Understanding Health Care Coverage for Breastfeeding

The Affordable Care Act requires most insurance plans to cover the cost of a breast pump and breastfeeding counseling and requires many employers to provide break time for breastfeeding women (which may be unpaid) and a private space that is not a bathroom for nursing or pumping.

Support and Supplies

• National Women's Law Center Breastfeeding Tool kit: Clearly explains Medicaid and insurance coverage of breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling. This tool kit also offers tools to women who encounter problems with this coverage.
• CoverHer Hotline: This free hotline assists women who are experiencing difficulties obtaining coverage for breastfeeding or other women's health needs as required by law.
• State of Breastfeeding Coverage: This report from the National Women’s Law Center goes in depth into coverage of the Affordable Care Act's breastfeeding benefits and found that women face widespread barriers to getting coverage of breastfeeding support and supplies. It includes women’s stories gathered through the National Women's Law Center’s CoverHer hotline.
• HealthCare.gov: Outlines benefits and services covered by insurance
  • Preventative care benefits for pregnant women and women who may become pregnant (also in Spanish)
  • Health care enrollment and Medicaid for pregnant women and women who plan to get pregnant (also in Spanish)
  • Information for breastfeeding women and pregnant women who plan to breastfeed (also in Spanish)

Family Leave and Break Time

• Break Time for Nursing Mothers: Developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, this resource answers frequently asked questions about breaks at work for breastfeeding women.
• Guide to the Family and Medical Leave Act: This booklet from the National Partnership for Women & Families answers frequently asked questions about family leave protections and requirements.

State-Specific Laws

• Breastfeeding state laws: The National Conference of State Legislators lists state-specific breastfeeding laws as well as information on federal requirements.
• State-level workplace breastfeeding rights: The U.S. Department of Labor delineates the laws by state regarding employment protections for pregnant or nursing workers, protections against pregnancy discrimination, provisions for pregnancy accommodation, and workplace breastfeeding rights.