How much did your pregnancy and birth cost you?

Question

In regards to my previous question tonight, how much does the average pregnancy and birth cost an american woman?
I am overwhelmed that any woman regardless of her/ her partners income does not get free health care during pregnancy and birth. Its so wrong!
When you do qualify for Medicade though, is it 2nd rate healthcare in your opinion or just as good? Personal experiences?
Friends of mine and I were talking about this, but we realised none of us really knew much at all so that is why I'm asking. (i'm in oz)

I know!! I got an IUD earlier this year and including the actual IUD and GYNO to put it in I paid $99 plus I got a medicare rebate as well of about $40 so I only paid about $60 altogether. I feel so sorry for the american women that fork out so much money while we go to the doctor and hospital for free!

Answer 1

For how "great" America is, we sure have horrible health care options unless we pay tons of money every month!

Even with private insurance, this baby I'm pregnant with now (my first) will cost me about $4000 out of pocket. That's covering all prenatal care and a 3 day hospital visit when I give birth, assuming I have no complications.

I don't qualify for any government assistance or anything because my husband makes "too much" money. Our government obviously has other priorities than making sure all of it's citizens are healthy and have good health coverage.

Answer 2

Well, in the beginning of my pregnancy I had Amerigroup and I didn't have to pay anything. During the middle I had Aetna and I had to pay for labs, etc everytime I visited the doctor. Some visits were 50$ others were 18$. Now I have medicaid and I don't pay anything at all (I know it's been chaotic during this pregnancy, but I've been moving and then I turned 19 so I had to get my own insurance...). If you are eligible for medicaid I would apply for it just so you don't have to pay the 750 because that sounds kind of high, especially since you could use that 750 for things with the baby once she's born. But if it's a good insurance plan with good doctors, then I would say it's worth it. Medicaid doesn't have very good doctors, I'm going to a prenatal clinic and I barely see my doctor and am almost full term. I mean, she's nice but medicaid is just so full so I think you should think about it. Good luck.

Answer 3

I had to pay a $25 co-pay, that covers all the prenatal vists (just one payment). Then I'll have a deductable of $880 for the labor and delivery, that's it! I live in Texas and this is through my hubbie's insurance. I expected it to cost more so I'm quite happy. Although I do think the insurance situation does need to be changed here in the US.

My mother (23 years old) only paid about $43 for me. However, my father was in the military.

Answer 4

My actual delivery didn't cost me a dime I had met my deductible ( 2,000 dollars) in the months before because of a hospital stay (blood clot). I am happy with my insurance. Without the insurance it could have been terrible on my family. I personally believe that in American we need health care reform, but not state run health care. I know that in my situation state run health could have easily killed me. Because I needed a very specific kind of treatment and I needed it with a delay of bureaucracy.

Answer 5

hi im from australia too, and i cant beleive americans have to pay for everything, gp visits, labour, and heaps of other medical stuff
alast month i asked a question of how much an iud costs and they said $700 , i almost died cos my appointment was that week
i asked my dr that day and it only costs $80, what a difference, we are the lucky country, xxxx