The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is leading many stores to sell out of breast pumps since new provisions went into effect on Jan. 1.
On Friday, the Washington Post reported sales of breast pumps have soared as insurance companies must now cover the cost of the devices, as well as visits to lactation specialists. While the provision received less attention than the individual mandate, employer mandate, or contraceptive mandate, it has not gone unnoticed by expecting and nursing mothers.
The Human Resources and Services Administration maintains a page dedicated to women's health issues under Obamacare. The page lists breastfeeding coverage as a benefit insurers must provide.
Insurance companies are not compensated for breastfeeding services. Federal funds are not reimbursed as with other aspects of Obamacare. Instead, insurers will be required to determine how to offset the costs of the coverage, likely with higher premiums for expectant mothers.
Before Obamacare required insurance companies to provide coverage for breast pumps, thirty-one states had breast pump coverage for long income families through Medicaid.
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