Did you know that you can pay for a birth doula with funds from an HSA or FSA? Unfortunately, there are no health insurance companies that we have found that will cover birth doula services outright, but it is possible to pay for a birth doula out of HSA or FSA funds.
The IRS allows you to do this as long as your doctor agrees that the care is medically necessary to treat a medical condition (which in this case is pregnancy).
If you want to be reimbursed from your HSA or FSA here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
Pay your doula fee in full and receive an invoice stating the service and the cost of the service.
Fill out a Letter of Medical Necessity form. You can get this form directly from your insurance company or you can use THIS generic one.
Have your medical provider (OB or Midwife) sign the form affirming that you have the medical condition of being pregnant.
File your invoice and Letter of Medical Necessity form with your HSA/FSA. This can usually be done online.
This is a great option for helping to make doula care more affordable and accessible! If this isn’t an option for you, talk to your doula about setting up a payment plan that can help make the cost more manageable. However, remember that the benefits of doula care (personalized prenatal education, reduction in interventions, reductions in pain medication and reduction in c-sections) often lead to a less expensive birth overall!
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