A baby smiling with two hands holding the baby close.

LET’S CLOSE THE COVERAGE GAP together

Join us in advocating for accessible, expert, recognized lactation care for all by signing our petition, which will be used to champion support for families in conversations directly with insurers and in legislative efforts on Capitol Hill.

Then download our Action Kit and use the email templates to start a coverage conversation with your workplace or health plan.

ACTION KIT
I advocate for accessible, expert, recognized lactation care for all families.

By accessible, we mean affordable, easy-to-reach, in-person, and fully insurance-covered at no out-of-pocket cost to families for the duration of the breastfeeding journey.

By expert, we mean personalized care provided by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, the highest accredited lactation expert.

By recognized, we mean increased societal and legislative recognition of lactation care as a critical, nonnegotiable component of healthcare for families.

With this petition, we will advocate for families in conversations directly with health plans and in legislative efforts on Capitol Hill.

2353 / 2000 SIGNED

Covered care for all

Sign your name to join us in advocating for accessible, expert, and recognized lactation care coverage for all.

First name
Last name
Email
Health plan provider (optional)
Parents resting in bed while holding closely holding their baby.

ALL FAMILIES HAVE A legal right TO LACTATION CARE

“Health insurance plans must provide breastfeeding support, counseling, and equipment for the duration of breastfeeding.” – The Affordable Care Act

If breastfeeding support is mandated by law, why does healthcare coverage fall short?

Some women do not fully benefit from this new coverage. In some cases, insurance policies fail to comply with the ACA’s breastfeeding coverage requirements, or restrict coverage in ways that undermine the intent of the law.

State of Breastfeeding CoverageNational Women’s Law Center

THE illusion OF LACTATION COVERAGE

Although many health plans claim to provide lactation care, we know that the families they claim to cover are often confronted with a different, difficult reality.

SEE MORE STORIES

A parent and baby resting together in a hammock, with the baby gently resting on the parent's chest.

A parent and baby resting together in a hammock, with the baby gently resting on the parent's chest.

When I explored lactation consultants after having my daughter, there was only one that came up as in-network for my insurance provider within the city, and her team didn’t have availability to meet in person for seven weeks…[I] didn’t understand how I would ever be able to take advantage of the six covered lactation consultant sessions that my insurance claimed to cover without more provider options.

Alli C.Financial Technology Partnerships Manager

A newborn resting on a parent’s chest, showcasing a nurturing moment of bonding and care.

My daughter was only a few days old, and had been so dehydrated at the hospital (due to breastfeeding issues) that they almost put her in the NICU. I needed to see a lactation specialist immediately, but my insurance company didn’t have any lactation providers in their directory.

AlyssonWashington DC

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant carefully weighs a newborn baby, highlighting the importance of early health monitoring.

When I actually searched for a specialist for lactation provider, lactation consultant, I searched every possible term, nothing came up. Not within 10 miles, not within a 100-mile radius.

Mary BoyleStay-at-Home Mom
A newborn is gently cradled by a parent’s hands.

I don’t understand how an insurer can get away with denying lactation consultations that they are required to provide.

Jonathan Conte Father

The reality is moms with newborn babies are busy trying to feed their babies. They don’t have time to fight this out with their employers and the insurers and everybody else.

Mary Boyle Stay-at-Home Mom
A close-up of a baby holding a parent's hand.

56%

of parents say that if their insurance provided any (or additional) coverage for lactation support, they would have been able to breastfeed longer. (2023 TLN Survey)

If all the women that I saw this last year rose up and demanded of their insurance companies that they cover these services, they would.

Alyssa Goss IBCLC
A parent smiling while lovingly holding their baby close.

CREATE change

Are you ready to become a lactation care advocate? Let’s make it official: Sign the petition and join us in making accessible, expert, and recognized lactation care a reality for all.

SIGN THE PETITION

I WANT TO DO more

Use these free downloadable resources to spread the word about the lactation coverage gap.

DOWNLOAD EMAIL TEMPLATE

Wondering what kind of lactation care coverage your job or health plan offers? Download these templates, personalize them as you see fit, and share with your employer or insurance company.

DOWNLOAD SOCIAL POST

Share our graphic on your social media to encourage your friends to become lactation care advocates, too. Join the movement with the hashtag #closethelactationcoveragegap.