Tricare Breast Pumps - Expert RoundUp
20Jun
Military Life

Tricare Breast Pumps - Expert RoundUp

  • By Baby Pavilion Blog

Hey Mommies,

Hope you are doing great!
We all know it's hard to make a decision when there are a lot of choices. Same goes to Breast Pumps & it's accessories.

That's why we reached out to some of the most popular Military lifestyle bloggers and put together this post for you. Wherein, they share their opinions & personal experience with Spectra breast pumps and the Medela breast pumps through Tricare Insurance. Also, their suggestions for military moms.

By Jessica from Jessica Lynn Writes


I'm a work-at-home mama, an Air Force wife, a woman consumed with wanderlust, a foodie who loves cooking up something scrumptious, and a morning person driven by that first cup of coffee.


Your opinion on Tricare Breast Pump Insurance?
I'm so thankful for Tricare's Breast Pump Insurance program. It wasn't around when I had my first daughter, and getting a breast pump was difficult, to say the least, especially since we were stationed overseas at the time. The entire process of getting a breast pump through Tricare now is probably one of the simplest experiences I've had with Tricare, and navigating the newborn phase, too!
Your choice? Spectra or Medela Pumps
I've used both Spectra and Medala pumps, and I really enjoyed using Spectra. It had a smaller footprint, was quieter, and the amount of milk it helped me extract was drastically more than when I used a Medela. I recommend Spectra to all my first-time mom friends. 
Your personal experience or opinion on the Breast Pumps
Let's face it: nobody wants to be hooked up to a machine that's literally pumping milk out of you, but I'm so thankful for them. I breastfed all three of my kids, but they were all drastically different. With my first, I had to supplement with pumped breast milk through an SNS hookup—a breast pump allowed me to skip using the formula for her. My second was a champion nurser, and hated bottles, but I pumped and stockpiled milk for when she was older; having breastmilk on hand helped me wean her from the breast when it was time. And as for my third baby, I pumped and since he took a bottle, my husband and I were able to leave him with a sitter at a younger age than my other two kids. 
Do you recommend it to other Military Moms?
I highly recommend the Spectra breast pump that you can get through Tricare's program. The entire process is simple, and they even send you replacement parts on a regular basis—it's one less thing to worry about, and with all the things in your new mom life that you'll have to think about, thankfully, your breast pump will be the last thing on your mind. 


By Lizann from Seasoned Spouse


Hello! I’m Lizann, a military spouse and your new friend! I wanted a space to connect with other MilSpouses and share my experiences, so we can get through this crazy military life together.

 

Your opinion on Tricare Breast Pump Insurance?
I think it's great that Tricare now covers breast pumps for expecting moms. This was not covered when I had my first child, so I invested hundreds of dollars into a breast pump so I could return to work. Now the process begins with your OBGYN and can be easily completed online.
Your choice? Spectra or Medela Pumps
I chose a Medela pump because that is what I was used to using with my first 4 children, so I knew it was good quality and efficient pump.
Your personal experience or opinion on the Breast Pumps
It's important for every mom to have a breast pump, even if you aren't sure about breastfeeding or plan to stay at home full-time. Mothers who use formula will still need to pump for relief during the first few weeks. Mothers who stay home will need to pump a back-up supply for any time they spend a few hours away from the baby (date nights, special events, emergencies, etc.) And of course, if you work you need a pump to provide bottles while you are away from the baby.
Do you recommend it to other Military Moms?
Military Moms should definitely use this Tricare benefit of a breast pump. It is much cleaner and safer to get a new pump through Tricare than to get a used pump from a friend or from a yard sale page. 

By Allison from New Little Life


Hi, I'm Allison! I'm a birth doula, nurse, lactation counsellor, mom, and more. Bringing a new little life into the world is exciting and challenging, and I love to help mothers, parents, and families have an easy, informed, positive transition to parenthood.

 

Your opinion on Tricare Breast Pump Insurance?
Every new mom should utilize the Tricare covering their breast pumps! It's a great opportunity and sets up moms and baby for a positive breastfeeding experience. You can choose from a variety of breast pumps and find the best option for you.
Your choice? Spectra or Medela Pumps
Both the Spectra and Medela are great pumps, but my personal recommendation would be the Spectra pumps. If you want to see these 2 pumps side by side, you can watch this comparison video from New Little Life! https://youtu.be/vDLm74SaUwg
Your personal experience or opinion on the Breast Pumps
I'm mostly a birth professional/blogger, but I did get to personally utilize Tricare when ordering my breast pump with my second child. The process was so quick and easy! Shops like Baby Pavilion are well equipped to work with military families and it's as simple as asking your doctor for a prescription, choosing a pump, and it's delivered to your house! EVERY military mom should be doing this!
Do you recommend it to other Military Moms?
As a birth doula & lactation counsellor serving mostly military families, I always encourage ALL Tricare families to get their breast pumps through Tricare. Why not?? There are so many options and it's so easy. Having a breast pump is a great tool if you're a working mom, stay at home mom, or anything in-between. You never know when you'll need that breast pump! 
Other Opinions (include if appropriate) 
You can find several breast pump tutorials and comparisons on my YouTube Channel @ New Little Life by Allison. I hope to see you there! www.youtube.com/c/newlittlelifebyallison

By Julie from Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life


Hi there! I am Julie. I started my blog back in 2009 when we lived in Germany. The blog has grown and I love having my own space on the internet. You will find a few different types of posts on my blog. I write about military life topics, deployments, pcsing, and military life in general.

