From our news partners at The Seattle Times: Breast-feeding babies has many health advantages, but few mothers know they can get help — and equipment — to help them adopt the practice through the Affordable Care Act and their insurance companies.
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Ellen M. Banner via The Seattle Times "Whitney Courson coos over her 6½-week old baby, Nicholas, in their Seattle home. Courson’s insurer covered the cost of her breast pump." |
New moms crave information, whether it's car-seat safety ratings, the pros and cons of pacifiers or how best to sooth a colicky infant.
So it's a little surprising — and potentially troubling to health-care overhaul advocates — that moms aren't up to speed on how the Affordable Care Act benefits them. The new law has specific requirements targeting moms, including coverage for breast pumps and consultants to help breast-feeding mothers.
But local breast-feeding advocates and new moms alike say that word of these perks has been slow to get out.
"So many moms don't know about the benefit," said Cary Seely, director of provider relations at Pumping Essentials, a California-based company selling supplies and services to assist in breast-feeding.
While many of the changes mandated by the Affordable Care Act will benefit low-income Americans by expanding access to health insurance, the Obama administration has tried to build support among a wide swath of the public.
