How Do I Pay for Professional Postpartum Support Services?
Many families may find themselves in a situation where they need postpartum support but don’t have family living nearby or feel like they don’t have the funds to pay for professional postpartum support. Fortunately, there are many options to pay for these services. Read on to learn about the most accessible options in the state of New Mexico:
New Mexico Medicaid (Turquoise Care):
If you are eligible for New Mexico Medicaid, many preventive postpartum services, such as doula, lactation, and mental health support, are reimbursable by your Medicaid provider. In some cases, a letter or referral from your health care provider is required to confirm services are needed to promote your physical or mental health or to prevent complications.
Support providers must be credentialed with the state of New Mexico and enrolled with a New Mexico Medicaid insurance provider, also known as a Managed Care Organization (MCO). Please check with your MCO about specific requirements and lists of support providers that take your insurance.
New Mexico Medicaid Turquoise Care MCOs include:
Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico
Luminar Health also provides resources for finding postpartum support providers that accept Medicaid in New Mexico.
Medicaid may cover postpartum support services in other states. Please check with your local Medicaid MCO for further details.
Private Insurance Coverage
Many postpartum support services, such as lactation support or mental health services are required to be covered by insurance providers under federal law or state law in New Mexico. If you are outside of New Mexico, please check your local state laws.
Other frequently used postpartum support services, such as postpartum doulas or pelvic floor physical therapy may be covered by private insurance providers. Please check with your insurance provider for coverage and requirements.
Health Savings Accounts or Flexible Spending Accounts
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) are employee-owned pre-tax savings accounts, while Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are employer-sponsored pre-tax savings accounts. Both can be used to pay for qualified health expenses not otherwise covered by insurance. You may be able to pay your postpartum support provider directly using an HSA or FSA card. You could also pay out-of-pocket and then request reimbursement from your HSA or FSA using a detailed invoice. A letter of medical necessity from your healthcare provider may be required.
Gift Registries or Crowdfunding:
Many families receive gifts from friends and families in anticipation of welcoming a new baby. One option could be to request financial support for postpartum services such as a doula or lactation support. Let those who are close to you know that you have started a fund to pay for each of the services you would like and request that they donate to these funds in lieu of baby gifts. This approach may work particularly well if you already have most of the baby supplies you will need.
Payment Plans or Sliding Scale Fees:
Many postpartum service providers offer plans for payments in installments. They may also offer sliding scale fees for those with different income levels. Ask about these options when discussing fees with your desired postpartum service provider.