I just can't- my bmb

CuriousKiddosMama · July 2015

Guys, I don't know how to bite my tounge on this one. Breast pumps just got brought up, and like the first post was omg, they are free now so I'm just tossing my old one and getting a new one. It's cheaper than buying new parts, right? Ummm, no it's not. Your health insurance just went up because of this new mandatory coverage. Now if you need one, use it, but I can't freakin. Stand this. I'm waiting for the person to come on and say I'm just going to order it so I can sell it. Ugh. It's not directly coming out or your pocket, so let's abuse the system.

I will say I do understand working moms using the coverage to get a second one- I do get the point about wanting one at work and one at home so you don't forget it every day. But omg some of these others make me want to scream. The entitlement!

hoffse · July 2015

Every once in awhile I check out the bump. Then I get scared and run and hide.

Xstatic3333 · July 2015

I don't blame you. Wastefulness in general bugs the heck out of me.

I know I've outed myself here already as being pro-most aspects of the ACA (while acknowledging the blew the heck out of implementing it properly and that it still has a lot of problems) but I didn't realize free breast pumps were now required. If so I'm supportive, but would still judge the hell out of people like you are describing who are abusing the system that way.

I just Googled this, and apparently insurers have the option of just offering a rental. That's probably a good way to go to prevent this sort of thing. I've also heard from my working mom friends that the ones their insurance covered weren't really gonna do the trick if you're trying to EBF while working full time. They all went ahead and purchased really nice electric ones so they could comfortably pump and email.

I've been spending some time on the pre-TTC bump boards and see a lot there about unnecessary doctor's appointments, too. I just don't get it. I hate going to the doctor, and the waste of resources aside, I can't imagine going there just to talk about getting off the pill (unless I had a preexisting condition, of course. That's completely different).

cbee817 · July 2015

I used mine (purchased with gift cards after DD#1's baby shower) for 9+ months for each of my girls and it was still going strong when I was done. I brought it home every night, cleaned it, and got it ready for the next day.. it's not that difficult. You just need to make the commitment and realize it's not forever.. no one should need 2 at the same time.

vlagrl29 · July 2015

breast pumps are now covered under insurance? I had no idea - is that a new thing. I didn't breast feed DD, but that was 4 years ago. My bmb doesn't exist anymore cause several years ago they all went to start a FB Page for us but then there was just tons of drama so I jumped ship.

blondie42107 · July 2015

I've nursed and pumped for two kids. My free ACA covered pump was a flippin' manual hand pump. No way in hell could I have used that after returning to work!

TheBump isn't awful. Some boards are snarky but overall not bad.

blondie42107 · July 2015

cbee817 said:
I used mine for 9+ months for each of my girls and it was still going strong when I was done. I brought it home every night, cleaned it, and got it ready for the next day.. it's not that difficult. You just need to make the commitment and realize it's not forever.. no one should need 2 at the same time.

I agree. If you want two, pay out of pocket for the second.

brij2006 · July 2015

The entitlement is insane.

I did get my free one from insurance. It's a nice Medela double electric pump. I've been using it 4 times/day since going back to work, and will continue to do so for a full year. This was an amazing option to utilize, and made BFing much easier for me to do while going back to work full time. But you bet your ass that I won't be trying to get a 2nd one with kid #2 comes. If it's still working, I'll use it.

Those people are dumb. The thing is, insurance only covers the pump itself and 2 bottles. If you want anything extra, you have to pay for it. I received the pump and 2 bottles, then still had to buy extra bottles, extra set of breast shields for work, and I use an old bag to put it in. Rather than paying extra for the fancy one it comes in.

However, if they had a manual for kid #1 or a brand that doesn't do as well, then I completely understand why they would want to get the free one through insurance if it's a better brand. But if insurance wouldn't have covered it, I would have spent the $300 to have my Medela. It was no question.

lbonga1 · July 2015

I got a free one through insurance with my first daughter..I think it's an Ameda? It didn't work well for me, and my FI ended up bringing her to my work for me to nurse her on my breaks. That was very stressful. With my second daughter I paid extra for a hygeia q, since it has a hospital grade motor and I figured it'd work better. The company has since sent me free replacement parts (which even included extra bottles). Has anyone mentioned that getting free replacement parts is a possibility?

