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Having a baby in Montana

Medicaid and WIC income limits, paid leave, doula and lactation coverage, breast pumps and childcare prices in Montana, with the agency and link to apply for each.

Checked October 2026 · 31 sources

Short answer

Montana Medicaid covers pregnancy for incomes up to 162% of the poverty level, about $35,057 a year for you and one baby, and for 12 months after birth. WIC takes households of two earning up to $40,034. Montana has no state paid family leave program. Full-time infant care at a center runs about $11,482 a year (2022 prices).

What you can get in Montana

The short answer for each benefit, with its source. Tap Details for income limits, how to apply and the fine print.

Yes

Can Medicaid cover your pregnancy in Montana?

In Montana, Montana Medicaid covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 162% of the federal poverty level (about $35,057 a year for a household of two); Medicaid postpartum coverage lasts 12 months.

Source: KFF State Health Facts, income limits as of January 2026Details
Yes

Can you get WIC in Montana?

Yes, if your household's income is at or below $40,034 a year for two people (you and your baby). If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already qualify. You can start online.

Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, October 2026Details
No

Does Montana have paid family leave?

Montana has no state paid family leave program, so paid time off after birth depends on your employer; federal FMLA gives eligible workers 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures, October 2026Details
Pending

Does Montana Medicaid pay for a doula?

Montana Medicaid doesn't cover doulas yet; a 2025 law allows coverage and doula licensing starts January 1, 2027.

Source: National Health Law Program (NHeLP), October 2026Details
Check

Does Montana Medicaid cover a lactation consultant?

We couldn't confirm Montana's Medicaid lactation coverage from an official source. Check with your Medicaid plan.

Source: KFF, October 2026Details
Yes

Does Montana Medicaid cover a breast pump?

In Montana, Medicaid covers a double electric breast pump through its contracted supplier, Aeroflow, from 28 weeks of pregnancy with a prescription.

Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana Healthcare Programs, October 2026Details

Medicaid for pregnancy in Montana

Yes

162%

of the federal poverty level is the upper income limit

KFF, January 2026

12 mo

of Medicaid coverage after birth

KFF, July 2026

Program
Montana Medicaid
Agency
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Medicaid limit
162% of the poverty level
12-month postpartum coverage since
July 1, 2023
Presumptive eligibility
Yes. A qualified clinic or hospital can enroll you right away.
Apply for Montana Medicaid Check your income
Montana Medicaid income limit by household size162% of 2026 guidelines (48 states and DC)
HouseholdPer yearPer month
2you + 1 baby$35,057$2,921
3$44,258$3,688
4$53,460$4,455
5$62,662$5,222
6$71,863$5,989
7$81,065$6,755

Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting. Gross household income; Montana rounds and updates on its own schedule, so treat these as approximate. Compare every state

Sources: KFF State Health Facts; KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families; KFF; Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Data as of October 2026.

WIC in Montana

Yes

Montana WIC gives pregnant and new parents, babies and children under 5 healthy food, nutrition help and breastfeeding support. You qualify on income at or below 185% of the poverty guidelines, and you may already qualify if you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF.

Program
Montana WIC
Agency
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
Phone
(800) 433-4298
Apply online
Start the online form
Notes
Montana's WIC page sends applicants to signupwic.com, a national WIC sign-up site, to start. The phone number is from USDA's WIC state agency list; the state WIC page did not show it.

  1. Start online or call

    Contact a WIC agency where you live to start, by phone or online. The agency schedules an in-person or virtual appointment to finish the application and nutrition check.

  2. Go to your appointment

    In person or virtual. Staff finish your application and do a free health and nutrition check.
Montana WIC WIC limits for every state
WIC income limits, 48 states and DCJuly 2026 to June 2027
HouseholdPer yearPer month
1$29,526$2,461
2$40,034$3,337
3$50,542$4,212
4$61,050$5,088
5$71,558$5,964
6$82,066$6,839

Gross household income. Count each unborn baby as a household member.

