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Giving birth to a child can seem scary and expensive, especially if you do not have insurance. But exactly how much does child delivery cost if you don’t have insurance?
A vaginal delivery in the United States costs $13,024 on average without insurance. A C-section delivery without insurance costs about $22,646. Prices can vary depending on the state, whether or not there are complications during the birth, and the type of birth that occurs.
To find out more about how much pregnancy and childbirth costs if you don’t have insurance, keep reading.
Paying For Childbirth Without Health Insurance
If you are giving birth but do not have health insurance, you may want to know how much you will have to pay out of your own pocket. We have included that information below.
Vaginal Birth
A vaginal birth on average will cost $13,024 if you do not have insurance. A vaginal birth will cost less than a c-section because it does not require as many doctors, medications, tools, etc. Prices for a vaginal birth can vary greatly depending on how the birth goes (if there are complications), the medications used, and more.
Something to be aware of is that most births are vaginal births, which means that the chances you have to have a c-section are a lot lower than your chances of having a vaginal birth. Talk with your doctor to see which birthing plan is best for you.
C-Section
C-section births cost $22,646 on average if you do not have insurance. C-sections require a lot more equipment, tools, and doctors than vaginal births. This increases the amount of money you will have to pay out-of-pocket. Talk to your doctor about whether or not you will likely have a c-section. if you want to avoid having a c-section, tell your doctor.
How Much Does an Epidural Cost Without Insurance?
An epidural is a type of anesthesia that numbs the belly and legs of the woman giving birth. This anesthesia is completely optional but typically decreases the amount of pain a mother feels while in labor and giving birth. The average cost of an epidural without insurance can be as low as $1,000 but can be as high as $8,000. Epidurals can get expensive without insurance but may be worth it in the end. Talk with your doctor to decide if an epidural is best for you.
What Affects the Cost of Giving Birth?
There are many different expenses that affect the cost of giving birth. Here are a few of those specific expenses.
- Medication used
- Doctors
- Length of hospital stay
- Anesthesia
- Postpartum care
- Lab work
- Checkups
- Ultrasounds
- Screening Tests
- Other Hospital Testing
Optional Expenses
- Doula
- Child birthing classes
- Extra Vitamins and Medications
Cost by State
Depending on where you live, the cost of giving birth can be higher or lower than what is average. The table below shows the average cost of a vaginal birth or a c-section birth in each state when the person who is giving birth doesn’t have insurance.
| State | Vaginal Birth Without Insurance Cost | C-Section Birth Without Insurance Cost |
| Alabama | $9,516.86 | $13,589.75 |
| Alaska | $20,243.38 | $28,617.34 |
| Arizona | $14,812.45 | $18,023.04 |
| Arkansas | $10,172.09 | $13,970.83 |
| California | $13,974.77 | $19,184.14 |
| Colorado | $13,593.07 | $17,713.57 |
| Connecticut | $15,000.57 | $19,962.76 |
| Delaware | $12,104.65 | $17,617.02 |
| Florida | $14,757.28 | $11,917.39 |
| Georgia | $13,410.70 | $19,328.71 |
| Hawaii | $10,522.42 | $14,445.19 |
| Idaho | $11,242.58 | $15,102.93 |
| Illinois | $14,725 | $19,631.75 |
| Indiana | $11,571.69 | $16,951.98 |
| Iowa | $10,938.84 | $15,135.67 |
| Kansas | $10,862.29 | $16,269.51 |
| Kentucky | $11,242.27 | $15,150.94 |
| Louisiana | $10,970.87 | $13,776.54 |
| Maine | $11,047.39 | $15,906.99 |
| Maryland | $12,596.52 | $16,425.80 |
| Massachusetts | $14,549.03 | $19,879.60 |
| Michigan | $11,211.17 | $15,107.17 |
| Minnesota | $11,721.86 | $15,646.02 |
| Mississippi | $11,211.17 | $15,107.17 |
| Missouri | $10,871.98 | $15,513.47 |
| Montana | $10,244.88 | $13,344.77 |
