How much does an epidural cost 2022

Typical costs:

• Average out-of-pocket costs for a baby delivery with insurance varies by state, running $1,077 in Washington, D.C. to $2,473 in South Carolina, according to a 2020 study by the Health Care Cost Institute[1] .
• The biggest factors affecting the cost of a birth are: whether it is vaginal or cesarean delivery; whether there are complications; and the length of the hospital stay. Geographical location also plays a part; baby delivery is most expensive in the Northeast and on the West coast and least expensive in the south. For patients not covered by health insurance, the typical expenditures for a vaginal delivery without complications ranges from about $9,000 to $17,000 or more. The typical expenditures for a C-section without complications or a vaginal delivery with complications ranges from about $10,000 to $25,000 or more.
• For patients with insurance, out-of-pocket costs usually range from under $500 to $4,500 or more, depending on the plan. Out-of-pocket expenses typically include copays -- usually $15 to $30 for a doctor visit and about $200 to $500 for inpatient services for delivery. Some insurance plans only cover a percentage -- usually about 80 to 90 percent after a deductible is met, so you can easily end up reaching your yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
• Usually, the baby receives a separate bill, which typically ranges from $1,500 to $4,000 for a healthy baby delivered at term. For a premature baby with complications who has to spend weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit, this bill can reach tens of thousands of dollars, and the bills can easily hit an insurance plan's out-of-pocket maximum.
• Baby delivery usually is covered by health insurance. Even if you join a group health insurance plan after you already are pregnant, delivery still will be covered. According to Healthcare.gov[2] , "Once you're enrolled, your pregnancy and childbirth are covered from the day your plan starts."

• After delivery, the baby will be examined by your doctor or a pediatrician. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services[3] gives an overview of the immediate medical attention a baby needs right after birth.
• You probably will stay in the hospital one to two days, if you delivered vaginally, or three to four days, if you had a C-section delivery.

• Induction of labor, usually with drugs, costs extra. The Mayo Clinic[4] offers an overview of labor induction.
• A private room can cost several hundred dollars extra per day out-of-pocket.

• Usually, the services of a midwife are about one-third less expensive than those of an obstetrician/gynecologist.
• Some doctors or midwives will negotiate a discounted package rate for prenatal care, or prenatal care combined with delivery, for a patient paying out-of-pocket. And some hospitals will give you a discount on their part of the fee -- as much as 25 percent -- if you pay your bill at one time rather than in payments.
• The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services[5] lists assistance programs for free and reduced cost prenatal and delivery services for women who qualify.

• If you have chosen a doctor or midwife, you usually will deliver at the hospital where they have admitting privileges; so, check out the hospital well in advance of the birth. BabyCenter.com[6] offers a guide to choosing a hospital.
• As an alternative to hospitals, some patients choose a birth center; these usually have a more home-like environment than a hospital, allow multiple visitors, and offer amenities such as Jacuzzis and transfer to a nearby hospital in case of complications. The American Association of Birth Centers[7] provides a locator.