UnitedHealthcare slashes lactation support payments by half starting September

UnitedHealthcare, the largest US insurer, will change how it pays for lactation services from 1 September. The new policy will reimburse providers only once per visit instead of twice. This affects millions of families covered by the company. Currently, lactation consultants bill UnitedHealthcare separately for the mother and the infant. This allows them to recover costs for travel, time and supplies, often earning around $250 per visit.

Under the new rule, payments will be cut by roughly half. Consultants like Kathryn McLaughlin have criticised the move as short-sighted. Mary Lou Moramarco warns it will reduce the number of families who can access support.

The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover breastfeeding support at no cost. Breastmilk is widely recognised as the best nutrition for infants, offering protection against illness. However, other insurers such as Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna have already restricted payments for these services. The change takes effect on 1 September. It will lower earnings for consultants like Danielle Tropea, who rely on fair reimbursement to sustain their work. Fewer families may receive the help they need as a result.