Sources: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; USDA Food and Nutrition Administration; USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Data as of October 2026.

Doula coverage in Montana

Pending

Montana Medicaid doesn't cover doulas yet; a 2025 law allows coverage and doula licensing starts January 1, 2027.

Payment
No Medicaid doula rates published.
Doula certification required
Montana doula license from the Dept. of Labor & Industry (required to practice as a doula starting 1/1/2027)
Notes
SB 319 (Ch. 597, L. 2025) created doula licensing (MCA Title 37, ch. 77) and added 'services of doulas licensed under Title 37, chapter 77' to MCA 53-6-101(4). Those are optional Medicaid services the department 'may, as provided by department rule' cover, so the law allows coverage but does not require it. These provisions sunset 12/31/2030. We found no DPHHS administrative rule, SPA, fee schedule or provider notice for doula coverage; Montana Medicaid's provider-site posting log through 10/2/2026 has no doula items. Advocates expect coverage to start around the end of 2026, and the National Health Law Program reports the state Medicaid agency is working on it, but we found no state rule, notice or committed date.

17

doulas listed in Montana

CMS NPPES and state doula lists

Doulas in MontanaDoula coverage in every state

Sources: National Health Law Program (NHeLP); Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025); Montana Department of Labor & Industry; Montana DPHHS. Data as of October 2026.

Lactation support in Montana

Check

We couldn't confirm Montana's Medicaid lactation coverage from an official source. Check with your Medicaid plan.

We couldn't confirm this from an official source. Check with Montana Medicaid before you count on it.

Notes
No primary source mentions a Montana Medicaid lactation benefit. We checked the Physician-Related Services, Hospital Inpatient, FQHC/RHC and General Information manuals, the current physician fee schedule (no S9443; general preventive counseling codes 99401-99404 are payable but not lactation-specific), 96 provider notices from 2025 and 2026, and the 2026 member guide. KFF's 2021 survey reported hospital-only lactation support.

Montana Medicaid member information

26

lactation consultants listed in Montana

CMS NPPES

Lactation consultants in MontanaLactation coverage in every state

Source: KFF. Data as of October 2026.

Breast pumps through Montana Medicaid

Yes

In Montana, Medicaid covers a double electric breast pump through its contracted supplier, Aeroflow, from 28 weeks of pregnancy with a prescription.

Pump types
personal electric; hospital-grade rental
Prior authorization
Not required
Prescription
Required
When you can get one
At least 28 weeks gestation or currently breastfeeding; one pump per pregnancy and no more than one per year
Notes
Double electric pumps (E0603) come only through the sole-source vendor Aeroflow, Inc., ordered online by the member with a provider prescription faxed to Aeroflow (manual updated 01/29/2025). The July 2026 fee schedule shows no PA for E0603 or E0604. Hospital-grade rental (E0604) requires a listed condition such as a preterm infant, infant feeding difficulty, separation, or multiples, and needs PA beyond 2 months. No manual pump code (E0602) is on the fee schedule.

Montana Medicaid member information

Sources: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana Healthcare Programs; Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; KFF. Data as of October 2026.

Childcare costs in Montana

$11,482

a year ($221 a week), the median for infant care at a center

DOL state estimate, 2022

$9,253

a year ($178 a week) in a family childcare home

DOL state estimate, 2022

Full-time provider prices before any subsidy, in 2022 dollars. The national median for center infant care was $12,647 a year. 56 county infant center prices were not surveyed in 2022; DOL estimated them from the price trend between other survey years.

Center infant care, lowest and highest county2022 prices
CountyPer year
Treasure Countyhighest$13,216
Daniels Countylowest$10,225

56 of 56 counties have a center infant price.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Data as of October 2026.

Questions about having a baby in Montana

What is the income limit for pregnancy Medicaid in Montana?

Montana Medicaid covers pregnancy for household incomes up to 162% of the federal poverty level. At the 2026 poverty guidelines that's about $35,057 a year for a household of two, $44,258 for three and $53,460 for four. Count yourself plus each baby you're expecting.

