What it costs to have a baby in Pennsylvania
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The average in-network cost of giving birth in Pennsylvania is slightly below the national average — about $14,500 for vaginal deliveries and $18,400 for C-sections, per FAIR Health.
Why it matters: Fertility rates in the U.S. and Pennsylvania are falling, a trend driven partly by economic uncertainty and changing social norms. The decline has sparked debate in Washington, D.C., with some policymakers citing high child care and health care costs, limited parental leave, and gaps in social services as key factors.
By the numbers: In 2023, 31.3% of Pennsylvania births were Cesarean deliveries, per March of Dimes.
Zoom out: The average in-network cost of giving birth in the U.S. is about $15,200 for vaginal deliveries and $19,300 for C-sections.
How it works: The totals in FAIR's Cost of Giving Birth Tracker include delivery, ultrasounds, lab work and more.
- They reflect total costs paid by patients and their insurance companies.
- Insured patients' financial responsibilities are typically well below the total amount paid, with average out-of-pocket costs of just under $3,000 in 2018-2020, per a 2022 Peterson-KFF analysis.
Between the lines: Black and Hispanic people paid more out-of-pocket for maternal care than Asian and white patients with the same insurance, per a study published earlier this year in JAMA Health Forum.
The bottom line: Birth costs are just one of many financial burdens for new parents, with pediatrician and childcare bills often following soon after.