The total cost of baby delivery typically consists of: the services of the obstetrician/gynecologist and pediatrician; services of the anesthesiologist and epidural, if used; the cost of your stay in the hospital room and board; a nursery fee; laboratory fees; and any medications or medical supplies. If you are insured, your insurance provider probably will receive the itemized bill, but you might receive separate non-itemized statements from the hospital and the different doctors.
Typical costs:
The biggest factors affecting the cost of a birth are: whether it is vaginal or Cesarean; whether there are complications; and the length of the hospital stay. Geographical location also plays a part; baby delivery is most expensive in the Northeast and on the West coast and least expensive in the south. For patients not covered by health insurance, the typical cost of a vaginal delivery without complications ranges from about $9,000 to $17,000 or more, depending on geographic location and whether there is a discount for uninsured patients. The typical cost for a C-section without complications or a vaginal delivery with complications ranges from about $14,000 to $25,000 or more.
For patients with insurance, out-of-pocket costs usually range from under $500 to $3,000 or more, depending on the plan. Out-of-pocket expenses typically include copays -- usually $15 to $30 for a doctor visit and about $200 to $500 for inpatient services for delivery. Some insurance plans only cover a percentage -- usually about 80 to 90 percent after a deductible is met, so you can easily end up reaching your yearly out-of-pocket maximum. In most plans, that ranges from about $1,500 to $3,000. According to a study by the March of Dimes Foundation, the average out-of-pocket cost for a vaginal delivery for privately insured patients was $463 and for a C-section, $523.
Usually, the baby receives a separate bill, which typically ranges from $1,500 to $4,000 for a healthy baby delivered at term. For a premature baby with complications who has to spend weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit, this bill can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Baby delivery usually is covered by health insurance. Even if you join a group health insurance plan after you already are pregnant, delivery still will be covered; according to the U.S. Department of Labor, the federal government prohibits group health insurance plans from treating pregnancy as a pre-existing condition, or, if they offer maternity coverage, from refusing to cover prenatal care or childbirth. However, individual health insurance plans can legally treat pregnancy as a pre-existing condition, so baby delivery probably will not be covered if you join one while pregnant. If you are insured, it is very important to check with the insurance company about their requirements; some companies require you to "pre-authorize" coverage for your baby, and some require that you call them when you arrive at the hospital to deliver -- if you forget, they might refuse to cover the delivery or your newborn's care.
What should be included:
After delivery, the baby will be examined by your doctor or a pediatrician. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services gives an overview of the immediate medical attention a baby needs right after birth.
You probably will stay in the hospital one to two days, if you delivered vaginally, or three to four days, if you had a Cesarean delivery.
Additional costs:
Induction of labor, usually with drugs, costs extra. FamilyDoctor.org offers an overview of labor induction.
A private room can cost several hundred dollars extra per day out-of-pocket.
Discounts:
Usually, the services of a midwife are about one-third less expensive than those of an obstetrician/gynecologist.
Some doctors or midwives will negotiate a discounted package rate for prenatal care, or prenatal care combined with delivery, for a patient paying out-of-pocket. And some hospitals will give you a discount on their part of the fee -- as much as 25 percent -- if you pay your bill at one time rather than in payments.
If you have chosen a doctor or midwife, you usually will deliver at the hospital where they have admitting privileges; so, check out the hospital well in advance of the birth. BabyCenter.com offers a guide to choosing a hospital.
As an alternative to hospitals, some patients choose a birth center; these usually have a more home-like environment than a hospital, allow multiple visitors, offer amenities such as Jacuzzis and offer transfer to a nearby hospital in case of complications. BabyCenter.com has information on birth centers. And the American Association of Birth Centers has a locator by state.
Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. For medical decisions, always consult your physician for the right course for your infant or child.
Posted by: whosyourdaddy in Seoul South Korea, Other.