| Nebraska | $9,655.74 | $13,143.40 |
| Nevada | $13,761.86 | $18,266.84 |
| New Hampshire | $12,692.15 | $16,837.87 |
| New Mexico | $10,830.34 | $14,921.50 |
| New York | $16,057.74 | $22,059.22 |
| North Carolina | $11,991.33 | $16,839.97 |
| North Dakota | $13,277.45 | $17,647.14 |
| Ohio | $10,629.46 | $14,212.56 |
| Oklahoma | $11,266.83 | $18,121.42 |
| Oregon | $12,622.35 | $17,948.33 |
| Pennsylvania | $12,223.65 | $18,753.63 |
| Rhode Island | $10,385.63 | $14,088.87 |
| South Carolina | $12,277.26 | $16,707.30 |
| South Dakota | $16,057.74 | $15,994.09 |
| Tennessee | $12,587.19 | $17,157.99 |
| Texas | $14,641.11 | $19,551.97 |
| Utah | $10,199.52 | $14, 252.80 |
| Vermont | $12,138.26 | $17,428.48 |
| Washington | $12,210.33 | $17,680.54 |
| West Virginia | $11,108.51 | $15,553.63 |
| Wisconsin | $17,888.14 | $23,746.69 |
| Wyoming | $13,143.39 | $18,476.31 |
Pregnancy Costs Without Insurance
Now that we have gone over the average costs for a child’s delivery without insurance, let’s go over the typical costs for pregnancy without insurance.
Required Costs
- Prenatal vitamins – $8.00 on average per 100 tablets
While pregnant, you have to take prenatal vitamins every day. The average pregnancy lasts 280 days, which means you will go through about 3 bottles if each bottle has 100 tablets. The average total cost of 3 bottles of prenatal vitamins is $24.00. This can vary depending on how much each bottle costs, how many you need, and how many weeks your pregnancy lasts.
- Pregnancy checkups and appointments – $50-$100 per visit (depending on doctor and state)
Skipping pregnancy appointments and check-ups is not suggested, and while pregnant, you need to go to the doctor every four weeks during the first 4-28 weeks of your pregnancy, every two weeks during weeks 28-36 of your pregnancy, and every week during the final weeks of your pregnancy. If your pregnancy is complicated, you will have to go to the doctor more often.
Missing an appointment can cause the mother to be unaware of certain illnesses or issues that sometimes occur during pregnancy. This is a cost you will most definitely have to pay during pregnancy.
- Ultrasounds and other testing – $100-$1,000 per ultrasound or test on average
Additional costs that are required during pregnancy are ultrasounds and other testing that may have to be done. Ultrasounds and other tests typically cost between $100 and $1,000. However, how much they cost depends on where the mother is being tested, the doctors, the testing that needs to be done, and the amount of testing that needs to be done.
Additional Costs
- Baby clothes
- Maternity clothes for the mother
- Baby toys, furniture, and more
- Morning sickness remedies
- Pregnancy belly support
- Birthing classes
- Pregnancy books
- Doula
Most of these additional expenses are necessary, as the baby will need clothes after it is born, you will need to wear comfortable clothes during your pregnancy, and you will need certain pieces of furniture in order to take care of the baby. Exactly how much these additional expenses will cost depends on what items you purchase and whether or not you buy certain items new or used.
How to Decrease These Costs
Paying for childbirth and pregnancy without insurance can get pretty expensive, but there are many ways to decrease the cost. Here are some of the things that you can do.
- Do Research: Researching hospitals, doctors, vitamins, medications, and midwives will help keep these overall costs down to a minimum, as you will be able to find the cheapest care provider and prenatal vitamins available in your area. Now, of course, you will still be paying a pretty penny to give birth, but you will pay a significantly lower amount if you do your research and choose options that are less expensive than others.
- Negotiate Bills: Most hospitals will negotiate the cost of your bill after you receive it, especially if you don’t have insurance. When you negotiate your bill, you also have the opportunity to ask them to remove the cost of services that you didn’t use while in the hospital.
