Question

Discuss some of the potential barriers to successful breastfeeding. Should insurance companies give discounted rates to infants and children who have been breastfed? Provide reasoning behind your answers. 250 words

Answer 1

Ans) Potential barriers to Breastfeeding:

- Frequently cited problems with breastfeeding include sore nipples, engorged breasts, mastitis, leaking milk, pain, and failure to latch on by the infant. Women who encounter these problems early on are less likely to continue to breastfeed unless they get professional assistance.

- Mothers who receive or qualify for WIC or have lower income are less likely to start and continue breastfeeding than their more advantaged counterparts

- As of March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) required employers to provide reasonable break time and space to express breast milk

- As of January 1, 2013, the ACA required insurance companies to cover breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling at no cost to new mothers

- This ACA preventive care benefit does not generally extend to all Medicaid recipients or women in the WIC program

- State and federal legislative and regulatory efforts will be needed to provide comprehensive coverage for all women and reduce disparities in breastfeeding.