Posted: July 18th, 2010 09:07PM
Hospital: Seoul Asan Hospital
Your Insurer: Korean National Health Care
Type of Plan: Korean Ministry of Health
The cost of delivery was more expensive than usual due to the fact that it was done in the university hospital. Our baby had a cleft lip and normal OBGYN's in our small town wouldn't deliver. Most deliveries here are performed in private OBG clinics above the doctor's office. Hospitals only take referred troubled cases. The average cost for delivery is about $1200 and the normal out of pocket is $300. The total cost for delivery in the countries premiere hospital (ranked 80th in the world) was $2,500 and an out of pocket of $1,300. This included induction, delivery, some Xrays and lab tests, EKG, epesiotomy, room and board, and medication. The child had a separate bill of $500. This included an echocardiogram and a special needs feeder, plus hearing and health tests. No circumcision though. On another note, the child requires plastic surgery for cleft lip and an indentation on the gum line. This surgery is covered by Korean National Health insurance and the total cost is unknown to me, but I called the Korean Ministry of Health and they told me my out of pocket would be about $1,100. They told me my wife's delivery would only cost $800 and the final cost was $1,300, so I will plan on at least $2000 to be safe as they won't discharge a patient here unless the bill is paid in full!!! That's kind of crazy, since if you couldn't afford the bill at the moment of delivery, how are you going to afford it 2 days later after additional charges. It's just Korean logic. Doesn't always work well. But, the total cost was actually quite good and the level of care was modern and high tech in quality. While I still had complaints, I shouldn't complain too much looking at the other bills here.
I had an emergency c/s and we only paid a $20 copay for my very first OB visit. All u/s and tests were covered 100%. Our deductible was $500.00 for the c/s and we never received a NICU bill. All of our babies well child exams are included in this until she is 2 years old, including vaccinations.
My baby came unexpectantly at home. We went to the hospital afterwards (by ambulance-$1200 for me + $1400 baby). The MW literally just looked at me and said everything is ok down there then I was transferred to postpartum. I was there for 1 day. I have a $250 deductible and 10% thereafter. I had my first baby in Atl (piedmont hospital) with epidural, induction w/ pitocin, 3 day stay for me, 5 day stay for daughter with jaundice receiving phototherapy. The total cost under same insurance plan out of pocket was only $500 and then $67 for epidural. Baylor All Saints was SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. I was appalled at the price difference and wonder if this is all of DFW or just Baylor All Saints.
Type of Plan: HMO Silver Network aka Bottom of Barrel
The epidural cost me an extra $200 out of pocket. Insurance covered $1,792.00 of that bill. The total charges for the hospital stay were $16,500.00 and I didn't stay as long as my first pregnancy which was way cheaper (about $5k)! The view wasn't nearly as good either and the hospital was under construction. I can't believe how much more expensive this was! CRAZY! I had a C-Section at Hoag Memorial Presbyterian Hospital and the total charges were $12,500.00. That was only 2 years ago and we had to pay $250 out of pocket. My husband had a different job with better insurance at the time. It was Cigna.
If you're not making enough, consider applying for Moms & Babies with the Illinois Dept of Human Services. I never received a bill at home, never had to pay any copays, did not pay for any Dr's office visits, hospital stay, or baby's visits/immunizations. Awesome! I'm appalled at how much hospitals are charging!!!
Total bill for my delivery and prenatal appointments and ultrasounds was $16,762.70. Highmark paid $14,700 and Gateway picked up $1800. I had to pay $270 out of my pocket at the beginning of my pregnancy (before I picked up Gateway Insurance).
Posted by: Lexington Park, MD in Lexington Park, MD.
Posted: November 9th, 2010 11:11AM
Hospital: St. Mary's
Your Insurer: Carefirst Blue Cross
Type of Plan: HMO
My wife has the BEST insurance from being a school teacher. We didn't pay a cent to have our first child. I'm scared about the next one though since she will be off her plan and on mine which is worse. I am trying to decide whether to stay in my HDHP HSA plan or go back to an HMO.
I am 5 week pregnant and just found out my Golden Rule _united health will pay only 4000 dollars for my delivery, but not any treatment during pregnancy...never get this insurance, I dissappointed. I paid quarterly payment of around 800 dollars for one year 500 dollars whole 3 months and never got benefit of the plan.
On a $500 deductible + 80/20 plan. Pregnancy will cost me about $3k out of pocket. I think it is absoultely outrageous...a childbirth should not cost that much even after insurance. I don't have $3k to spend and only have about $30 a month that I can afford to pay. Honestly, with the amounts that these guys charge, they should be happy getting 80% of a super overinflated bill in the first place.
People like to blame insurance companies, and I can see that after all they do try to not pay and expect us to pay them and to pay the providers who insurance is supposed to pay, but these hospitals charge such astronomical rates for these things that it's absolutely unfeasible to say that health care reform starts and stops with insurance. 30,000 for delivering a child makes me want to just stay home with a midwife and deliver. Then charging the infant son with the nursery stay, or charging children with 10's of thousands of dollars in medical bills is wrong. Not everything in this country needs to be capitalistic.