- Avoid Unnecessary Tests and Procedures: Most of the time, if your doctor doesn’t think that a test or procedure is necessary, they will give you the option to not have them done on you, even if they are standard procedures. Before a test or procedure is done, ask your doctor if it is really necessary and avoid the ones that aren’t necessary.
Home Birth Costs
Another great way to decrease the costs of giving birth if you do not have insurance is to have a home birth. Home births cost significantly less than hospital births. In fact, home births cost on average 68% less than other birthing options. This makes home births another great, popular, and safe way to give birth. However, how much do home births cost?
The main thing that affects the cost of a home birth is the cost of having a midwife at the birth. Midwives cost an average of between $2,000 and $6,000. This cost can vary depending on the specific midwife you hire and the state in which you are giving birth.
Something to know about home births is that midwives are not allowed to perform C-sections without a doctor and are not allowed to give epidurals. This means that if there are complications during the home birth, you will have to go to the hospital to continue the birth there.
There are a few other things that are optional but recommended to have during a home birth that will affect the overall cost. Here are some of these optional items:
- Mini pool for birth
- Massage lotion or oil
- Massage tools
- Thermometer
- Birthing outfit
- Disposable absorbent pads
- Birthing videographer or photographer
- Warm washcloths
- Towels
- Doula
- Snacks
- Water
- Essential Oils
You will likely pay about $100-$500 in supplies and items to use during your home birth outside of the cost of having a midwife at the birth. However, if you have a complicated pregnancy, it might not be a good idea to have a home birth, as you will likely end up going to the hospital anyway so the health of you and your baby can be closely monitored. Talk to your doctor and determine whether or not a home birth is best for you.
What If I Need Help Paying But Don’t Have Insurance?
If you are pregnant and don’t have insurance, you may be wondering if there are ways you can get help to pay for the birth and pregnancy. The answer to this question is yes! Here are some of the ways you can get help paying for your pregnancy and delivery.
Hospital Indemnity Program
Some hospitals have indemnity programs, which is a supplemental insurance plan provided by the hospital to help you pay for birthing costs if you do not have insurance. If you do not have insurance and need help paying for the birth, determine whether or not the hospital you plan on giving birth at offers this program. If it doesn’t consider giving birth at a different hospital that does have this program available.
Local Health Department
Local health departments are sometimes able to help pregnant women who don’t have insurance. Even if they cannot necessarily give you funds to be able to pay for the birth and pregnancy, they might be able to help you find resources and other aid so you can get financial help paying for pregnancy and childbirth expenses.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood is another great option that may be able to help you keep the birthing and pregnancy costs down. Some Planned Parenthood locations can provide medical for pregnant women and are able to charge you according to what you can afford. This is a fantastic option to look into if you do not have insurance but are giving birth soon.
Local Organizations
Look into the aid that local churches and other organizations can provide to you. While most churches and other local organizations don’t have specific funds to help pregnant women, they might have funds available to help you, even if you aren’t religiously affiliated with the organization.
Charity Organizations
The last great option for receiving help with paying pregnancy and delivery bills is to contact charity organizations for assistance. Depending on the charity organization, you may be able to receive assistance and other services to help you during your pregnancy and delivery. Contact your local health department to get in contact with charity organizations that may be able to help you.
Now that you know about how much your pregnancy and birth will cost if you don’t have insurance, make the right decisions for you and your body. To make it easier for you to afford the costs, get help from friends and family. They may not be able to help you financially, but people love giving pregnant women gifts. Getting hand-me-down baby clothes and baby-related furniture will allow you to save money so you can afford to pay for the birth and pregnancy.
No Insurance?
When it comes to your healthcare, most people think that their only options are to pay for expensive Health Insurance or try out your luck being uninsured.
The great news is that you have a third option; You can join a Health Share plan that is affordable and meets your needs! Health Sharing programs are one of the most effective and affordable alternatives to Health Insurance.
If you don’t know what a Health Share is, you can start here to learn how it works and why it’s a great alternative to health insurance. If you are looking for affordable healthcare, I highly recommend checking out my article about the Best Health Share Plans.
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