Health costs of pregnancy and childbirth in the U.S., by payer and birth

Between 2018 and 2020, the average additional health cost associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care in the U.S. amounted to 18,865 U.S. dollars for women in large employer private health plans. Of which, 2,854 was paid out of pocket. The additional health cost of pregnancy and childbirth was even higher for those who had a cesarean section (c-section) compared to those who delivered their baby vaginally.*

Average additional health spending by people with large employer coverage who give birth, relative to those who do not give birth in the U.S. 2018-2020, by payer and type of birth

Characteristic	Amount paid by insurance	Amount paid out-of-pocket
Cesarean delivery	23,066	3,214
All births	16,011	2,854
Vaginal delivery	12,113	2,655

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Release date

July 2022

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

2018 to 2020

Special properties

Female enrollees of reproductive age in large employer private health plans

Supplementary notes

Comparison was made: health spending (both the amount paid by insurers and that paid out-of-pocket by enrollees) for female enrollees (in large employer private health plans) of reproductive age who give birth, compared to those who do not give birth, holding age constant.
Does not include cost of infant care.

* Note: This additional health cost is not the actual cost of pregnancy and childbirth, as the source compared women who gave birth to those who did not. However, women who did not give birth also had other health costs incurred over the time period. Therefore the actual cost of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care is much higher.

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