Becoming a new parent can be expensive. The cost of diapers, baby clothes, and supplies for nursing, bottle feeding, and pumping adds up, which can make the transition to parenthood even more challenging.
Fortunately, some of these costs may be covered by your insurance provider. Flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA), and health reimbursement arrangements (HRA) can be incredibly beneficial when it comes to breastfeeding supplies and expenses.
Since it’s close to the end of the year and your FSA/HSA/HRA funds will expire soon, we wanted to share some information about using insurance to purchase certain Kindred Bravely products (check out the collection here).
We suggest that you contact your plan administrator before you purchase to find out what restrictions or specifications your plan may have, what your plan covers and at what cost to you, and what documentation you need to provide to receive approval for payment of these expenses as qualified medical expenses.
While every insurance plan is different, these frequently asked questions will help you get a sense of options when it comes to using insurance to purchase Kindred Bravely products.
Are any Kindred Bravely products covered by insurance?
Some parents have obtained full or partial reimbursement for their Sublime® Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Tank, Sublime® Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra, Sublime® Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Sports Bra, Sublime® Bamboo Hands-Free Pumping Lounge & Sleep Bra, BFF Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra, Minimalist Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Plunge Bra, Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads, Fearless Leakproof® Reusable Nursing Pads, and Fearless Leakproof® Underwear through insurance. State laws may differ, and each insurance company or employer health plan has its own standards regarding reimbursement for these items, so be sure to check with your plan administrator to determine if your policy or plan covers these products and at what cost to you.
Can I use my FSA/HSA to purchase Kindred Bravely products?
Yes! Parents have used an FSA/HSA debit card to pay for the Sublime Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Tank, Sublime Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra, Sublime Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Sports Bra, Sublime Bamboo Hands-Free Pumping Lounge & Sleep Bra, BFF Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra, Minimalist Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Plunge Bra, Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads, Fearless Leakproof Reusable Nursing Pads, and Fearless Leakproof Underwear at checkout. Some parents have also paid for these items with their regular debit or credit card and submitted their receipt to their plan administrator for reimbursement.
The Organic Bamboo and Fearless Leakproof Nursing Pads have been pre-approved. Please be aware that some FSA administrators have different standards for what may be approved for items under their systems for breastfeeding and maternity care services. Reach out to your individual plan administrator to inquire about any of our other breastfeeding products to determine if they too meet applicable IRS standards under your plan.
Can I pay on two or more credit/debit cards?
We’re only able to accept one payment method per purchase. If you’d like to use your FSA/HSA to pay for only part of your order, we suggest you complete your total purchase with your individual credit/debit card and submit your receipt to your plan administrator for possible FSA/HSA reimbursement of any allowable amounts to repay you for the amounts you have previously paid.
Are breastfeeding supplies FSA eligible?
They can be! If your FSA allows you to set aside part of your paycheck to cover health care costs, breastfeeding-related items like the Sublime Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Tank, Sublime Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra, Sublime Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Sports Bra, Sublime Bamboo Hands-Free Pumping Lounge & Sleep Bra, BFF Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra, Minimalist Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Plunge Bra, Organic Bamboo Nursing Pads, Fearless Leakproof Reusable Nursing Pads, and Fearless Leakproof Underwear may be eligible based on the terms of your plan.
We suggest that you contact your plan administrator or FSA provider before you purchase your products to find out what restrictions or specifications your plan may have, or what other documentation you need to provide to receive approval for payment of these expenses as qualified medical expenses under your plan.
What about an HSA/HRA?
An HSA is exempt from taxes for qualified medical expenses under Code Section 213(d), and such HSA funds are often used to pay for deductibles, co-payments, coinsurance, and other select health care expenses. You may also use funds from your HSA to purchase accessories for pumping breast milk without getting a prescription from your health care provider, as long as those items are recognized by your HSA administrator as qualified medical expenses.
If you have unused HSA funds available, you might be able to use a portion of these monies to assist you in getting the nursing items you need, though you may wish to check with your HSA administrator to ensure their system will accommodate these items as medical expense amounts before using any of your available HSA funds.
An HRA is similar to an HSA in terms of what can be reimbursed under the program, but it is an arrangement set up and funded by your employer to help pay for eligible health care expenses, which may also include breastfeeding supplies. Check with your employer to determine if you have an HRA that is available and any other specific eligibility rules based on your plan.
New moms can be hesitant to spend money on themselves, but they typically find the investment in breastfeeding supplies to be well worth it. That’s why we’re so excited that some of our products have been approved for purchase with FSA/HSA/HRA funds. Check out the collection here, and be sure to reach out to your plan administrator to find out your options before your funds expire!
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