The ACA requires that all ACA-compliant plans in the employer market and the individual market (on and off the Marketplace), cover lactation counseling and breast pump rental without any charge. Check your plan details to find out the specific number of counseling sessions and types of breast pump that are covered, or if your plan covers purchase of a breast pump.

Additionally, with few exceptions, if you are nursing/pumping at work, your employer must provide access to a private room (that is not a bathroom) and break time for you to express milk.

If you are covered by a plan that was in effect on or before March 23, 2010, it may be a “grandfathered plan.” These plans are not required to cover preventive services, or they may require cost sharing. If you are not sure if your plan is grandfathered, check with your employer or your insurance plan.

Additionally, short-term health insurance policies do not have to provide benefits required by the ACA, including breastfeeding services. Health care sharing ministries, which are membership groups usually affiliated with a religion that help members pay for health care (not insurance), are also not subject to ACA benefit requirements, including breastfeeding services.