KatieCutie05 · July 2015

I hate entitlement.... Don't get me started on "free" birth control. I've heard one too many complain that their birth control isn't covered - yes it is! its always "covered" but "covered doesn't mean "free"!

I know its all included in the price but I am glad that i got my "free" breast pump through insurance. Because I don't think i would have been able to afford an electric one otherwise. I was going to just do a manual one until i found out insurance provided an electric one. I bought attachments so i can pump right into the Tommee Tippee bottles DS uses and extra shields/pump parts and i use an old bag. The thing is if formula is included in gov't assistance programs then breastpumps should be provided too. Breastfeeding is free and healthier then formula. Who knows maybe that means providing less formula. So long as people aren't getting one and then selling it or getting two for one kid... i don't mind people getting a new one when a second kid comes along. My sister has been using her 3 year old breastpump to exclusively pump for her twins and its old, doesn't work as well and she's using wrong parts for it.... it does the job but she will be getting a new one through insurance because she really could use a new one. And she'll keep the old one at my mom's house to use there. She's not taking advantage of the system.... she pays for it anyway in her premiums so its stupid to not use it.

I

brij2006 · July 2015

@katiecutie05 Long time no see. Good to see you around here again! How is everything going? How's baby? And the debt snowball?

I've been thinking of you.

short+sassy · July 2015

KatieCutie05 said:

I hate entitlement.... Don't get me started on "free" birth control. I've heard one too many complain that their birth control isn't covered - yes it is! its always "covered" but "covered doesn't mean "free"!

I know its all included in the price but I am glad that i got my "free" breast pump through insurance. Because I don't think i would have been able to afford an electric one otherwise. I was going to just do a manual one until i found out insurance provided an electric one. I bought attachments so i can pump right into the Tommee Tippee bottles DS uses and extra shields/pump parts and i use an old bag. The thing is if formula is included in gov't assistance programs then breastpumps should be provided too. Breastfeeding is free and healthier then formula. Who knows maybe that means providing less formula. So long as people aren't getting one and then selling it or getting two for one kid... i don't mind people getting a new one when a second kid comes along. My sister has been using her 3 year old breastpump to exclusively pump for her twins and its old, doesn't work as well and she's using wrong parts for it.... it does the job but she will be getting a new one through insurance because she really could use a new one. And she'll keep the old one at my mom's house to use there. She's not taking advantage of the system.... she pays for it anyway in her premiums so its stupid to not use it.

I'll admit to being pretty ignorant on the subject, but why would any medication or breast pumps be required to be free under insurance? There are hundreds...maybe thousands...of LIFE SAVING medications. They're not free, so why would BC pills or a breast pump be free? I think I am safe to say that noone's life has ever been saved by a breast pump. Probably not BC pills either, though there are a myriad of medical conditions they treat beyond just BC. Which is why it always extra p***es me off when companies choose insurance companies that don't offer this coverage or...even worse...specifically tell their insurance company to not offer coverage for BC pills.

I'm good with requiring BC pills and breast pumps to be included in all insurances...just like any other medicine or medical equipment. But unless we want to start making exceptions across the board for FAR more equipment, like a wheelchair or a prosthetic leg, why are breast pumps special?

als1982 · July 2015

short+sassy said:

KatieCutie05 said:

I hate entitlement.... Don't get me started on "free" birth control. I've heard one too many complain that their birth control isn't covered - yes it is! its always "covered" but "covered doesn't mean "free"!

I know its all included in the price but I am glad that i got my "free" breast pump through insurance. Because I don't think i would have been able to afford an electric one otherwise. I was going to just do a manual one until i found out insurance provided an electric one. I bought attachments so i can pump right into the Tommee Tippee bottles DS uses and extra shields/pump parts and i use an old bag. The thing is if formula is included in gov't assistance programs then breastpumps should be provided too. Breastfeeding is free and healthier then formula. Who knows maybe that means providing less formula. So long as people aren't getting one and then selling it or getting two for one kid... i don't mind people getting a new one when a second kid comes along. My sister has been using her 3 year old breastpump to exclusively pump for her twins and its old, doesn't work as well and she's using wrong parts for it.... it does the job but she will be getting a new one through insurance because she really could use a new one. And she'll keep the old one at my mom's house to use there. She's not taking advantage of the system.... she pays for it anyway in her premiums so its stupid to not use it.

