- Virtual
- IBCLC
- Through insurance
Virtual lactation support, covered by insurance
A virtual lactation consultant helps you with breastfeeding by video, from home. Most health plans must cover breastfeeding support and counseling, and through us you can book a prenatal video visit with a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC).
It’s $0 out of pocket for most moms. We check your insurance first, then reach out to schedule.
Does insurance cover a lactation consultant?
- Most health plans
- Yes. Under the Affordable Care Act, health plans must cover breastfeeding support and counseling, before and after birth. That includes employer plans and Marketplace plans.
- Grandfathered plans
- The exception. A plan that has been grandfathered under the ACA doesn’t have to follow this rule, so check your benefits.
- Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross
- Their plans follow the same ACA rule unless grandfathered. Your plan sets the details, like which providers are in network.
- Medicaid
- Lactation coverage is set by each state’s program and plan. We check yours before we schedule.
- TRICARE
- Covers up to six outpatient breastfeeding counseling sessions per birth event from TRICARE-authorized providers, TRICARE says. Our prenatal consult may not be available on TRICARE plans; we check yours before scheduling.
- How many visits?
- Your plan sets the number. Ask your insurer, or request a consult through our order form and we check your plan before anything is booked.
Sources: HealthCare.gov breastfeeding benefits and TRICARE breastfeeding counseling.
Our prenatal virtual lactation consult
The lactation support we offer is a one-on-one video visit while you’re still pregnant. A board-certified lactation consultant helps you prepare for breastfeeding, answers your questions, and helps you make a plan for your first weeks.
- First-time moms learn how breastfeeding works before day one.
- Moms who struggled last time plan a better start.
- Moms who will pump or go back to work get a plan for that too.
How to get a virtual lactation consult through insurance
- 1. Request it
Start our order form, pick your state and insurance, and choose “Virtual prenatal lactation consult.” Request it alone or with your breast pump.
- 2. We check your plan
We confirm your coverage, then reach out to set up a time that works for you.
- 3. Join from home
Use your phone, tablet or computer from a quiet, well-lit spot with good WiFi.
- 4. Leave with a plan
Your consultant focuses on what matters most to you and builds the plan around it.
Is virtual lactation support right for you?
Best for
- Learning about breastfeeding before your baby is born.
- Busy schedules: no drive and no waiting room.
- Partners who want to join and learn how to help.
Maybe not for
- A baby who is already here and needs hands-on help today. Ask your birth hospital or pediatrician about a postpartum lactation visit.
What a lactation consultant can help you with
- A feeding plan
- Your goals for feeding your baby, and a plan to reach them.
- The first days
- What to expect after birth, when your milk comes in, and how often newborns feed.
- Latch and positioning
- What a good latch looks like and holds to try.
- Milk supply
- Things in your health history that can affect supply, and how to tell baby is getting enough.
- Pumping
- When to start, how to fit your flanges, and pumping when you go back to work.
- How to prepare
- Write down your questions, have your health history handy, and keep your pump nearby if you have one.
Virtual lactation consultant questions
Does insurance cover a lactation consultant?
Usually, yes, at $0 out of pocket. The Affordable Care Act requires health plans to cover breastfeeding support and counseling, before and after birth, except grandfathered plans. Your plan sets the details, so we check it before we schedule.
Does Cigna cover lactation consultants?
Cigna plans follow the same ACA rule unless the plan is grandfathered. Your plan decides details like which providers are in network, so we check it for you when you request a consult through our order form.
Does UnitedHealthcare cover lactation consultants?
UnitedHealthcare plans, including UMR and Oxford, follow the ACA rule unless grandfathered. We check your specific plan before we schedule.
Does Aetna or Blue Cross Blue Shield cover lactation consultants?
Their plans follow the ACA rule unless grandfathered. Benefits differ by plan and state, so we check yours before we schedule.
Does Medicaid cover a lactation consultant?
It depends on your state’s Medicaid program and plan. We check your coverage before we schedule your consult.
Does TRICARE cover lactation consultants?
TRICARE covers up to six outpatient breastfeeding counseling sessions per birth event when a TRICARE-authorized provider gives them, such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse midwife or registered nurse. Our prenatal virtual consult may not be available on TRICARE plans, so we check your plan before scheduling.
How many lactation consultant visits does insurance cover?
It depends on your plan. TRICARE, for example, covers up to six sessions per birth event. Call the number on your insurance card, or let us check your plan when you request a consult.
What is a virtual lactation consultant?
A lactation consultant who meets with you by video instead of in person. You talk one on one from home, ask your questions, and get a feeding plan.
Is a virtual lactation consult as good as in person?
For learning and planning before birth, yes: you cover the same ground from your couch. If your baby is here and needs hands-on help with latch or weight gain, an in-person visit may be the better fit.
What is an IBCLC?
An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It’s the board certification for lactation consultants, and it’s who you meet with in our prenatal consult.
How do I book a virtual lactation consult with The Breastfeeding Shop?
Start our order form and choose “Virtual prenatal lactation consult.” Request it alone or with your breast pump. We check your insurance and reach out to schedule.
Get ready for breastfeeding
Request your prenatal lactation consult in a few minutes, on its own or with your breast pump. We check your insurance and handle the scheduling.
Questions? Call (866) 255-6779. More reading: preparing to breastfeed and how to increase milk supply.