How to Get a Free Breast Pump (Yes. I’m Totally Serious.)

This post is sponsored.  This means we were asked to review or try something new, and then remunerated to share those thoughts.  Since you are reading this post, it ALSO means that we enjoyed the experience. Friends don't let friends make false recommendations! 

PAH-LEESE tell me you have a breast pump in your home somewhere.

If not, breastfeeding mama, you really need to get one. (And if you have to get one, why not get one free?)

Breast pumps are like an emergency pack for your long term breastfeeding dreams. They help those dreams stay alive.

• Are you just starting to breastfeed and your nipples are sore or, even worse, cracked? Pump-and-feed for a few days while they heal up.
• Is your milk supply a challenge? (I never had freezers full of extra milk either.) Use the breast pump a few extra times during the day. The extra stimulation will lead to more flow.
• Are you heading back to work soon? Unless you live close enough for breastfeeding breaks, the breast pump is a must-have.

Owning a breast pump gives you flexibility. Suddenly, you can look ahead and make arrangements. You have a five-hour car ride to Grandmas? You can pump in the car (as long as you aren’t driving) and bottle-feed on the way.

The typical problem, though, with owning a breast pump is you have to PAY for it. Yes, this means you have to find extra cash in your bank account and cough up another few hundred dollars. Ugh.

Here’s the best news that you’re going to hear all week:  The new Affordable Care Act requires insurance companies to cover the cost of breastfeeding support, counseling, and equipment for the duration of breastfeeding. These services may be provided before and after birth.

“Yay! Insurance Calls!”
Said No Person Ever.

Of course, in order for you to get your free breast pump paid for by your insurance company, you have to actually CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

NOOOOOoooooooooo!

I would rather babysit, for free, 10 screaming, hungry, exhausted babies then try to approach that bureaucratic nightmare.

No. Thank. You.

There’s no price on my sanity.

So, what then? Dream lost? Is that the loophole that has all the Insurance Companies high-fiving and pouring champagne?

Well, if so, they’re about to be disappointed, because there’s a company called Aeroflow who will take all that headache and make those torturous insurance calls for you.  

Oh, and you don’t have to pay them either. Yes, you can use a free breast pump specialist to get you a free breast pump. (I love how that works.)

Here’s how your Breastpump Specialist (Breast Butler? No. Definitely not.) serves you…

1. She will contact your insurance agent and verify your coverage.
2. Then she coordinates with your doctor to get a prescription to submit to your insurance company.
3. She will then walk you through the different breast pumps available that your insurance will cover and help you decide on which is best for you. (A personal breast pump shopper? Whaaaa??)
4. Some insurance companies will limit when a breast pump can ship out. (For example, 30 days before your due date.) Your BP Specialist will make sure that your pump ships out at the right time.
5. Finally, your BP Specialist will handle all the billing between your insurance company and the breast pump provider.

Here It Is:
Exactly How to Get a Free Breast Pump

Look at that list above one more time. I can see (because I’m smart) five things that your Breastpump Specialist is going to do on your behalf.

Now let’s count how many things YOU have to do in order to get a free breast pump. (I would recommend getting out some graph paper, a scientific calculator, and a record of the lunar cycles from the past 6 months.)

*counting on fingers*

*carrying the one*

*finding the square root of 92*

One.

You have to do one thing. 

You have to fill out this form and then wait for a Breastpump Specialist to give you a call within 3 to 5 business days.

I know, I know…it’s a lot. Personally, I would ask your husband to watch the kids this evening. This is going to require some Starbucks alone time for sure. 

Proof You’re NOT Getting Crappy
Free Breast Pumps

I can hear what you’re thinking, my suspicious sister: I bet these are the crappy breast pumps.

Ha HA! I love surprising you!

Nope. I’m not talking about some homemade version made out of a bicycle pump and duct tape. 

These free breast pumps are top of the line. Here’s a chart of the breast pumps most commonly covered under insurance plans.

Will I Qualify for a Free Breast Pump?
(And Other Common Questions)

99% of you reading this are going to fill out this form, be contacted by your Breastpump Specialist and then sit back sipping a non-alcoholic drink and wait for your free breast pump to arrive.

