Getting free formula

For most preemies and multiples (since many multiples are preemies) high-calorie formula is needed, at least for the first couple of months. Common brands are Similac Neosure and Enfamil Enfacare. Even specialty formulas like Similac Alimentum can be free.

Contact your health insurance company. Ask them if a specific formula will be covered if your healthcare provider writes a prescription for it. Once our boys were born, they were in the NICU for 6, 12 and 19 days. They were on Similac Neosure. I called my insurance company and asked if Similar Neosure was covered with a prescription and they said yes!

So each of our boys left the NICU with a prescription for Similac Neosure, which we filled at CVS. Even though most preemies only need high calorie formula for a few months, we convinced our pediatrician to keep them on it for their first year. He said it would cause no harm and if it would save us money (lots of it!) he was willing. We never paid for formula. And going through 90 bottles a month, yes 90, it would have cost us about $630 a month in formula. So it was well worth the phone call.

If your insurance wont cover the formula, there are other ways to get "some" free.

First and foremost, most NICU's will give you whatever formula is left over for that baby. Our boys had cabinets under their cribs that were filled with formula, diapers, etc. We got all of that stuff upon discharge.

You can also get free formula from the formula companies. Our NICU gave us a form to fill out and we mailed that with birth certificates to Similac. We then received 3 cases of formula a month for three months. That was 18 bottles a month for 3 months.

Also, during your hospital stay, ask the nurses for formula diaper bags, which contain free formula. I saw various women walking out of the hospital with numerous diaper bags.

And if, for whatever reason, you get stuck paying for lots of formula, save your receipts for tax filing. I dont know what other states' qualifications are, but in Mass anything over 7.5% you get back.