How much does it cost to give birth in USA?

Asked by: Mr. Frederik Senger Jr.  |  Last update: October 26, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (74 votes)

(No insurance) Total average hospital bill for a regular birth: $30,000. (No insurance) Total average hospital bill with a c-section: $50,000. (With insurance) Total average hospital bill for a regular birth: $3,400. (With insurance) Total average hospital bill with a c-section:$3,400.

Why is giving birth in America so expensive?

A recent analysis by KFF found that people who give birth are, on average, paying over $3,000 in out-of-pocket costs after giving birth. There are a number of reasons why birth care is so expensive in the U.S., including: Limited access to maternity and reproductive health care. High deductible health plans.

How much does a C-section cost?

The national median allowed value for insured, in-network C-sections was 16,943 U.S. dollars in 2023, less than half the cost for uninsured patients. Even with insurance, costs vary widely by state, with New Jersey again having the highest median allowed value at 26,900 U.S. dollars.

Is childbirth covered by insurance in the USA?

Health coverage if you're pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or recently gave birth. All Marketplace and Medicaid plans cover pregnancy and childbirth. This is true even if your pregnancy begins before your coverage starts.

What is the cheapest way to give birth?

7 Since home births don't involve facility costs or medication, they are generally cheaper than hospital births. However, many insurance plans don't cover home births, meaning families may have to pay healthcare providers out of pocket.

How much it costs for baby Delivery in USA? Most Informative video, Delivery Expenses

18 related questions found

What is the 48-96 rule?

The attending provider may decide, after consulting with the mother, to discharge the mother and/or her newborn child earlier. The attending provider cannot receive incentives or disincentives to discharge the mother or her child earlier than 48 hours (or 96 hours).

How much does an epidural cost?

Many people giving birth vaginally in the U.S. receive epidural, spinal, or combined anesthesia. The procedure is common and included in average costs associated with delivery. For uninsured people, the cost of an epidural can range from about $1,000 to over $8,000.

Do doctors get paid more for C sections?

A doctor and an economist note that doctors are generally paid quite a bit more for a C-section than for a vaginal birth. Every day, roughly 10,000 babies are born in the United States, and about a third of them are born via Cesarean section.

How much is a hospital bill after having a baby with insurance?

The average cost of having a baby with insurance is $6,940, which includes the cost of labor, delivery and medical care for you and your newborn. How much you'll pay depends on your plan, the hospital you use and how you give birth.

How much does the US pay to hold a baby after birth?

This is a bill for a recent labor and delivery service in the United States. And it includes a $39.35 charge for holding the baby after delivery. Really. The image of the bill, now shared widely on Reddit, shows a charge for “skin to skin after c sec.” The Reddit user who posted it explained more in a few comments.

Do doctors save the mother or the baby?

However, the physician shall make reasonable medical efforts under the circumstances to preserve both the life of the mother and the life of her unborn child in a manner consistent with reasonable medical practice.”

Do you get money for having a baby?

Best Start Grant – Pregnancy and Baby Payment

The Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment is a cash payment to help eligible parents and carers when they're pregnant or have a new baby. You may be able to get this payment if: you're under 18. you're aged 18 or 19 and someone is getting benefits for you or.

How do people afford giving birth?

Maternity coverage is considered an essential health benefit. Under the ACA, pregnancy, labor, delivery, and newborn baby care must be covered by all health insurance plans offered to individuals, families, and small groups. If you don't have insurance, there might be state or local programs that could help with costs.

Does a baby get a separate hospital bill?

It's important to note that some hospitals might bill your care and your baby's care separately. In my case, everything was combined into one bill, but depending on your provider, you might have to keep an eye out for two separate invoices, and be prepared to go through this process twice.

Do doctors prefer natural birth or C-section?

Vaginal birth is much safer than a C-section for most women and babies. Sometimes a C-section is the only safe option, like when the baby is positioned side-to-side in the belly (transverse lie) or the placenta is covering the cervix (placenta previa).

Who gets the most C-sections?

During 2021-2023 (average) in the United States, Cesarean delivery rates were highest for Black infants (36.8%), followed by Asian/Pacific Islanders (33.5%), Hispanics (31.8%), Whites (31.1%) and American Indian/Alaska Natives (29.4%).

How painful is birth without epidural?

The most common description of the level of pain experienced was extreme menstrual cramps (45 percent), while 16 percent said it was like bad back pain and 15 percent compared it to a broken bone.

How much out of pocket to have a baby?

Pregnancies that resulted in a vaginal delivery averaged $14,768, compared with $26,280 for those involving a cesarean section. Insurance pays most of that. The study reported out-of-pocket expenses of $2,655, on average, for vaginal delivery. The average balance for a C-section was $3,214.

Is epidural 100% pain free?

Most women experience great pain relief with an epidural, but it may not be 100% pain-free. Many women report feeling pretty comfortable after receiving an epidural, but there's also some pressure felt when the contractions occur and you need to push.

Can a hospital legally keep your baby after birth?

Whatever the situation, the answer is: Yes. Leaving baby at hospital is legally an option for most parents.

Does insurance pay for a C-section?

Generally, most insurance plans cover C-sections, especially when medically necessary. However, the definition of “medical necessity” can be a gray area, often leading to disputes between healthcare providers and insurance companies.

What benefits do you receive when you have a baby in the USA?

Here are just some of the things parents may be able to receive:
  • Additional medical coverage for you and/or your child.
  • Financial and housing assistance.
  • Help buying nutritious food.
  • Workplace protections, including family leave and breaks for pumping milk.
  • Child care.