Your opinion on Tricare Breast Pump Insurance?
If you have TRICARE, using the breast pump benefit is a really good idea. You can pick your breast pump and find the one that works for you if you have a prescription from your doctor. Some breast pump companies will also be able to get that for you and you can buy your pump and then turn in your receipt for a refund as well. What breast pump you pick will depend on how often you need to pump, and what you will use the pump for. Some will need something that works well for everyday use and others won't need something as strong.
Your choice? Spectra or Medela Pumps
I don't really have an option on Spectra vs Medela as I have known people who have used both and enjoyed both. It really just depends on the mom, baby and their needs. 
Your personal experience or opinion on the Breast Pumps
I think breast pumps are great for helping build up the mom's milk supply, to be able to use when going back to work, or even so mom can get a little break.
Do you recommend it to other Military Moms?
Since you can get one with TRICARE, if you are a military mom or military spouse mom, using that benefit is a good idea. Keep in mind that they do have cost limits on what they will pay for but usually, you should be able to find the right pump that fits their limits. 

By Shannon from Navy Wife Clute


Hi everyone, I'm Shannon. I was born and raised in California, went to San Diego State, and graduated with a degree in Finance. My blog is about our daily life. The life of an Officer's wife. A navy life. It was my therapy while he was deployed, a way for us to keep in touch.

Your opinion on Tricare Breast Pump Insurance?
Tricare Breast Pump Insurance is great. Being able to choose the breast pump I wanted was ideal and the process was easy. The out of pocket cost of a breast pump is high and it is wonderful that Tricare is now covering the cost, supporting nursing mothers!
Your choice? Spectra or Medela Pumps
I chose a single Medela Pump which was great for me since I was staying at home with my girls. Medela also replaced some parts, at no charge, when I had an issue. Because I didn't use mine much, the single pump was ideal. However, if I had been pumping more often or gone back to work I would have chosen a double since they are faster and more efficient.
Your personal experience or opinion on the Breast Pumps
The pumps are great to help increase your supply as well as to set aside some milk for any time you need to be away. Just make sure you introduce the bottle early! Medela also has a recycling program for your pump when you are done using it. Just fill out a form and mail it to them. 

By Julie from Fab Working Mom Life


My name is Julie :) I write about being a working mom to help myself and other working moms in our journey to find a balance between our family, responsibilities, and hobbies. I do this because we moms need a support network to thrive both at home and at work.

Your opinion on Tricare Breast Pump Insurance?
I believe all insurance companies should offer breastfeeding supplies such as a reliable pump to new mothers. It is wonderful that Tricare offers breast pumps to new military moms since pumps may otherwise not be in the budget.
Your choice? Spectra or Medela Pumps
I was very happy with the Medela pump I received and used it for just over a year. I also received replacement supplies every certain number of months so I didn't have to remember to order anything. It was a huge help during that busy whirlwind of time as a new mom.
Would you recommend it to other Military Moms?
I absolutely recommend other military moms use the Tricare breast pump insurance program if they are considering breastfeeding.

By Melissa from The Fayetteville Doulas


The Fayetteville Doulas is an exclusive doula agency supporting the growing families of Fayetteville NC and surrounding areas through modern, personalized support and expertise.

Your opinion on Tricare Breast Pump Insurance?
The Fayetteville Doulas serves many active duty members and their family members who receive Tricare and we have received lots of positive feedback from them in regards to Tricare covered breast pumps. We think the monthly breastfeeding supplies that Tricare covers is particularly beneficial to the working families in the Fayetteville/Fort Bragg North Carolina area. 
Your choice? Spectra or Medela Pumps
Given a choice, we would pick Spectra. We appreciate Medela’s long-standing brand but Spectra has gained popularity and their closed system pumps give pumping individuals an added layer of safety and confidence while pumping. 
We think the number and selection of breast pumps covered by Tricare is great. Clients love having choices that allow them to pick a pump that aligns with their lifestyle and needs.  
Would you recommend it to other Military Moms?
We recommend all of our clients and community members who have Tricare and a need for a breast pump to utilize their Tricare benefits. 

Conclusion

That's it for this roundup.
We would like to thank all our contributors for helping our mommies.
Hope you mommies found it helpful to make a better decision.

If you are ready to get your Tricare breast pumps and breast pump accessories at no cost through TRICARE, then you can get started by filling out this super easy form to qualify now.

  

 

Products Covered Under Tricare Insurance