I'll admit to being pretty ignorant on the subject, but why would any medication or breast pumps be required to be free under insurance? There are hundreds...maybe thousands...of LIFE SAVING medications. They're not free, so why would BC pills or a breast pump be free? I think I am safe to say that noone's life has ever been saved by a breast pump. Probably not BC pills either, though there are a myriad of medical conditions they treat beyond just BC. Which is why it always extra p***es me off when companies choose insurance companies that don't offer this coverage or...even worse...specifically tell their insurance company to not offer coverage for BC pills.

I'm good with requiring BC pills and breast pumps to be included in all insurances...just like any other medicine or medical equipment. But unless we want to start making exceptions across the board for FAR more equipment, like a wheelchair or a prosthetic leg, why are breast pumps special?

Because these are things that by providing them save insurance companies and/or the government money in the long run.

formerlyGDaisy09 · July 2015

als1982 said:

KatieCutie05 said:

I hate entitlement.... Don't get me started on "free" birth control. I've heard one too many complain that their birth control isn't covered - yes it is! its always "covered" but "covered doesn't mean "free"!

I know its all included in the price but I am glad that i got my "free" breast pump through insurance. Because I don't think i would have been able to afford an electric one otherwise. I was going to just do a manual one until i found out insurance provided an electric one. I bought attachments so i can pump right into the Tommee Tippee bottles DS uses and extra shields/pump parts and i use an old bag. The thing is if formula is included in gov't assistance programs then breastpumps should be provided too. Breastfeeding is free and healthier then formula. Who knows maybe that means providing less formula. So long as people aren't getting one and then selling it or getting two for one kid... i don't mind people getting a new one when a second kid comes along. My sister has been using her 3 year old breastpump to exclusively pump for her twins and its old, doesn't work as well and she's using wrong parts for it.... it does the job but she will be getting a new one through insurance because she really could use a new one. And she'll keep the old one at my mom's house to use there. She's not taking advantage of the system.... she pays for it anyway in her premiums so its stupid to not use it.

I'll admit to being pretty ignorant on the subject, but why would any medication or breast pumps be required to be free under insurance? There are hundreds...maybe thousands...of LIFE SAVING medications. They're not free, so why would BC pills or a breast pump be free? I think I am safe to say that noone's life has ever been saved by a breast pump. Probably not BC pills either, though there are a myriad of medical conditions they treat beyond just BC. Which is why it always extra p***es me off when companies choose insurance companies that don't offer this coverage or...even worse...specifically tell their insurance company to not offer coverage for BC pills.
I'm good with requiring BC pills and breast pumps to be included in all insurances...just like any other medicine or medical equipment. But unless we want to start making exceptions across the board for FAR more equipment, like a wheelchair or a prosthetic leg, why are breast pumps special?
Because these are things that by providing them save insurance companies and/or the government money in the long run.

I've heard the birth control issue argued both ways by insurance company executives...on the one hand making birth control free could be compared to your car insurance company covering tire relplacements or oil changes, which would be ridiculous. Though the flipside of the argument is that pregnancy and babies can be expensive, so making birth control free is an "easy" way for insurance companies to encourage family planning.

As far as the breast pumps go, that's ridiculous that people would be getting them to sell. I understand the convenience of having two so it didn't have to be carried back and forth to work. Ultimately there is now tons of research that shows that breastfed babies do better, in the short term, and more and more research that is following breastfed and formula fed cohorts of babies as they age to look for any long term outcomes that might be tied to breast or formula feeding. If babies who are breast fed ultemately require less medical care, it would be in the insruance company's best interest to do what they could to encourage breast feeding.

KatieCutie05 · July 2015

@brij2006: We are doing good! I know i haven't been around much. Theres been a lot of changes going on in my house so i will post an update soon.

CuriousKiddosMama · July 2015

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

als1982 said:

short+sassy said:

KatieCutie05 said:

I hate entitlement.... Don't get me started on "free" birth control. I've heard one too many complain that their birth control isn't covered - yes it is! its always "covered" but "covered doesn't mean "free"!

