The US zip code lottery for the prize of childbirth has been revealed on DailyMail.com’s interactive maps.
Based on data from health insurance analyst FAIR Health, they show how the national average is $12,900 for a vaginal delivery and $15,500 for a C-section.
But the cost ranged from as much as $17,000 depending on where a person lives, with Alaska and New Jersey charging up to $25,000 for the birth, while in Alabama and Louisiana the price for the same procedure can be less than $8,000.
The situation was worst for uninsured patients, who could pay more than $50,000 for childbirth in the country.
Some states were more expensive because of their high cost of living and the fact that they had nationally known healthcare providers. On the other hand, states with a lower cost of living often had lower childbirth price tags. It’s because the number of births per year in the US continues to trend downward, with many now waiting until later in life to have children.
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For the analysis, FAIR Health looked at its database of 41 billion claims – the largest in the US – and also included claims related to childbirth in 2022.
These were claims for the actual delivery – such as renting the labor room – and for tests afterward – such as fetal stress and any scans.
The analysis calculated figures for people with health insurance, comprising 92 percent of the population, and those without.
Patients will likely only have to pay a fraction of the total cost out of pocket — usually $2,500 to $3,000, with insurance companies paying the rest.
Large insurance groups such as Cigna and Aetna negotiate the price of a birth or caesarean section with insurance companies, with patients only having to pay a percentage of the total later.
However, those who come to health care without insurance face much higher costs.
Costs are calculated for people who have had no complications, with those likely to receive a higher bill.
Broken down by state, the most expensive state for vaginal delivery was Alaska ($21,525) and New York ($19,990).
Rounding out the top five were New Jersey ($18,688), Connecticut ($17,387), and Massachusetts ($16,731).
At the other end of the scale, there was Alabama ($7,840), Louisiana ($7,981), and Maryland ($9,183).
For C-sections, Alaska was also the most expensive state at over $25,000. It was followed by New Jersey, also at $25,000, New York ($22,353), and Connecticut ($29,956).
The cheapest state was again Alabama at $8,913, Louisiana in second at $8,995, and Maryland in third at $9,856.
Alaska is one of the most expensive places for health care in the United States, including childbirth, in part because of its geographic isolation.
This leads to a higher cost of getting vital medical supplies into the state, while the limited competition – due to fewer providers – means those who are there can charge more.
The cost of childbirth in Alaska is also driven up by the high cost of living, with people needing to earn more to live comfortably in the state.
The cost of childbirth is also higher in the New York metropolitan area – New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
This may be due to the fact that it has a higher quality health care system, with the hospitals there often being among the best in the country, in addition to the higher cost of living in the area.
Women who give birth in these areas may also face higher insurance premiums and deductibles due to the higher cost of living, which also drives up prices.
The chart above shows how the US birth rate continues to fall. Experts say the rising cost of having a child has pushed it lower and lower, though people choosing to spend longer on their careers and social lives is also a factor
At the other end of the scale, the southern states – Alabama in particular – were for both vaginal deliveries and cesarean deliveries.
This is likely due to the state having a lower cost of living and, as a result, being able to charge less for health care than other areas.
It also has a low population density, which could result in less demand for health care, which would also help depress prices.
It comes after it was revealed that a record number of women are now waiting until they reach their 40s to have children.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that the birth rate for women ages 40 to 44 is up four percent from the previous year in 2022 to an all-time high.
There was also a 12 percent increase in women aged 45 to 49, the first change in this rate since 2015, and to another all-time high.
Experts say more people are putting off starting a family until later in life, opting instead to focus on their careers, travel and social life in their younger years. The costs of giving birth and becoming a mother also play a role.
The emergence of technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and egg freezing have also played a role.
The upswing among older women comes as the fertility rate in America fluctuates just below 1.7 births per woman. It hit a record low in 2020 at 1.6 as the pandemic led many couples to delay having children.
The data was released as ‘Cost of Giving Birth’ tracker on the FAIR Health website.
President Robin Felburd said, “FAIR Health is pleased to shed light on the cost of childbirth from state to state and nationally.
“With the Cost of Giving Birth tracker, we are once again using our massive data store to inform healthcare stakeholders – including patients, policymakers, payers and providers – about issues that matter to them.”