How much does having a baby really cost? - 100.7 Jack FM San Diego Radio & DSC- sandiegojack

By Kelly Alfieri
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With or without insurance, you can get hit with a sky-high hospital bill after delivering your baby. We've got the scoop on what your prenatal health care costs will be and how to keep them down.

We wish we could give you a firm number, but prenatal health care and delivery costs vary radically. How much you'll pay will depend on factors like where you live, whether you have any complications and whether you have a vaginal birth or a c-section. But here are some ballpark figures: Prenatal care and delivery costs can range from about $9,000 to over $250,000 (quite a range, huh?). But before you freak out, know that we're talking without insurance. If you have health insurance, the bulk of these expenses could be covered -- but that's not always true.

More from The Bump: How to save up for baby  

I have health insurance. What should I expect to pay for prenatal care and delivery?

Good news: If you have insurance provided by your employer and the company employs at least 15 people full-time, your insurance must provide maternity services.

The percentage of prenatal and maternity costs that will be covered depends on your insurance carrier and which plan you have, but typically, employee plans cover between 25 percent and 90 percent of costs. Keep in mind that this is after the deductible has been met and that there may be a separate deductible for each family member, so you'll likely be paying a bit more than that out of pocket. In other words, if each family member (including your newborn baby) has a $2,000 deductible, you'd have to pay the first $4,000 of expenses for both your and baby's medical care, plus whatever else your plan doesn't pay for.

If you have an individual insurance policy, which isn't provided through your employer, odds are it won't cover maternity costs. Several states mandate that plans cover prenatal and delivery costs, but most states don't require that they do. In 2010, just 12 percent of individual policies offered maternity coverage. Often, it's possible to buy a rider to cover maternity expenses, but the cost for that can be high (up to $1,100 a month), and sometimes there's a waiting period of one or two years before the benefit can be used.
 

More from The Bump: Prenatal tests checklist  

How can I make sure my health insurance provider pays for as much as possible?

To avoid paying extra or for something you shouldn't have to, it's important that you thoroughly understand your insurance carrier's maternity coverage policy. If you have insurance through your employer, your human resources department should be able to help you understand your coverage. Follow these tips to ensure maximum coverage and minimum sticker shock:

How can I get health insurance if my (or my partner's) employer doesn't provide it?

Individual health insurance may be an option, but look closely at your choices, since the plans usually don't cover maternity costs and sometimes legally treat pregnancy as a preexisting condition (which means it might not be well-covered).

You may qualify for a federal or state health insurance program. A few that are available:  

For help finding private and government health insurance options, use the Families USA program locator. 

More from The Bump: Create your birth plan here!

Whether I have insurance or not, how can I reduce my prenatal and delivery costs?  

Shop around
"Unlike in an emergency medical situation, you can be a smart shopper. You can do some shopping ahead of time because you have lead time," says Stoll. Look for a hospital that offers good rates for delivery and postnatal care (yes, you can ask). If you anticipate an uncomplicated birth, consider using a birthing center instead of a hospital. The costs will range from about $3,000 to $4,000, which is about half of what a hospital birth would cost.

Negotiate with your hospital
Find out if the financing department of the hospital where you'll deliver offers discounts for uninsured patients or if it will work with you to set up a payment plan.

Take generic medications
"Work with your OB to explore if there are generic alternatives to drugs prescribed during prenatal or postnatal care. You may also be able to take over-the-counter prenatal vitamins instead of prescription ones," says Stoll.

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