Lack of access to breast pumps is a tremendous issue for women in the inner
city. At Boston Medical Center we run a breastfeeding support line and the
vast majority of calls come from women seeking low cost pumps. Many women
will buy the $50 pumps that do not work for them. We are presenting a poster
about the warmline and the breast pump questions at ILCA. As a result of this
demand, we have persuaded our own HMO, the BMC HealthNet Plan, to provide
pumps for free to all breastfeeding women who want them, regardless of the
infant's health status. (the pump provided is usually the Purely Yours) This
is now an advertised benefit for Plan members which is featured in their
radio and poster ads. We believe that as a direct result of competition from
this HMO, another HMO, Neighborhood Health Plan (which is available with
Medicaid, as is BMC HealthNet Plan) is offering the same benefit.
I have never heard of any of our moms buying pumps from Ebay tho for sure
they loan each other their 2nd hand pumps, which amounts to the same thing.
It is not something I would lose sleep over. The better option is to press
insurance companies to fund pumps, which is happening in Massachusetts.
Anne Merewood IBCLC
Director of Lactation Service
Boston Medical Center



> I sometimes wonder why a woman who could afford to buy a double electric
> pump (and has purchased matching everything for a nursery before the 3rd
> trimester) quibbles over $100 dollars if there is any question at all about
> safety.  BUT, for women who NEED a double electric pump to return to a
> minimum wage job and really WANT to continue breastfeeding I wonder how
> much
> will be too much to pay for a pump.
>
> Really hoping for some answers and not looking to start a LactWar.
> Dawn Martin
> Austin, TX


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