of experience helping moms navigate insurance coverage for breast pumps, here are the scenarios when you’re most likely to get approved for another breast pump after switching insurance:

1. New Pregnancy

This is the most straightforward scenario. If you’re pregnant again or have recently given birth when you switch insurance, you’ll almost certainly qualify for a new breast pump under your new plan. Insurance companies typically provide coverage for one breast pump per pregnancy or birth event.

2. Significant Time Has Passed

If it’s been more than a year since you received your last pump, many insurance companies will approve another one, especially if you’ve switched providers. Some plans specify that they’ll replace pumps every 1-3 years, depending on their policies.

3. Change in Medical Necessity

If your breastfeeding needs have changed significantly (e.g., you had a single pump but now have twins, or you’ve developed a medical condition requiring a different type of pump), your new insurance may approve another pump with proper documentation from your healthcare provider.

Steps to Get Another Breast Pump After Switching Insurance

If you’ve switched insurance and need another breast pump, here’s the process I recommend following:

1. Verify your coverage: Contact your new insurance provider directly to confirm your breast pump benefits. Ask specifically about eligibility if you’ve received a pump through previous insurance.
2. Get a new prescription: Most insurance companies require a current prescription for a breast pump, even if you had one with your previous insurance.
3. Use in-network suppliers: Your new insurance likely has preferred suppliers. For specific insurance providers, check my guides for United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, or Kaiser Permanente.
4. Submit any required documentation: Be prepared to provide proof of the insurance change and information about your breastfeeding needs.

Common Insurance Policies About Replacement Pumps

Different insurance providers have varying policies on breast pump replacements. Here’s what I’ve observed from testing and research:

• New insurance, no questions: Many insurance companies don’t track what you received from previous insurers, making it easier to get a new pump when you switch.
• Time-based replacement: Some plans specify replacement periods (commonly every 3 years) regardless of your previous insurance.
• Pregnancy-based coverage: Most plans offer one pump per pregnancy, so a new pregnancy typically means new pump eligibility.
• Damage or medical necessity: If your pump is damaged or no longer meets your medical needs, many insurance plans will cover a replacement with documentation.

If you’re on Medicaid, the policies may be different. Check my guide on Breast Pumps Through Medicaid for specific information. Military families should reference my Tricare Breast Pumps Coverage article.

What If Your New Insurance Denies Your Request?

If your new insurance denies your request for another breast pump, here are the steps I recommend based on helping many moms through this process:

1. Request the specific reason for denial in writing.
2. Appeal the decision if you believe you should be eligible based on the plan’s stated benefits.
3. Ask your healthcare provider to write a letter of medical necessity explaining why you need a new pump.
4. Check if your pump qualifies for replacement under warranty or insurance if it’s malfunctioning.

My Personal Experience Getting a Second Pump After Switching Insurance

When I had my second child, I had switched from my previous employer’s insurance to my husband’s plan. I was concerned about whether I’d be able to get another breast pump since I already had one from my first pregnancy.

I called the new insurance company directly and simply asked about their breast pump benefits. They confirmed I was eligible for a breast pump as part of my maternity benefits, and at no point did they ask if I had received one through previous insurance. The key was that this was an entirely new insurance plan with no connection to my previous coverage.

I submitted a new prescription from my OB-GYN and was able to select a different model than my first pump. This turned out to be wonderful because my needs had changed—with a toddler running around, I needed a more portable option than my previous pump.

Related: Can My Husband Get A Breast Pump Through His Insurance?

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