Maternity services include all medical care related to pregnancy and childbirth. There is no visit limit when you receive maternity care from obstetricians, gynecologists, or nurse midwives. Your out-of-pocket costs will be lower if you use providers that are in the Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO network. When using providers in Massachusetts, you should also confirm if the provider is affiliated with a lower cost sharing hospital as that will impact how much you pay for certain services. This is known as Hospital Choice Cost Share (learn more about hospital choice cost sharing).
Childbirth Classes
The Student Health Insurance Plan reimburses up to $90 for one childbirth class for an enrolled, pregnant member and up to $45 for each refresher childbirth course.
Receive your reimbursement by sending your proof of payment, copy of your completion certificate, and childbirth claim form to:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
PO Box 986030
Boston, MA 02298
You will not be reimbursed if you do not complete the course, except when your delivery occurs before the course ends.
How to Enroll a Dependent Child
When having a baby or adopting a child, be sure to add them to your health plan within 45 days of the date of birth or adoption/placement. We recommend that the effective date of coverage is the child's date of birth to avoid costly medical bills. This plan does not cover services rendered prior to the beginning date of the health insurance coverage.
Lactation Consult
Lactation counseling is covered at $0 cost share when performed by a doctor, nurse practitioner, or an IBLCE (International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners) licensed lactation counselor.
- At this time there is no network of participating licensed lactation counselors. Most members will be asked to pay out-of-pocket and file for reimbursement for services. If you pay out-of-pocket, you need to submit a subscriber claim form and receipt to be reimbursed. Note: some providers in Massachusetts have agreed to submit claims on behalf of our members. Learn more about lactation consultants.
Visit the Blue Cross Blue Shield website for more details on breastfeeding.
Breast Pumps
Breast pumps are covered under the durable medical equipment benefit.
- Rental or purchase of one manual or one electric breast pump. The pump must be purchased from a durable medical equipment supplier in our network.
- One pump per birth including multiple births (for example we will cover the purchase of one pump for a member who had twins).
Hospital grade electric pumps are not covered. Replacement parts for a breast pump or other nursing supplies such as nursing bras are also not covered.
You can order a breast pump from a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts medical supplier by visiting the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts website — select "DME - Breast Pump" as the specialty to search, or directly from one of the following manufacturers:
To order a breast pump, you need a prescription with the following information:
- The due date or birth date of your baby
- The diagnosis code
- Your clinician's NPI#, name, address, and telephone number—this information would typically be listed on any prescription