ARLY'S question prompts this reply. In March 1993 (I think), an excellent article appeared in JHL by two LCs (in North Carolina or Georgia, if memory serves) who obtained insurance covereage. They talkeda bout how they went about it and how they were then going to tackle CHAMPUS (the govt. program for military and similar types). Go back to that article and then contact those LCs. They are likely to be quite helpful. I am sure other LCs have similar stories to tell (they would be welcome in JHL!--hint hint) My own experience (in Illinois only) is that unions pay full price without question at first rquest. Other insurance groups sometimes pay a bit, sometimes not at all, rarely full price and almost never first time out. For what it's worth... Def. of LC service: "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." Kathleen G. Auerbach,PhD, IBCLC (Homewood, IL)- [log in to unmask]