How long does Medicaid cover you after birth in Montana?

Montana Medicaid covers you for 12 months after the pregnancy ends, a rule in place since July 2023.

What is the WIC income limit in Montana?

From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, Montana WIC uses USDA's limits: $40,034 a year for a household of two, $50,542 for three and $61,050 for four. If you get Medicaid, SNAP or TANF, you may already meet the income rule. Call 1-800-433-4298 to apply.

Does Montana have paid family leave?

Montana has no state paid family leave program, so paid time off after birth depends on your employer; federal FMLA gives eligible workers 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave.

Does Montana Medicaid pay for a doula?

Montana Medicaid doesn't cover doulas yet; a 2025 law allows coverage and doula licensing starts January 1, 2027.

How much does infant daycare cost in Montana?

The median price for full-time infant care at a center in Montana was $221 a week, about $11,482 a year, in 2022 (U.S. Department of Labor). Prices have risen since, so treat it as a floor and look up your county.

Sources

  1. 1.Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Limits for Pregnant Women as a Percent of the Federal Poverty Level (as of January 2026) KFF State Health Facts. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 2.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Prepare for Major Medicaid Policy Changes (Table 2, January 2026) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 3.Medicaid Postpartum Coverage Extension Tracker (as of July 15, 2026) KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 4.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Resume Routine Operations Following the Unwinding (Table 7: Presumptive Eligibility, January 2025) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 5.Montana Medicaid: how to apply Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 6.CMS approval of Montana State Plan Amendment MT-23-0018 (12-month postpartum coverage), effective 2023-07-01 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 7.Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797, Jan. 15, 2026) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 8.Montana WIC (state WIC page) Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 9.Montana WIC: state agency contact USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  10. 10.Montana WIC: online application or interest form Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  11. 11.WIC: 2026/2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines (91 FR 23050, Apr. 29, 2026) USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 12.State Family and Medical Leave Laws (updated November 7, 2025) National Conference of State Legislatures. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 13.State paid family and medical leave contributions and benefits (Feb. 6, 2026) Mercer Law & Policy Group. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  14. 14.State Paid Family & Medical Leave Insurance Laws (chart, April 2026) National Partnership for Women & Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  15. 15.The United States Leave Law Report, Vol. 12 (July 28, 2026) Tilt. Accessed October 9, 2026.
Show all 31 sources
  1. 16.MCA 49-2-310, Maternity leave -- unlawful acts of employers Montana Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  2. 17.MCA 49-2-311, Reinstatement to job following pregnancy-related leave of absence Montana Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  3. 18.MCA 49-2-101, Definitions (Montana Human Rights Act) Montana Legislature. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  4. 19.29 CFR 825.110 Eligible employee Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  5. 20.Doula Medicaid Project: state-by-state chart of doula Medicaid efforts (last updated Sep. 2026) National Health Law Program (NHeLP). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  6. 21.MCA 53-6-101, Montana medicaid program: authorization of services Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  7. 22.MCA Title 37, Chapter 77, Doulas (Ch. 597, L. 2025) Montana Legislature (Montana Code Annotated 2025). Accessed October 9, 2026.
  8. 23.Montana Doula Program (licensing) Montana Department of Labor & Industry. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  9. 24.Montana Medicaid provider website: 2026 Documents Posted Year to Date (through 10/02/2026) Montana DPHHS. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  10. 25.Medicaid Coverage of Pregnancy-Related Services: Findings from a 2021 State Survey KFF. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  11. 26.Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Medical Supplies Manual Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana Healthcare Programs. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  12. 27.July 2026 DME Services Fee Schedule Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Montana Healthcare Programs. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  13. 28.Montana Healthcare Programs Medicaid and HMK Plus Member Guide 2026 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  14. 29.National Database of Childcare Prices: 2008-2022 (Data File) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  15. 30.National Database of Childcare Prices Technical Report (September 2024) U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.
  16. 31.National Database of Childcare Prices: State-Level Estimates and Affordability Rankings 2022 U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau. Accessed October 9, 2026.

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