I know its all included in the price but I am glad that i got my "free" breast pump through insurance. Because I don't think i would have been able to afford an electric one otherwise. I was going to just do a manual one until i found out insurance provided an electric one. I bought attachments so i can pump right into the Tommee Tippee bottles DS uses and extra shields/pump parts and i use an old bag. The thing is if formula is included in gov't assistance programs then breastpumps should be provided too. Breastfeeding is free and healthier then formula. Who knows maybe that means providing less formula. So long as people aren't getting one and then selling it or getting two for one kid... i don't mind people getting a new one when a second kid comes along. My sister has been using her 3 year old breastpump to exclusively pump for her twins and its old, doesn't work as well and she's using wrong parts for it.... it does the job but she will be getting a new one through insurance because she really could use a new one. And she'll keep the old one at my mom's house to use there. She's not taking advantage of the system.... she pays for it anyway in her premiums so its stupid to not use it.

I'll admit to being pretty ignorant on the subject, but why would any medication or breast pumps be required to be free under insurance? There are hundreds...maybe thousands...of LIFE SAVING medications. They're not free, so why would BC pills or a breast pump be free? I think I am safe to say that noone's life has ever been saved by a breast pump. Probably not BC pills either, though there are a myriad of medical conditions they treat beyond just BC. Which is why it always extra p***es me off when companies choose insurance companies that don't offer this coverage or...even worse...specifically tell their insurance company to not offer coverage for BC pills.
I'm good with requiring BC pills and breast pumps to be included in all insurances...just like any other medicine or medical equipment. But unless we want to start making exceptions across the board for FAR more equipment, like a wheelchair or a prosthetic leg, why are breast pumps special?
Because these are things that by providing them save insurance companies and/or the government money in the long run.

I've heard the birth control issue argued both ways by insurance company executives...on the one hand making birth control free could be compared to your car insurance company covering tire relplacements or oil changes, which would be ridiculous. Though the flipside of the argument is that pregnancy and babies can be expensive, so making birth control free is an "easy" way for insurance companies to encourage family planning.

As far as the breast pumps go, that's ridiculous that people would be getting them to sell. I understand the convenience of having two so it didn't have to be carried back and forth to work. Ultimately there is now tons of research that shows that breastfed babies do better, in the short term, and more and more research that is following breastfed and formula fed cohorts of babies as they age to look for any long term outcomes that might be tied to breast or formula feeding. If babies who are breast fed ultemately require less medical care, it would be in the insruance company's best interest to do what they could to encourage breast feeding.

There were many ordered for my first bmb pretty much exclusively to sell. It just pissed me off so much because one of my mommy friends who legitimately needed one, her insurance only covered a single, manual pump. Like the $10 one from Walmart, and here these bs are ordering it when they don't want it to make $50-100.

We've also had people post about their applications to Medicare bein turned down, and how I accidentally forgot to report my husbands income hoping they would accept me. I don't understand how people don't see this type of thing as fraud. Don't get me wrong, if you need the help, please use it because it's there for you, but the fraud and corruption involved around all this stuff drives me nuts.

lifeonthehill · July 2015

brij2006 said:

The entitlement is insane.

I did get my free one from insurance. It's a nice Medela double electric pump. I've been using it 4 times/day since going back to work, and will continue to do so for a full year. This was an amazing option to utilize, and made BFing much easier for me to do while going back to work full time. But you bet your ass that I won't be trying to get a 2nd one with kid #2 comes. If it's still working, I'll use it.
Those people are dumb. The thing is, insurance only covers the pump itself and 2 bottles. If you want anything extra, you have to pay for it. I received the pump and 2 bottles, then still had to buy extra bottles, extra set of breast shields for work, and I use an old bag to put it in. Rather than paying extra for the fancy one it comes in.

However, if they had a manual for kid #1 or a brand that doesn't do as well, then I completely understand why they would want to get the free one through insurance if it's a better brand. But if insurance wouldn't have covered it, I would have spent the $300 to have my Medela. It was no question.

This is the one our ins. provides and I am kind of psyched that parents I know have been "splurging" on this purchase and our ins. will just mail me one! buying the bags and bottles will be expensive but if I do decide to pump I don't want a manual one. Haha

brij2006 · July 2015

alyssa32713 said:

brij2006 said:

The entitlement is insane.

