How Much Does It Cost to Have a Baby?

Having a baby is one of the most natural things in the world, but if you live in the United States and do not have medical insurance, becoming pregnant could quickly be a financial nightmare. With the average cost of just giving birth around $10,000, which does not include any pre- or post-pregnancy care, it is not hard to understand why.

Why Does it Cost So Much to Have a Baby?

There is quite a lot of care involved when it comes to having a baby – from the initial confirmation right up until giving birth. The cost varies from state to state and depends on whether the birth is straightforward or not. If there are any complications, the price can rise dramatically, running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately for many people, not all of these unexpected costs will be covered by an insurance policy.

Some with private medical insurance policies will still need to pay thousands of dollars associated with partially reimbursed services, deductibles, and co-pays. Thankfully though, those on low incomes are now covered by Medicaid, which will cover almost all the costs associated with giving birth.

Is There a Way to Decrease the Costs of Giving Birth?

Even if you have a private medical insurance policy, there may be certain costs associated with having a baby that are not covered. If possible, it is best to know what is covered by your insurance policy before you get pregnant. You should not assume that everything will be covered.

The experts at Find-A-Code.com (https://www.findacode.com/index.html) recommend that you speak to someone from your insurance provider and ask about deductibles and co-pays for yourself and your newborn. You can get a list of the procedures that are covered and then use their website for diagnostic code lookup, which will make it easier to complete the insurance form when the time comes.

Whether you are part covered by insurance or are paying out of your own pocket, there are ways to keep the costs of having a baby down. If you are paying yourself, you might be able to agree a price with your medical provider by paying up front. It would also be wise to shop around for better prices before agreeing on a specific practitioner.

Another area where costs can be saved is in prenatal care. If this is your first child, you will likely just accept any treatment that is offered, not knowing whether it is actually necessary or not. For example, in some private clinics, a monthly ultrasound may be performed, which is certainly not necessary in a straightforward pregnancy.

Before you allow any procedures such as blood tests, or ultrasounds, find out the cost and whether it is absolutely necessary in your situation. In some instances, doctors will order tests that are not necessary for every patient, simply because they are available. It may be that certain tests are not covered by your insurance, which means you will be expected to foot the bill yourself.

If your pregnancy is considered low risk, you may want to think about having your child in a birth center or at home as this will certainly be less expensive than giving birth in hospital.

Knowledge is Key

You can avoid surprise costs associated with giving birth by finding out as much as you can about what treatments you might require and whether your insurance policy will cover them for you. Preferably before you get pregnant, do your research, and look around to try to obtain a good deal with a reputable obstetrician. As with everything else, it pays to shop around.