We have health insurance through my husband's job and we pay approximately $320.00 a month for it. Insurance pays 80% AFTER deductable is met, we pay 20% plus copays plus the whole deductable first, up to a yearly out of pocket maximum of $5,000 which they recently bumped up to $6,500. So the most we will pay in a given year is now $6,500 on top of the $320 per month and on top of deductable and copays. I had a C. delivery of twins and lots and lots of prenatal care due to twin pregnancy. Really I got 2 for the price of 1 (sorta). It was like a 50% discount on baby #2.
with all my deliveries we were in the military so we were very lucky. It only cost us 9.00 per day & that was only to cover the cost of meals. It didnt matter if it was for delivering babies or having any type of surgery like when i had my hysterectomy the bill was 68,000.00! My share - 27.00. Life was great when we were active duty. Now is a different story altogether. Now we have tricare-extra plus united health care neither one of them cooperate with the other so nobody pays the bill then i get charged for them. Its crazy and who knows how much either will charge. Right now i have almost 17,000.00 in past due dr. Bills & hospital bills. @ this rate i wont pay it off til im dead!
Just found out I have NO maternity coverage with plan
Amount: $0.00 not covered by insurance
Posted by: Heather in Houston in Houston, TX.
Posted: April 7th, 2011 03:04PM
Hospital: UNK
Your Insurer: CIGNA
Type of Plan: PPO
I am 16 wks and just found out that we have zero maternity coverage. Apparently in Texas there are no private health plans that offer maternity coverage. Has anyone else encountered this? We thought we were being diligent and responsible citizens by privately insuring ourselves but now we are just scared at how much having the baby is going to cost us.
We are self-employed and have private medical coverage. After doing some math, we opted not to purchase the optional maternity rider. It worked out fine for us. I estimated that we would have paid about the same with or without maternity coverage. Our insurance is required by law to cover pregnancy complications (which I didn't have - but it would have covered them). Our OB gave us a package price for 13 appointments, basic testing & delivery, and then we had an additional bill from the hospital. We would have paid less if we had group coverage through an employer, but private health coverage is just crazy expensive! I just found out I'm pregnant again, and we're going the same route.
Paid $2000 upfront to Midwife, delivered at home which was absolutely the best experience. Insurance reimbursed me 70% of cost for an "out-of-network" provider so total cost was $600. I will do it again when I have more kids. (Delivered December 2010)
We recently had our 6th home birth. I (daddy) delivered just like the last three. We had great midwives for the first three and they were great about educating us and we felt confident that birth was not a medical emergency that required hospitals, inconvenienced doctors, or ridiculous bills. So yes, for about $3 (cost of an umbilical clamp) our birth experiences are quite affordable. Other misc. expenses-blood pressure cuff, doppler, (to monitor fetal heartbeat) urinalysis strips, iron test kits, circumcision, and immunizations.
We are still getting bills after 8 weeks but it is already > 40k. We had to meet the out of pocket maximum of 3k for mom, and then again for baby. The only nice thing was we didnt have to reach the deductible first for the baby, but we easily would have with his bill over 17k. This is absolutely outrageous for a fully insured family. Thankfully we have a healthy baby but wtf is up with the expense?
Flat fee is $150, regardless of complications or type of delivery. Insurance covers everything at 100% with no deductible or co-insurance. Costs me $65/paycheck (every other week). Totally worth it!
We were shocked at both HOW MUCH we had to pay out of pocket after insurance, and by HOW MANY people send you a separate bill. all these are after insurance:
Obstetrician - $1428.70
Prenatal Vitamins - $360
Hospital bill for Mother - $1,067.50
Anesthesia bill (separate from hospital bill, charged by both though, ughhh) - $429
Hospital bill for baby - $1,833.57
Pediatrician for checking and discharging baby - $394
Separate bill from Hearing testing company - $150
after looking at that list of people who stick their grubby hands in your wallet, you'd think our baby had complications or required special care. Couldnt be further from the truth. We had an excellent labor. Baby was going on 9 days past due date, so we went in for a scheduled delivery/induction. OB broke bag of waters, labor progressed naturally from there. 12 hour labor w/ Stadol, then an epidural. Baby was completely healthy, required zero additional care. We stayed for only two nights too.
