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Good news, just in time for World Breastfeeding Week. While many have been jumping for joy over the expansion of the Affordable Care Act to include birth control for all insured women without a copay or deductible, many articles have failed to point out that the new guidelines also cover breastfeeding support. That's right, the government has decided that breastfeeding is actually preventative health care and that lactation support, including visits to an IBCLC and renting a breast pump, should be covered by insurance at no cost. “The Affordable Care Act helps stop health problems before they start,” said Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “These historic guidelines are based on science and existing literature and will help ensure women get the preventive health benefits they need.”
These new guidelines are effective as of August 1, 2011, but depending on your plan and insurance provider, you may not actually take advantage of them until the new plan year, on or before August 1, 2012. And yes, you may take advantage of this in conjunction with every birth of a child.
For a full list of preventive health care services now covered under the Act, see the HRSA guidelines available online.
