How much does it cost to have a baby in America?

Asked by: Jennings Wintheiser  |  Last update: January 13, 2024
Score: 4.2/5 (75 votes)

Average Cost of Childbirth in the US
Giving birth costs $18,865 on average, including pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) Health System Tracker. Health insurance can cover most of that cost. But what if you don't have health insurance?

How much does it cost to have a baby in the US without insurance?

How Much Does It Cost to Have a Baby in the U.S. Without Insurance? The cost of childbirth can vary depending on the type of birth and geographic location within America, but for those without insurance it can cost around $13,000 to $14,000. 2 If you have complications that price can skyrocket.

How much do Americans pay for a baby?

Get Ready to Pay a Big Bill. The average cost of child birth in the US is $18,865. Having a baby is expensive in the US, and not even a good insurance plan will pick up the full tab. A new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the average cost of childbirth in the US is $18,865 under large insurance plans.

Is it expensive to give birth in the US?

The average cost of childbirth is $13,024 for a vaginal delivery without insurance. But with a Silver health insurance plan, the average cost of pregnancy care and delivery is $6,940. Here we'll cover the average cost of childbirth — from both sticker price to allowable amounts under health insurance plans.

Is having a baby covered by insurance USA?

Yes. Routine prenatal, childbirth, and newborn care services are essential benefits. And all qualified health insurance plans must cover them, even if you were pregnant before your health coverage started.

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Why is giving birth so expensive?

According to The Atlantic, the reason why having a baby is more expensive than it used to be is a rise in large deductibles. Again, a deductible is the amount of money that you have to pay before your insurance will even start to pay. It's common for deductibles to be in the thousands of dollars.

What insurance is best for pregnancy?

If you're pregnant, it's often best to get health insurance through the ACA Marketplace (or your state's healthcare exchange) or coverage through Medicaid. Maternity and newborn care are considered essential health benefits, which means they must be included in qualified health plans sold on the Marketplace.

What is the cheapest way to give birth?

Birth center births and home births are typically less expensive than hospital births,4 because there are no high-risk procedures done; only low-risk parents are eligible. So you save money by not having to pay for those procedures outright, or for any fees involved in the event you'd need them.

Which states are cheap to give birth in USA?

Average Out-of-Pocket Cost of Hospital Delivery, 2020

Pennsylvania ($1,249), Delaware ($1,271) and South Carolina ($1,344) were also among the most affordable states to have a baby. In Washington, D.C., the average cost was $1,026.

Does an epidural cost extra?

For uninsured people, the cost of an epidural can range from about $1,000 to over $8,000.

How expensive is it to raise a child in the US?

Raising a child is expensive. From the day your baby is born until the day they turn 18, your family will spend about $310,605 — or about $17,000 a year, according to a new Brookings Institution analysis of data from the U.S. Agriculture Department.

How much are baby expenses per month?

It's also possible to save on some big-ticket items if you're lucky enough to have a baby shower, friends who've had babies and can lend you clothes, or parents or in-laws who want to chip in. Monthly, you could safely plan on spending between $250 (no child care) and $1500 (with child care) a month on your baby.

How much does it cost to raise a baby in the first year?

For newborns, the cost is higher. Some studies show numbers ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 for the child's first year of life, depending on location and household income. Beyond the general items, like a stroller, crib, or car seat, here are some estimates of what you can expect to shell out in your baby's first year.

Is 2023 a good year to have a baby?

The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. Chinese astrologists believe the year of the Rabbit is a good one for giving birth.

What are the benefits of giving birth in the US?

The benefits of a U.S. childbirth
  • American citizenship and a Social Security number.
  • Visa-free entry to 169 different countries.
  • Grants while enrolling in major U.S. educational institutions.
  • Access to multiple credit resources after age 21.
  • Voluntary military service (with adequate pay and benefits)

How much does it cost to have a baby in Japan?

Cost of Childbirth in Japan

On average, you can expect to pay between 500,000 and 600,000 yen (roughly $3,000 to $4000 USD) for a single birth. However, the government provides a subsidy worth 420,000 yen ($2800 USD), which will cover most of the cost.

How do people afford to give birth in America?

American families rarely shoulder the full costs of childbirth on their own – but still pay far more than in other industrialized nations. Nearly half of American mothers are covered by Medicaid, a program available to low income households that covers nearly all birth costs.

What is the safest state to have a baby in?

Massachusetts topped the report's list of the best states to have a baby, receiving high marks for its quality of healthcare and family-friendliness. Following the Bay State were Vermont, Rhode Island, Minnesota and New Hampshire.

What is the most expensive state to give birth in?

Most Expensive State: Alaska

According to the survey, Alaska is the most expensive state to have a baby in because the total cost, including health insurance, childcare, and childbirth expenses, is more than $37,000. This considers insurance costs of $6,864 and childbirth expenses of $19,294.

How much will I lose when I give birth?

How much weight do you lose after giving birth? Once baby has been delivered (along with their accompanying placenta and amniotic fluid), most women lose an average of 10 to 13 pounds. First week after delivery: You'll probably continue losing weight with the loss of retained fluids.

How much should I save for childbirth?

Average cost of childbirth

First, you'll probably have to pay some out-of-pocket expenses for your pre-natal care and delivery, even if you have insurance. A normal pregnancy typically costs between $30,000 and $50,000 without insurance, and averages $4,500 with coverage.

Where is the cheapest place to have a baby in the US?

Following Arkansas, the five least expensive states to have a baby in are Alabama, Mississippi, New Mexico and Kentucky.

Will insurance cover me if I already pregnant?

At that time, many health plans considered pregnancy a pre-existing condition. Health plans can no longer deny you coverage if you are pregnant. That's true whether you get insurance through your employer or buy it on your own. What's more, health plans cannot charge you more to have a policy because you are pregnant.

What can you get free from insurance when pregnant?

What health care services are covered for a pregnant woman?
  • All prenatal care visits with no co-pay. Prenatal care is medical care you get during pregnancy. ...
  • Labor and birth services.
  • Breastfeeding help with no co-pay. ...
  • Birth Control.

Are epidurals covered by insurance?

When it comes to an epidural, it's important to make sure that your anesthesiologist is in-network. This way you don't get hit with any unexpected costs. Most general medications will be covered, to some extent, by your insurance. However, some might need a prior authorization.