Washington parents face steep childbirth costs
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Having kids is expensive in Washington state and giving birth is no exception, according to data from FAIR Health.
Why it matters: Birth costs are just one of many financial burdens for new parents, with pediatrician and child care bills often following soon after.
- Washington also has some of the highest day care center prices in the country, with the average infant tuition topping $21,000 per year.
By the numbers: The average in-network cost to give birth in Washington is about $17,400 for vaginal deliveries and $23,642 for cesareans, according to data from FAIR Health, a national independent nonprofit.
- For the few people who choose to give birth out-of-network, the average costs are even more staggering, at $31,219 for vaginal births and $47,648 for C-sections.
- Nationwide, the average total 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 amounts in the FAIR Health Cost of Giving Birth Tracker include delivery, ultrasounds, lab work and more. They reflect the total costs paid by patients as well as their insurance companies, as applicable.
- Financial responsibilities of insured patients are typically well below the total amount paid, with average out-of-pocket costs of just under $3,000 from 2018 to 2020, per a 2022 analysis by the Peterson Center and KFF.
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.
What to watch: Congressional lawmakers recently introduced two bills that would require private health insurance companies to fully cover the costs of childbirth and maternity care.