The Lactation Network increases coverage with UnitedHealthcare
The partnership expands access to comprehensive postpartum care for UnitedHealthcare’s Commercial members across the nation
February 15, 2024
The Lactation Network (TLN), the nation’s largest network for insurance-covered lactation services, today announces it is in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC). Now, members of UHC’s Commercial Plans can find and access personalized, clinical lactation care through TLN in 49 states (Hawaii pending). UHC is one of the nation’s largest insurance providers so this partnership will have a lasting impact on many families, providing critical care when they need it most.
“We’re thrilled to partner with UnitedHealthcare to ensure that all families get the lactation care they deserve,” said Sarah Kellogg Neff, CEO of The Lactation Network. “This partnership has been in the works for many years, so we are thrilled to take this tremendous step forward in our mission. So many families struggle and fail as they navigate the nuanced, vulnerable, and deeply personal postpartum period; the support of an IBCLC can be the difference between flailing and thriving in this new life moment.”
TLN is the only national network offering this crucial care in person through health insurance. Services include lactation consultations, including in-home and office, for prenatal, postpartum, and even return-to-work support. These consults play an important role in setting families up for success and helping to establish and maintain breastfeeding through clinical guidance and customized plans based on the family’s individual goals, preferences and lifestyle.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of parents don’t breastfeed as long as they intended to, with the reasons ranging from difficulty with latch and supply, to a lack of accessible clinical care and insufficient health plan coverage. The U.S. is also one of the few countries in the world where maternal mortality is climbing, with most deaths occurring during the postpartum period and with mental health conditions as the leading cause of death. The CDC calls for improvements to ensure people who are pregnant or postpartum get the right care at the right time; TLN is a change agent in women’s and maternal health, creating an infrastructure that supports parents for the duration of the breastfeeding journey so they can make the best choices for their families.
About The Lactation Network
The Lactation Network connects families to expert, clinical, insurance-covered lactation care from International Board Certified Lactation Consultants in all 50 states and D.C. With the nation’s largest network of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), the gold standard in lactation care, TLN’s mission is to make lactation support accessible and inclusive, breaking down barriers to access and changing stigmas around this crucial care. The mission-driven organization is building healthcare systems designed to support ALL parents during their 4th trimester, so they can thrive.