Type of Plan: Free universal health care in Ireland
I have no insurance but pay taxes. The state of Ieland in return provides free health care to all. Some fees apply unless you are a medical card holder. However pregnancy is exempted from all fees.
The care I've received:
GP visits: all free - about 15 throughout the pregnancy
Midwife appointments: 6, all free.
scans: 3 - all free.
Glucose Tolerance Test: 1 - free
antenatal classes: 5 - free
breastfeeding class : 1 - free
inducement: free
vacuum delivery, with episiotomy: free
pain relief: pethidine injection and entonox: free
Hospital stay: three nights - free. Regular visits from midwives, doctors and lactation consultants as often as I called for them.
Visit from the public health nurse to check on baby's progress: 2 so far - free. I also have her phone number and address of drop in centre to see her with any question or worry I might have.
Other services available to me for free: physiotherapy classes, follow up visits at the hospital, GP visits for baby'svaccines.
My insurance did not cover the pregnancy. So we contacted best OBGYN and told we are self pay. He offered 9 month routine check plus delivery plus 6 month post partum visit for $2200 (to be paid in 6 installments) ($300 more for C section). I spoke with hospital where he was practicing and they offered me a self pay plan for $3500 (normal vaginal delivery, 1 night stay with $700 for additional night), $1000 extra for every additional child, $700 for epidural, if C section, hospital charges will be $6800. Terms were so clearly spelt, that I did not had to go through insurance hastles and coverage denial/ copay/ co-insurance/ out of pocket/ other nonsense I had to face for my first delivery.
I can't believe how much labor & delivery costs have increased for us over the years. Baby #1 (born 2002) cost less than $2K, baby #2 (2005) cost $2.5K and baby #3 (2008) cost $3k. Now baby #4 has been born (2012) & our insurance claims are saying we owe $5200 so far & they haven't even processed my OB's claim yet.
- $1800 hospital bill for baby
- $250 pediatrician bill
- $700 anesthesiologist bill
- $2500 hospital bill for me
- $? OB bill
All my past deliveries were natural, but baby #4 was a c-section. However, I don't remember receiving such high bills for just the baby before. His bills alone were $2K this time & he was perfectly healthy.
Our plan has a $2500 per person/$4500 per family deductible & $2500/$4500 co-insurance (80/20?) amount that has to be paid by us after the deductible has been met, as well. We're already paying over $200 a month towards our insurance premium, too.
Great benefits, right? And, my husband works for a union.
I don't know how we're going to pay these medical bills. Hubby took a huge pay cut at work recently & we're already having trouble paying our other bills.
We got pregnant before we could add on a maternity rider and had to self pay. Prenatal visits w/ my midwife was discounted to $2750, about $375/per prenatal visit with a $500 down payment. $80 for 20wk ultrasound, and $3000 for hospital costs. We plan on paying cash again, as my l&d have been uncomplicated vaginal deliveries w/o epidural. And we live in NC now... was curious about their costs.
30.00 Co-pay, 30% of Hospital bill w/ $3000.00 max
Amount: $3,150.00 not covered by insurance
Posted by: Lorena C in Los Angeles, CA.
Posted: January 7th, 2013 02:01PM
Hospital: 2,700.00
Your Insurer: Health Net
Type of Plan: HMO
My job did not take anything out of checks for insurance coverage, but I had a steep co-pay(paid $450.00 total) and had to pay 30% of my hospital which totaled $2700.00
I had an ER c-section after my son flatlined during the try to give a vaginal birth. 4 days hospital stay and $1800 less in the pocket (I still pay this off). But I don't care. My son is healthy and alive. Nothing else really matters.
I have double bills because I attempted an out of hospital birth with midwives and baby didnt progress after 30 hours so ended up having a cesarean birth.
We were surprised to find out after the delivery that the baby would have his own deductible and $500/per day hospital co pay. And I thought I studied and planned and asked all the right questions!
Add to the fact baby was born right after the first of the year and I had to start over on my deductible!
The bills showed charges for facilities, professional fees, meds, tests, labs, doctors visits and amount of tiolet paper used(joking).
I think it's really shady that no one can ever tell you how much these things will cost before you make the charges. It's like the medical billing and coding are intentionally convoluted. AArrgghh
Luckily they agreed to take $340/mo with no interest charged.