Hey Ladies! I have a quick question, my husband and I are trying to figure out the cost of delivering a baby in the DFW area. We are TTC and would like to have a general idea going into it so we can prepare accordingly. Thanks!
I tallied up all the charges on the bills--I believe it was in the $12,000 to $15,000 range. I had a c-section, but I recall that being only about $500 more than the vaginal delivery would have been. The 3-day hospital stay was the biggest chunk of the bill by far.
There are two things to consider. The actual OB and then the hospital.
Hospital in cash will run in 6-9K range (This is for an uncomplicated vaginal birth, no epidural, estimated). An uncomplicated C-section birth can run up to 12-14K.
The OB will vary greatly depending on how many visits you have. Call your OB, some of them do a standard flat rate for pregnancy for families without insurance. Others will charge per visit. Make sure you talk to a billing person. I know that the price my doc's office quotes is cut in half for cash patients. For example, a typical office visit is $300. If you pay cash, you'll pay $150, If you have insurance, they bill the full $300, insurance MAY pay $175 and then you have your office co pay of say, $15.
Bear in mind that any complication at all increases the prices of all of the above exponentially. ultrasounds, High risk OB, more frequent visits or tests, increased monitoring in the hospital, need for a c-section.
An epidural alone can cost $1200-2000 depending on the anesthesiologist, med and equipment they use.
Here is a link with info on free-low cost prenatal care. It has the number to call to get the local health department which to help you get in contact with who you need.
http://www.4woman.gov/Pregnancy/three.cfm
Have fun TTC.
******** Just found this link. It's what insurance was billed for births nationally in 2004. Check out page 9. This is an average of national charges. With all of the breakdown for each of the main components. Has gone up some I'm sure, but not too much.
http://www.kff.org/womenshealth/upload/whp061207othc.pdf
My total bill for everything was around $30,000 but I had a c-section with some complications. We only ended up spending $6,000 out of pocket with our insurance. I know shocking, isn't it?
it's really going to depend on your insurance. or are you asking if you paid for all yourself??? all i know is with my husband's awesome insurance we only paid the co-pays for my ob visits and a whopping $100 for the delivery and everything else. maybe you could contact the hospital where you would deliver and they could give you an estimate of a typical delivery.
good luck.
I saved my hospital bills from my first two pregnancies. My first, in 2002 ran about $8000. This was for a c-section and a night in NICU (which was $800 by itself). My second in 2004 ran about $7500 for a c-section, but he had no time in the NICU. I'd guess probably somewhere between $7-10K based on complications and what could go wrong. Looking at my bills, they nickel and dime you to death and everything is outrageously priced! I remember with my first, I had a nasty rash on my butt from sitting in the fluid during my induction (probably TMI), so I'd asked for some cream. On the bill, the tiny tube of cream was $40.
*I just read the replies. The amounts I said were before insurance. Our insurance now, we have to pay the first $300, and then they cover 80%. So, based on our calculator on our insurance website, another c-section will run me roughly $2000-2500 out of pocket.
Greetings M.:
I think that most of the area hospitals charge roughly $4K for a delivery no matter what interventions (continual monitoring, probes, suctures, episiotomy, etc) you have done (after basic insurance coverage). Many hospitals no longer nickel and dime for every pill and procedure (except c-sections). It may vary slightly from hospital to hospital, but about $4K is reasonable for the patient out of pocket. I'm not exactly sure what TTC means, but you should definitely contact the hospital, the doctor, and your insurance provider beforehand.
Love and blessings,
N.
P.S. If you need a doula to help prepare you for your birth, feel free to contact me and will gladly give you and your husband a consult on my services and prices.
Our first child was free (Tricare) and our second cost around $2,500 after our insurance took care of their part. I have heard though that if you will be paying out of pocket then most doctors and hospitals will give you a significant discount if you pay them up front. Good luck
How about insurance? I have an individual maternity plan and it has been great. I am going into my 5 month and have been out so far around $100.00.
With our son, it cost us about $3500 after insurance for a vaginal birth with no complications.
