![]() ![]() ![]() Experts say that the rising cost of having a child has driven it ever lower, although people choosing to spend longer focusing on their career and social life is also a factor The above graph shows how the US birth rate is continuing to drop. He added: 'The lower prices may also be a reflection of the reimbursement rates negotiated between plans and providers in the South and the relative negotiating power of the parties.' On Alabama, he said this was a state with 'a relatively low cost of living that translates generally into lower cost of healthcare'. Robin Gelburd, the president of FAIR Health, said that Alaska's high prices were due to its 'remote geography and practice settings, cost of travel and potential lack of access to practitioners and relevant facilities.' ![]() It also has a low population density, which can result in less demand for healthcare - which would also help to push down prices. This is likely driven by the state having a lower cost of living and, as a result, being able to charge less for healthcare than in other areas. Women giving birth in these areas may also face higher insurance premiums and deductibles due to the higher cost of living, also inflating prices.Īt the other end of the scale were the southern states - particularly Alabama - for both vaginal deliveries and C-sections. This may be linked to it having a higher quality healthcare system, with hospitals there often ranking among the best in the country, alongside the higher cost of living in the area. The cost of giving birth is also higher in the New York metropolitan area - New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The costs of giving birth in Alaska are also forced by its high cost of living, with people needing to earn more to live comfortably in the state. This leads to higher costs for getting vital medical supplies to the state, while the limited competition - due to fewer providers - allows those there to charge more. The cheapest state was Alabama, priced at $8,913, with Louisiana second at $8,995 and Maryland third at $9,856.Īlaska is one of the most expensive places for healthcare in the United States, including giving birth, partly because of its geographical isolation. The state was followed by New Jersey, also at $25,000, New York ($22,353) and Connecticut ($29,956) regarding C-section costs. Rounding out the top five were New Jersey ($18,688), Connecticut ($17,387) and Massachusetts ($16,731).Īt the other end of the scale, there was Alabama ($7,840), Louisiana ($7,981) and Maryland ($9,183).Īlaska was also the most expensive state for C-sections, with the procedure priced at more than $25,000. The costs were calculated for people who did not face complications, with those that do likely to face a larger bill.īroken down by state, the most expensive for vaginal delivery was Alaska ($21,525) and New York ($19,990). However, those who come to healthcare systems without insurance face much higher costs. Major insurance groups like Cigna and Aetna negotiate the price of a birth or C-section with insurance companies, with patients later required to pay only a percentage of the total. Patients will likely only need to pay a fraction of the total costs out-of-pocket - typically $2,500 to $3,000, with insurance companies footing the rest. The analysis calculated figures for people with health insurance, comprising 92 percent of the population and those without. These were claims for the actual birth - such as renting the labor room - and for tests afterward - like fetal stress and any scans. The map comes as the number of births per year continues to trend downwards in the US, with many now waiting until later in life to have children.įor the analysis, FAIR Health looked at its database of 41billion claims - the largest in the US - and included those linked to giving birth in 2022. On the other hand, states with a lower cost of living tended to have lower price tags for giving birth. Some states were more expensive because of their high cost of living and the fact that they had nationally renowned healthcare providers. The situation was worst for uninsured patients, who could face costs upwards of $50,000 for giving birth in the country. The costs ranged by as much as $13,000 for a vaginal delivery depending on where someone lives, with Alaska and New Jersey charging up to $21,000 for birth, while in Alabama and Louisiana, the price for the same procedure could be below $8,000. America's postcode lottery for the price of giving birth has been revealed in interactive maps.īased on data from healthcare insurance claims analyst FAIR Health, they show how the national average stands at $12,900 for a vaginal delivery and $15,500 for a C-section. ![]()
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