I did get my free one from insurance. It's a nice Medela double electric pump. I've been using it 4 times/day since going back to work, and will continue to do so for a full year. This was an amazing option to utilize, and made BFing much easier for me to do while going back to work full time. But you bet your ass that I won't be trying to get a 2nd one with kid #2 comes. If it's still working, I'll use it.
Those people are dumb. The thing is, insurance only covers the pump itself and 2 bottles. If you want anything extra, you have to pay for it. I received the pump and 2 bottles, then still had to buy extra bottles, extra set of breast shields for work, and I use an old bag to put it in. Rather than paying extra for the fancy one it comes in.

However, if they had a manual for kid #1 or a brand that doesn't do as well, then I completely understand why they would want to get the free one through insurance if it's a better brand. But if insurance wouldn't have covered it, I would have spent the $300 to have my Medela. It was no question.

This is the one our ins. provides and I am kind of psyched that parents I know have been "splurging" on this purchase and our ins. will just mail me one! buying the bags and bottles will be expensive but if I do decide to pump I don't want a manual one. Haha

That thing is seriously amazing. I can't talk it up enough, but I'm attached to it for 2 hours of my day. lol

Also, even by the time I spent the money on extra bottles and a few extra sets of parts (trying to figure out size), I still only spent an extra $75. Not bad at all, to me.

MommyLiberty5013 · July 2015

Free breast pumps for ALL. Never mind the national debt. Sigh.

CuriousKiddosMama · July 2015

MommyLiberty5013 said:
Free breast pumps for ALL. Never mind the national debt. Sigh.

Which apparently has magically stayed the same for 15 weeks..... I don't understand what's going on. I tried reading the article. But it was confusing as hell. Anybody want to start a new thread to explain that one please?

bparkhur · July 2015

CuriousKiddosMama said:

Breast pumps just got brought up, and like the first post was omg, they are free now so I'm just tossing my old one and getting a new one. It's cheaper than buying new parts, right? Ummm, no it's not. Your health insurance just went up because of this new mandatory coverage.

Ok, so...to play devil's advocate here...if they are paying more in health insurance, aren't they in fact entitled to whatever benefit they want to use that's covered in that policy....? I'm confused about why taking advantage of the benefits provided in your health care policy are considered "entitlement."

Xstatic3333 · July 2015

bparkhur said:

CuriousKiddosMama said:

Breast pumps just got brought up, and like the first post was omg, they are free now so I'm just tossing my old one and getting a new one. It's cheaper than buying new parts, right? Ummm, no it's not. Your health insurance just went up because of this new mandatory coverage.

Ok, so...to play devil's advocate here...if they are paying more in health insurance, aren't they in fact entitled to whatever benefit they want to use that's covered in that policy....? I'm confused about why taking advantage of the benefits provided in your health care policy are considered "entitlement."

-Stuck in the box-

My attitude on this is that we should all feel free to use our healthcare benefits when needed, but not when they aren't, to help keep costs lower for everyone. It's sort of the same reason that you wouldn't go to the ER for a stomach flu if it's the middle of the week and you could just call your PCP. It drives up healthcare for everyone when people use more than they need.

Like some PP mentioned, I have no problem with someone getting a second if their first doesn't work well anymore, they need one for work, etc. It's the getting a second one to just sell that sits really badly with me. It feels kind of wasteful.

CuriousKiddosMama · July 2015

What she said^^^

So let's say your car insurance was forced to start covering oil changes. My owners manual tells me to get it changed every 5k even though the sticker they put in my window always says 3k. How many people would quit caring because it no longer costs them, and just go get it changed when they want as opposed to when it needs to be done. Not the same thing, I get it, but it is the same attitude.

bparkhur · July 2015

Xstatic3333 said:

bparkhur said:

CuriousKiddosMama said:

Breast pumps just got brought up, and like the first post was omg, they are free now so I'm just tossing my old one and getting a new one. It's cheaper than buying new parts, right? Ummm, no it's not. Your health insurance just went up because of this new mandatory coverage.

