The cost of baby delivery in the USA is one of the highest in the world. A recent case study by TikTok user taylor_2918 shows how expensive it can be to have a baby, even with insurance.

Taylor had a vaginal delivery in November 2022. Her labor was 31 hours long and she was in the hospital for 3 days. She had no health problems and her baby was healthy as well.

Despite having insurance, Taylor's medical bills for her delivery totaled over $93,000. This included the cost of her vaginal delivery ($5,000), labor room and delivery ($27,772), labs ($937), O.R. services ($42,470), pharmacy ($7,000), room and board ($8,000), supplies ($831), and her epidural ($2,000).

Taylor's case study is just one example of the high cost of baby delivery in the USA. According to a 2023 study by the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, the average cost of childbirth in the USA is $18,865. However, the cost can range from as low as $5,000 to as high as $50,000 or more.

Things to note, the hospital did not charge the charging room and board twice. She was in two different rooms throughout her entire stay in the hospital, the delivery room and the recovery room.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the high cost of baby delivery in the USA, including:

• The high cost of healthcare in general
• The fact that many hospitals are for-profit businesses
• The increasing use of expensive medical procedures and technologies
• The lack of government regulation of healthcare prices

Tylor’s case is different and while it’s a shocker to most of us, she got an insurance cover and that means she will probably end up paying under $1,000 for the entire delivery.

But, could you for a moment imagine the amount she could have paid, had she not had medical insurance from Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance firm?

Do you wanna hear the good news? She paid $77 for the baby's delivery after the insurance took care of all other bills.

The cost of delivery in the U.S. is still a shocker considering that in other European and first-world countries, baby delivery is cheap or free. For example, baby delivery in Australia is free but you have to pay $48 for food for the 3 days at the hospital.

Baby delivery in New Zealand is free. In fact, mothers are paid for having a baby. In Germany, baby delivery is free, but even if you had to pay, it would only cost 3.500k (normal birth without complications).

In the UK, baby delivery is free.

The high cost of baby delivery can have a significant financial impact on families. Many families are forced to go into debt to pay for their medical bills. This can have a negative impact on their credit scores and make it difficult to qualify for loans in the future.

There are a number of things that can be done to reduce the cost of baby delivery in the USA, including:

• Increasing government regulation of healthcare prices
• Expanding access to affordable healthcare coverage
• Investing in preventive care and public health programs
• Promoting the use of less expensive medical procedures and technologies

The high cost of baby delivery in the USA is a complex issue with no easy solutions. However, by taking steps to reduce the cost of healthcare, we can help to ensure that all families have access to the care they need, regardless of their income.