What about the other 1%? Are you just screwed?

• It’s possible that your insurance company is one of the smaller versions and doesn’t have a relationship with Aeroflow. (They work with most of the big companies like BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, etc.) If this happens, Aeroflow will let you know. Then you just need to follow the steps below to get your free breast pump yourself.
• If your insurance is older than 8 years old, it’s possible it was “grandfathered” into the ACA guidelines and will not cover a free breast pump. Don’t worry though, Aeroflow will help you figure this out!

Honestly, the best way to answer this question is to fill out the form here and then let a Breastpump Specialist figure out whether you are in the 99% or the 1%.

How to Get a Free Breast Pump (Without Using Aeroflow)

What if you LIKE spending hours and hours on the phone with insurance companies or found yourself in the unfortunate 1%? Here’s how to still get your free breast pump anyway.

1. Contact your insurance provider and ask for their Pump Paperwork.
2. Purchase the pump that your provider will cover. (Just be VERY careful it is exactly the make and model!)
3. Submit the receipt and the Pump Paperwork. (I just love this alliteration groove I’m in.)
4. Wait 6-8 weeks for your predicted pump payment to pop into your postbox.

That’s FOUR steps and MONTHS of waiting. Oh, and you had to pay for the pump initially, which, in my mind, makes it only maybe-free.

Maybe-free sucks. (Pardon the pun.) Before you start going through those steps, fill out this form and make sure you have to. 🙂

Can I Upgrade My Old Breast Pump (Circa 1825) for a Shiny New One?

Yes. Maybe. Perhaps.

It depends on your insurance provider. Usually providers will only cover what is considered “medically necessary” to express the breastmilk. This means that most upgrade options are going to involve extra bottles, parts, accessories, or a breast pump bag.

Aeroflow offers upgrades for Medela, Lansinoh, Spectra, and many other popular breast pump brands. You can also use FSA or HSA funds to pay for upgrades or supplies, if your provider refuses.

Again, it all starts by filling out this form. Then you can talk with your Breastpump Specialist on what you’d like to do and they will present you with the options that you have available.

Can I Request a Free Breast Pump if I’m Still Pregnant? Or 6 Months Later?

You can contact Aeroflow anytime during your pregnancy and up to a year after giving birth. The sooner the better, though, since that means you’ll have it when you need it most!

How Long Does It Take for My Free Breast Pump to Arrive?

Aeroflow is usually able to ship your free breast pump anywhere from 30-60 days before your due date, depending on the shipping requirements of your insurance plan.

If your baby is already nursing, they will ship the breast pump as soon as they’ve confirmed your eligibility and you’ve selected the pump you want. They ship using UPS Ground and always provide a tracking number so you can see when it will arrive.

Be Awesome:
Make Sure Your Friends Know About
Aeroflow’s Free Breast Pumps

It’s exciting, isn’t it, to see the word free and not spot an astrisk that explains (in teeny tiny print) that it’s only really “free” if you bring in a bag of unicorn tears on the 6th Tuesday on months that rhyme with “foot”.

I think every breastfeeding mother should own a high-quality breastpump. Better to have what you need, and then not end up using it, than to need it desperately and not have it. (Or worse, have to shell out a few hundred because you need a breast pump NOW.)

So go here and fill out this form, then share this post on Facebook so your friends can get their free breast pump too. 

You’ll be a hero.

 

Have You Read These Yet?

• Everything a New Warrior Mama Needs to Know About Baby Care
• How to Pump At Work (Without Embarrassing Yourself)
• Hate Pumping? 10 “Me Time” Ideas That Will Change Your Mind
• The Muppets Solve Your Breastfeeding Problems

This post was sponsored by Aeroflow Breastpumps. I was super excited to partner with them, though, because this is the type of information our readers need to hear, especially since breast pumps can get expensive and are so helpful letting breastfeeding mamas reach their feeding goals! 

We ♥  honesty!  This post contains affiliate links that provide extra money for our mutual coffee habits addictions. Click here to learn more.