Ok, so...to play devil's advocate here...if they are paying more in health insurance, aren't they in fact entitled to whatever benefit they want to use that's covered in that policy....? I'm confused about why taking advantage of the benefits provided in your health care policy are considered "entitlement."

-Stuck in the box-

My attitude on this is that we should all feel free to use our healthcare benefits when needed, but not when they aren't, to help keep costs lower for everyone. It's sort of the same reason that you wouldn't go to the ER for a stomach flu if it's the middle of the week and you could just call your PCP. It drives up healthcare for everyone when people use more than they need.

Like some PP mentioned, I have no problem with someone getting a second if their first doesn't work well anymore, they need one for work, etc. It's the getting a second one to just sell that sits really badly with me. It feels kind of wasteful.

Ok, but let's have some perspective here--a breast pump is in NO WAY like an ER visit (although I get your impulse to compare them). The costs are just not comparable. From what I read in the OP, no one was saying they were getting one to sell it, right? She was just afraid that someone might do that. I agree that it's not ethical to sell it, but if it comes down to buying all new parts for a working pump (that YOU have to pay for) or taking advantage of your healthcare policy that entitles you to a brand new, free pump, why would you elect to pay double? You've already paid the healthcare premium...why pay for parts too?

bparkhur · July 2015

CuriousKiddosMama said:

What she said^^^ So let's say your car insurance was forced to start covering oil changes. My owners manual tells me to get it changed every 5k even though the sticker they put in my window always says 3k. How many people would quit caring because it no longer costs them, and just go get it changed when they want as opposed to when it needs to be done. Not the same thing, I get it, but it is the same attitude.

Stuck in box--
Nothing would stop you. But as you say, these are entirely different situations. The difference is a pump is a one-time voucher (you can't get UNLIMITED pumps. I can't get one every month because I feel like. The costs are controlled v. not controlled. Although I would suspect that they would create parameters on oil changes if your hypothetical situation were to actually arise. After all, my insurance covers speech therapy for my son, but only X number of visits.

CuriousKiddosMama · July 2015

New parts are like $5. You need new flanges. A kit with everything new is like $20. And that generally includes 2 extra bottles. Versus throwing away a pump and getting a new one that is $300ish. And it actually isn't a one time voucher. It's once per child, although some ladies said that there insurance covered one every year you breast fed, so if you extended breast feed you can get one every year.
yes, I have a problem with people getting a new one just because they can. But then again our society is so wasteful on so many things now, I guess we just can't agree on that. These things weren't made to be used once and then tossed. Before this coverage came out people would use them for multiple pregnancies and pass them back and forth with a close friend or family member. (So long as they are a closed system that is considered ok). Now because they are 'free' they are disposable.

bparkhur · July 2015

CuriousKiddosMama said:

New parts are like $5. You need new flanges. A kit with everything new is like $20. And that generally includes 2 extra bottles. Versus throwing away a pump and getting a new one that is $300ish. And it actually isn't a one time voucher. It's once per child, although some ladies said that there insurance covered one every year you breast fed, so if you extended breast feed you can get one every year. yes, I have a problem with people getting a new one just because they can. But then again our society is so wasteful on so many things now, I guess we just can't agree on that. These things weren't made to be used once and then tossed.
Before this coverage came out people would use them for multiple pregnancies
and pass them back and forth with a close friend or family member. (So long as they are a closed system that is considered ok). Now because they are 'free' they are disposable.

Stuck in Box

I can definitely see this perspective. There is something problematic about viewing these machines as "disposable," as you say. However, I can testify that daily use of a breast pump can certainly break it down. I went through two pumps with my first son; however, I was able to get through with just one with my second son.

I just fear that balking at the idea of women making use of the policies that are legally afforded to them dangerously shifts the "blame" of expensive healthcare onto those who are really not responsible for it at all. Health insurance rates and, more to point, health care costs will never be the caused by breast pumps. Yet, talking about "those women" who take advantage of the system turns into an easy scapegoat narrative (kind of like welfare gets used as the scapegoat narrative for our country's debts).

I just can't- my bmb

Re: I just can't- my bmb

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

I just can't- my bmb

Re: I just can&#039;t- my bmb

Choose Another Board

Search Boards

Re: I just can't- my bmb