Fact check: How much does someone in the US have to pay out of pocket to have a baby, if they do not have health insurance

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the cost of having a baby in the US without health insurance varies significantly depending on the type of delivery and location. The most direct answer comes from the data showing that the US average for a vaginal delivery was $13,024 in 2020, while a C-section could cost anywhere from $3,000 to $12,000 more, with the national average being $22,646 in 2020 ^[1].

For those with insurance, the financial burden is substantially lower but still significant. Women enrolled in large group plans pay an average of $2,854 out-of-pocket ^[2], while the mean total out-of-pocket spending for childbirth episodes among privately insured families was $3,068 ^[3]. Another source indicates that birthing people in the U.S. paid nearly $2,000 out-of-pocket on average when they had a baby in 2020, though this figure is based on data from individuals with employer-sponsored insurance ^[4].

The financial impact extends beyond the immediate delivery costs. The average cost of childbirth accounts for nearly one-quarter of people's income, with the 90th percentile of costs accounting for more than one-third of people's income ^[5]. Additionally, postpartum women experience higher levels of medical debt than other women, with 19.8% of postpartum women facing difficulty with medical bills compared to 15.1% of women without a live birth ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on delivery costs but omits the comprehensive expenses associated with pregnancy, including prenatal care, labor and delivery, and hospital stays ^[1]. The analyses reveal that childbirth costs are just one component of a much larger financial picture.

The broader context of child-rearing costs is also missing from the original question. While not directly addressing uninsured delivery costs, the analyses indicate that first-year baby costs could exceed $20,000 in 2025 ^[7], and there are ongoing expenses for housing, food, childcare, and healthcare ^[8] that new parents must consider.

The question also doesn't address regional variations in costs, payment plan options, or charity care programs that hospitals may offer to uninsured patients. The analyses focus primarily on national averages, which may not reflect the significant cost variations across different states and healthcare systems.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain misinformation, but it presents an incomplete picture by focusing only on delivery costs without acknowledging the full spectrum of pregnancy-related expenses. The question implies that there's a single, straightforward answer to uninsured childbirth costs, when the reality shows significant variation between vaginal deliveries ($13,024 average) and C-sections ($22,646 average) ^[1].

Additionally, the framing doesn't acknowledge that deductibles and coinsurance drive spending even for those with insurance ^[3], suggesting that having insurance doesn't eliminate financial burden entirely. The question also doesn't consider that the average cost of childbirth represents nearly one-quarter of the average person's income ^[9], which contextualizes these costs as a substantial financial burden regardless of insurance status.

The analyses suggest that focusing solely on uninsured costs may inadvertently minimize the broader healthcare affordability crisis, as even insured individuals face significant out-of-pocket expenses and medical debt related to childbirth.