First Lady, IRS Ruling Put Breastfeeding in the News
First Lady Michelle Obama's recent statement to news reporters that she would promote breastfeeding as part of her "Let's Move" campaign to reduce childhood obesity, and the IRS' reversal of its ruling on coverage for breast pumps, put breastfeeding in the news in recent weeks.
The previous IRS ruling excluded breast pumps from coverage under flexible health spending accounts and made them non-deductible on tax returns. The new ruling will apply retroactively to devices purchased in 2010 and in the future. The tax authority found that breast pumps "are for the purpose of affecting a structure or function of the body of the lactating woman," thus putting them in the category of a medical device.
Nursing mothers now have two options: If they have a medical flexible-spending account, they can potentially use pretax dollars to buy nursing supplies and breast pumps, which can run as much as $330 or more. Which devices will qualify will depend on each FSA's rules.
If a woman does not have an FSA, she can itemize her taxes and deduct breast-feeding equipment costs, as long as her overall out-of-pocket medical costs exceed 7.5 percent of her income.
White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett -- and chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls -- noted in a post at www.whitehouse.gov in December that workplace rules have a major impact on a woman's decision whether to nurse.
"While 75 percent of women initially breastfeed their baby, after six months only 43 percent are still breastfeeding at all," Jarrett wrote. "One of the most common reasons mothers cite for discontinuing breastfeeding is returning to work and not having break time or a private space to express milk. Many studies have shown these types of worksite supports help women continue to breastfeed after returning to work."
The Council supports both the First Lady's message and the "call to action" given in January from the U.S. Surgeon General in support of breastfeeding, with a focus on making the personal choice to breastfeed easier for women through policies and environmental changes.
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First Lady Michelle Obama's recent statement to news reporters that she would promote breastfeeding as part of her "Let's Move" campaign to reduce childhood obesity, and the IRS' reversal of its ruling on coverage for breast pumps, put breastfeeding in the news in recent weeks.
The previous IRS ruling excluded breast pumps from coverage under flexible health spending accounts and made them non-deductible on tax returns. The new ruling will apply retroactively to devices purchased in 2010 and in the future. The tax authority found that breast pumps "are for the purpose of affecting a structure or function of the body of the lactating woman," thus putting them in the category of a medical device.
Nursing mothers now have two options: If they have a medical flexible-spending account, they can potentially use pretax dollars to buy nursing supplies and breast pumps, which can run as much as $330 or more. Which devices will qualify will depend on each FSA's rules.
If a woman does not have an FSA, she can itemize her taxes and deduct breast-feeding equipment costs, as long as her overall out-of-pocket medical costs exceed 7.5 percent of her income.
White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett -- and chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls -- noted in a post at www.whitehouse.gov in December that workplace rules have a major impact on a woman's decision whether to nurse.
"While 75 percent of women initially breastfeed their baby, after six months only 43 percent are still breastfeeding at all," Jarrett wrote. "One of the most common reasons mothers cite for discontinuing breastfeeding is returning to work and not having break time or a private space to express milk. Many studies have shown these types of worksite supports help women continue to breastfeed after returning to work."
The Council supports both the First Lady's message and the "call to action" given in January from the U.S. Surgeon General in support of breastfeeding, with a focus on making the personal choice to breastfeed easier for women through policies and environmental changes.
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