Giving birth in the United States doesn’t come cheap, with the average expense reaching about $4,500—even for those with insurance. Recent studies reveal that the financial burden of childbirth has surged by nearly 50% over the past seven years, leaving many families grappling with substantial medical bills, despite being covered by employer-sponsored health plans.
Rising Costs of Maternity Care
A study featured in the January 2020 issue of Health Affairs examined over 650,000 women who delivered between 2008 and 2015, focusing on trends in maternity care costs for those with employer-based insurance. The findings were startling: in 2015, insured women typically faced out-of-pocket expenses of around $4,500 for labor and delivery, compared to just over $3,000 in 2008. “It’s shocking to see how much these costs have increased,” said Dr. Sarah Mitchell, an assistant professor at a leading university and the study’s primary author. “Most of my patients are caught off guard by such high bills, especially when they are preparing for a new baby.”
Financial Burden on Families
These costs have become so high that for women on these plans—which cover roughly half of all U.S. births—the total expenses for childbirth can exceed an entire month’s salary. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average full-time worker earns just above $41,000 a year, translating to about $3,400 a month.
Interestingly, the Affordable Care Act aimed to improve maternity care coverage, yet the reality remains that insurance companies still pass on certain costs to patients through co-pays and deductibles. Between 2008 and 2015, the average deductible rose from a little over $1,500 to nearly $2,500, while coinsurance increased by about $300. “I was taken aback by how nearly all women had some out-of-pocket costs for maternity care—98% were affected by the end of our study,” Dr. Mitchell noted.
The Impact on Uninsured Women
It’s worth mentioning that these figures reflect the average costs for insured women. For those without insurance, expenses can soar to approximately $32,000, an alarming figure highlighted by various sources. “Most people don’t have savings set aside for unexpected healthcare costs, and with 45% of U.S. pregnancies being unplanned, many women are blindsided by these expenses,” Dr. Mitchell added.
Advocating for Change
Dr. Mitchell hopes her research will draw attention to the escalating costs of childbirth and advocate for better protections for women in the U.S. “The U.S. is currently the only high-income nation with a rising maternal mortality rate. It’s imperative that we implement policies to reduce or fully eliminate out-of-pocket costs for maternity care. Every family deserves access to essential health services without the fear of debt.”
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Conclusion
In summary, the financial landscape surrounding childbirth in America is increasingly daunting, even for those with insurance. With rising costs and the reality of unexpected expenses, more support and policy changes are necessary to ease the burden on families.