How to Get Insurance to Cover my Night Nanny or Doula

July 6, 2024

Last updated, November 10, 2025 – In-home newborn care is not usually covered by traditional health insurance but it is becoming a more recognized service. There are many reasons why your family might need overnight care however, so understanding payment options night nannies and postpartum doulas becomes crucial. How to Get Insurance to Cover my Night Nanny or Doula explores insurance coverage for overnight doula and night nanny care. And if you’re not sure exactly what a night nanny, night nurse or postpartum doula does, start with our guide: What is a Night Nanny?

When Will Health Insurance Cover a Night Nanny or Postpartum Doula?

Insurance coverage for night nanny care is still not the norm, but is becoming more common. It typically requires clear medical necessity and strong documentation from your doctor. The three most common pathways are:

1. Pre-Existing Condition in Parent or Baby

• Newborn with medical need: If your newborn (especially twins or multiples) requires medical care, insurance will almost always cover a clinically licensed nurse in the home. In these cases a referral to a pediatric home health agency is given. If there is no home health agency in your area, or you prefer to use Let Mommy Sleep, we will pair you with a Licensed Nursing Team and provide an invoice on a weekly basis. You will then communicate with the insurance company for reimbursement.
• Parent with a medical condition: If a parent has a condition made worse by lack of sleep, and a referral from their physician, insurance may approve overnight doula or nurse care as part of treatment. Real life examples of when we have seen insurance cover night nanny care are when a parent has epilepsy or multiple sclerosis. These are conditions which are exacerbated by lack of sleep.

2. Doctor-Directed Care After Birth

• If a parent has a documented history of postpartum depression, anxiety or psychosis a doctor may prescribe postpartum doula or night nurse care.
• If a parent has a documented physical condition known to .be made worse by lack of sleep, they may direct care
• Doctor advocacy is often the deciding factor in whether coverage is granted.

3. Your Private Insurer Covers Birth and Postpartum Doula Visits

As doula services become more accepted by private insurance, many states now cover birth and night doula care through Medicaid. For example, United Health offers up to 48 fifteen-minute units at any time from first prenatal visit to 12 months postpartum for postpartum doula services in Ohio.

When a newborn has medical need, health insurance overwhelmingly covers the cost of pediatric night nurse care. When a parent has medical need however, more research and self-advocacy might be needed.

Steps to Increase Your Chances of Insurance Coverage

• Talk with your Primary Care Provider early – especially if you have a pre-existing condition.
• Contact your insurer – ask if they cover postpartum services under taxonomy code 374J00000X (doula), 99501 (home visit for postnatal care, initial) or 99502 (subsequent visits).
• Clarify caregiver requirements – Some insurers will only reimburse if care is provided by a Registered Nurse (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) or a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN). For birth or postpartum care, doula certification is required.

Can Employee Benefits Cover a Night Nanny or Doula?

Yes. Even if your health insurance won’t cover care, employer-sponsored benefits sometimes do:

• Carrot – Covers fertility, birth doulas, and postpartum doula care during the first 6 weeks. Let Mommy Sleep doulas are Carrot-approved and can be verified through the National NAPS Registry for Night Doulas.
• Maven – Offers maternity and family benefits from preconception through postpartum. Let Mommy Sleep staff are Maven-approved.
• FSA/HSA Accounts – Check with your provider to see if postpartum night doula services qualify as an eligible expense.
• Corporate Care – Businesses can add professional night nanny or postpartum visits as an employee benefit.

Insurance & Benefit Coverage Options at a Glance

Coverage Type	Who Qualifies	Examples	Notes
Health Insurance	Parent or baby with medical need	Parent with epilepsy or medically fragile baby	Needs Doctor Referral
Employer Benefits	Employees with HR benefit programs such as Carrot or Maven	Carrot, Maven, Employer Sponsored	Check HR or benefits portal
HSA/FSA	Parents using medical savings	Postpartum doula care	Each HSA has different coverage

The Role of a Night Nurse or Night Doula

A night nanny, also called a newborn care specialist or postpartum doula plays a vital role in providing specialized care during the nighttime hours. To see if insurance coverage is appropriate, first you can see if the role fits into your needs.

Responsibilities of the Night Nurse or Night Doula typically include:

1. Breastfeeding assistance or bottle feeding support and education.
2. Supporting healthy sleep and soothing for the newborns and twins
3. Keeping track of the newborn’s feeding patterns, diapers and overall health.
4. Allowing parents to receive deep, restorative blocks of sleep to aid recuperation, strengthen the immune system and receive better mental health outcomes.
5. Ensuring the home is ready for the day; tidy nursery, prepared bottles or pump and a calm, clean baby.
6. Support families with newborn twins by providing education or helping the infants get on the same schedule.

If you’re considering night doula care, you can talk with a potential caregiver and use the questions in What Should I ask a Night Nurse?

If insurance still does not cover your night nanny, you can try to offset the cost by financing, accepting gift certificates from loved ones or using a baby registry such as BabyList. If you have more questions about how to get insurance to cover my night nanny or doula, please contact us.