The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has updated its Tricare policy manual to clarify what types of breast pumps and supplies are covered by the Defense Department's health program. The changes affirm coverage of breast pumps for new mothers and adoptive mothers, an initiative that began in late 2014, and allow expecting moms to access the benefit starting at the 27th week of pregnancy, or when the baby is born, if premature. The revised policy, announced March 11, limits coverage of breast pump kits to one per birth and excludes those considered to have luxury features. The new policy allows only the breast pump and the following replacement parts without an additional prescription: two bottles and caps or locking rings once a year after a birth event; one replacement power adapter per birth event and none within the first 12 months; 12 valves or membranes; one set of flanges per birth event; one set of tubing; and 90 breast milk bags every 30 days after the birth. The caps placed on breast pump purchases by Tricare are as follows: for personal use, $312.84 in the U.S. and $500 overseas; for hospital grade (as required by a doctor), $1,501.65 in the U.S. and $3,003.30 overseas. Read more about the policy change on Military.com.
Tricare Restricts Purchases of Deluxe Breast Pumps
