As you are preparing for your birth or postpartum period, we love talking about the numerous benefits of having a birth doula or postpartum doula such as:
Improved birth outcomes
Better communication between you, your partner, and your medical team
Overall more satisfaction with your birth experience
Education and guidance throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period around your body, feeding your baby, and more
Support and education around infant feeding options
Emotional support throughout the entire process
And SO much more
But we also recognize that paying for this support can be a burden for many clients, and we are here to offer some guidance.
Please note: The information in this blog is general information, and you should always check with your specific plan and provider to ensure it applies to you.
First and foremost, always check with your employer to see if they offer any benefits for paying for a doula. Carrot is a growing benefit that many employers are offering, and one that we work with regularly!
If your employer does not have any reimbursement benefits, there are still options!
If you are trying for any type of insurance payments or reimbursement, getting a Letter of Medical Necessity (or find one from your specific insurance provider) from your provider will likely be needed. We recommend printing one out and bringing it to your next appointment to talk with your provider.
Paying with your HSA/FSA Card
We are approved to accept Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards directly. However, we do suggest that you confirm that the specific service you are purchasing is covered by either your HSA or FSA and that your Letter of Medical Necessity mentions those specific services.
We have had clients in the past be approved for birth doula support, postpartum doula support, childbirth education, massage therapy, lactation support, and more! So definitely check to see what is covered, and what is not covered, to really max out your benefits.
If needed, we can provide a detailed receipt for you to submit as well.
Insurance Reimbursement with a Superbill
When you are not able to pay with a card, sometimes receiving a superbill and submitting it along with your Letter of Medical Necessity for reimbursement is the right choice for paying for your doula support.
In all of our Superbills, we include a whole host of acronyms and terms that insurance companies like to see including EIN, NPI type 2, Taxonomy Code and more. However, we always recommend that you reach out directly to your insurance provider to find the exact wording they like to see for Superbills to be approved. We are happy to include that language for maximum reimbursement, just let us know what you need!
While it may feel like a lot of steps, we do encourage you to at least try! Best case scenario is that you have an amazing team of birth doulas to support you during your birth and then come home to an amazing day or nigh postpartum doula that has been partially or completely paid for by your insurance!
