Military moms- Tricare question

[mrsh288]

There's no military board, but I know a few of the March '15'ers are affiliated.

There was talk of Tricare covering breast pumps come 2015. (right now they're covered under very limited circumstances) Has anyone heard any updates? The latest I've found is from December with no follow-up information. Thanks!

[racegurl87]

I haven't heard of anything. So I'm assuming it's still the same. They'll only cover a rental if your baby is in the NICU and you'll be separated for a while.

[mrsh288]

Thank you!

I don't know how I missed that- I literally just googled it this morning. When I heard it MIGHT be covered, I was hoping it would be in effect before March. That's almost $300 off the baby registry if so...

Thanks again

[katydid2015]

I have Tricare as my secondary insurance but my primary is better so I'll use that to get a pump. I read about this recently though and the article said even if they start covering them, they might only cover the manual pump. Lame-sauce.

[jrp]

I found this little PDF : www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tricare.mil%2F~%2Fmedia%2FFiles%2FTRICARE%2FPublications%2FFactSheets%2FCvrd_Svcs_FS.pdf&ei=L6nBVKmrEZGGNtL7grgB&usg=AFQjCNHiy-A2hdqsuFcEML9ibmCl1SxKBQ&sig2=Mto5AV1a-PbTH_eKK6Ac3A&bvm=bv.84349003,d.eXY

The part about breast pumps is on page 7, with durable medical equipment. Get a laugh out of the part about "pumping for convenience." Riiiiiiiiight - because being hooked up like a dairy cow is obviously convenient. Whomp, whomp…..

[kellbell82]

I'm a veteran and I use the VA for my medical. It's not tricare but I imagine their policies are similar. I just got the medela pump in style today in the mail. Apparently they ordered it for me although I wasn't sure it would ever happen. Do you have a PSD or admin person you can talk to? That's the route I would go because if you aren't on their asses, the military won't do shit it's supposed to do. Good luck

[bitsybelle84]

Feb 4, 2015 14:54:06 GMT -5 harper said:

mrsh288 - Just in case you didn't see the latest update. This was posted on the Tricare facebook page.


TRICARE Update: Breastfeeding Supplies.

February 3, 2015 at 5:18am



Following passage and signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2015, the Defense Health Agency and the TRICARE Health Plan are actively developing a plan to allow TRICARE to cover these important breastfeeding supplies and services for new mothers. We expect to complete the new policy within the next few months. Some key aspects of this effort include determining what type or types of breast pumps are covered, how they are provided by TRICARE authorized providers, and how providers are paid for these supplies and services.



TRICARE will notify beneficiaries once the policy has been approved. If they would like to receive up-to-date TRICARE benefit information, they can sign up at TRICARE.mil/subscriptions.



Until this new policy is complete, TRICARE beneficiaries should save their receipts for breast pumps, and breastfeeding supplies and services. Coverage for these services and supplies will be retroactive to Dec. 19, 2014, the date the 2015 NDAA became law, as long as they were purchased from a TRICARE authorized provider.

Thank you for posting this!

[carmar3]

Let me know what you all find out. I have recently called and was told bay had to be born at 36 weeks or younger to be covered I'm 36 and 3

[carmar3]

Feb 4, 2015 16:08:45 GMT -5 harper said:

I just called and the lady I spoke to was not helpful. She said she only knows there will be changes, but could not give me a list of approved suppliers. So, even though Tricare said as long as a breast pump was purchased after Dec 19th by a Tricare approved supplier you can be reimbursed, this lady says we have to wait for the official change.

I'm thankful for medical insurance, but dealing with Tricare is always so frustrating.

Do you have prime, remote or standard TriCare?

[mrsh288]

Thanks for posting this! It doesn't seem like anyone, even Tricare knows what's going on. Here's to hoping they clear it up before our LO's are due!

[carmar3]

Thank you harper! I've got standard so that may be the difference in running into.

[jm0848]

Feb 4, 2015 16:08:45 GMT -5 harper said:

I just called and the lady I spoke to was not helpful. She said she only knows there will be changes, but could not give me a list of approved suppliers. So, even though Tricare said as long as a breast pump was purchased after Dec 19th by a Tricare approved supplier you can be reimbursed, this lady says we have to wait for the official change.

I'm thankful for medical insurance, but dealing with Tricare is always so frustrating.

Maybe check the Medela site? I know they have tricare on their list of insurances.

And agreed on the last portion- I have prime overseas so it can be a real shit show just to get timely care.