TRICARE breast pumps, breast pump supplies, and breastfeeding counseling are 100% free for new mothers, including mothers who adopted a baby and plan to breastfeed.
A baby is a mother’s first concern. The baby’s welfare is everything that a mother is worried about. However, working mothers have it hard. They may be needed to join their offices when their babies are hardly a year old and still getting fed. In such situations, of course, the babies wouldn’t be kept hungry the whole time. So, how to deal with this situation?
That’s when a breast pump comes into the picture. A breast pump is a device that helps to extract milk from the breasts of a lactating mother. Then, either of the parents can collect it in a collecting bottle. Now, even if the mother is out, this breast milk is stored for 6 hours at room temperature. This device has its benefits.
Benefits of a Breast Pump
A breast pump is nearly as crucial to a baby as the mother. Honestly, it doesn’t possess the emotions of a mother but it has other far-reaching benefits. Some of them are mentioned below:
- Sometimes, it is necessary to admit the newborn child or the mother to the ICU due to health problems. Naturally, a mother cannot follow her baby to the ICU. Then, a breast pump solves the critical question surrounding the baby’s food.
- Sometimes, a baby faces difficulty in holding on to the mother or suckling properly. Then, the breast pump plays the role of a savior.
- The process of pumping fastens the recovery process for lactating mothers.
- Also, the mothers who produce more milk than their babies can consume can donate the excessive quantity to milk banks.
- This way, the breast pumps will also be a lifesaver for mothers who are unable to produce the necessary amount of milk for their newborn children.
Tricare Breast Pump Free Through Insurance
Tricare has made a name for itself in the world of maternity coverage. But the question is does Tricare cover breast pumps? Now, let’s have a clear understanding of what Tricare insurance is. Tricare is a company that does the insurance for free breast pumps, breast pump supplies, and breastfeeding counseling. The company ensures that the mothers do not have to spend a penny after insurance.
Mothers get a free Tricare breast pump and supplies through Tricare Insurance Policy. they will be able to get a breast pump covered by Tricare insurance. After the verification of insurance and prescription, you can select one of the Insurance Covered Breast Pumps.
Let us follow the steps below to find out how a lactating mother may acquire a Tricare breast pump.
How do I get a free breast pump through Tricare?
Step 1 Get a Prescription
- The prescription has to be from a doctor or a nurse who is authorized by Tricare. This prescription doesn’t have to mention the name of any particular brand.
- The prescription must specifically mention whether the mother needs a manually operated brand or a hospital-grade one. The customer needs proper authorization and referral for a hospital-quality breast pump.
- If the customer gets a breast pump from a medical equipment supplier whom she already knows, she should ask for a diagnosis code in the prescription.
Step 2 Get the Tricare Breast Pump through insurance
- The customer should understand that she has to pay for the device, not the Tricare insurance. If she wants to pay upfront for the pump, she should go to a vendor who is authorized by Tricare. Even some online stores are Tricare certified. She should save a copy of the receipt which they provide. In this case, the prescription is unnecessary.
- However, if she is not paying upfront, she has to contact her regional contractor. The local contractor will find a network supplier. However, in this case, she will have to show the prescription.
Step 3 File a Claim
- A customer will not have to file a claim if she has a network supplier.
- If she has bought the pump herself, she has to file a claim with the Tricare claims processor.
Tricare Breast Pump Coverage
The lactating mother may need to file an insurance claim from Tricare when she needs a reimbursement of her breast pump insurance. She should follow the steps mentioned below to file a claim:-
- Complete the DD Form 2642
- Attach a copy of the prescription and the receipt
- Mail it to the Tricare claims processor.
- After that, the regional contractor will mail a cheque back to the customer.
Tricare breast pump insurance covers one birth pump kit for each birth event. Each birth pump kit includes the following articles alongside the pump itself:-
- One replacement of standard power adapters per birth
- One set of tubing and tubing adaptors for each birth
- One Supplemental Nursing System for every birth
- Two sets of nipple shields per birth
- Two replacement bottles and caps every month
- Twelve valves or membranes for each of the twelve months after birth
- Ninety storage bags for every 30 days after the birth
Tricare breast pump makes sure that the customer only gets more supplies than the ones mentioned above if the practitioner prescribes them. He has to write down what supplies the lactating mother needs explicitly in the prescription.
However, Tricare does not insure certain products unless they are a part of the breast pump kit. The products are:-
- Breast pump cleaning products
- Regular baby bottles, which are not necessary for the pump kit
- The creams or ointments used to soothe minor skin infections during breastfeeding
- Bags for carrying the pumping equipment
- Scales for weighing the baby
- Maternity inner-wear or maternity garments
Tricare covers breast pumps, breastfeeding supplies from top brands like Spectra, Medela, Elvie, Evenflo, and more, all FREE through insurance.
Tricare breast pump is included with insurance and thus how pays up to a fixed amount for a breast pump and the first breast pump kit. The rates may change every year.
Free Breast Pump Through Tricare Coverage
Tricare insurance added payment coverage for manual and electric breast pumps. All relevant supplies needed for the functioning of a breast pump are included in the covered amount. Since March 2019, Tricare breast pump reimburses $312.84 for the US and $500.55 for other countries.
The good news is that Tricare breast pump does not restrict its insurance coverage to any particular model number or brand.
Last but not least, Tricare Breast Pump Insurance also covers six different outpatient breastfeeding counseling sessions after each birth.
However, it is subject to certain conditions like:-
- The lactating mother visits a Tricare-authorized practitioner
- The practitioner bills using preventive counseling procedure code
Under certain conditions, Tricare breast pump insurance coverage pays for a new one if the old pump breaks. The lactating mother may even get reimbursed for a hospital-grade breast pump, which she had rented. However, it should be certified to have been medically necessary. Get a 100% covered breast pump through Tricare Insurance at the time of pregnancy.
