It has been said that the smile of a baby makes life worth living and fighting for. A baby’s smile can give you all of the inspiration you need to improve your life and strive for better, if you wish.
What may put a frown on your face is how much costs to take care of, feed, and raise a baby.
These costs always start before birth, like buying pre-birth medications like folic acid. Folic acid is a prenatal B vitamin that helps prevents birth defects.
Then there are the costs associated with medical insurance, transportation, and regular prenatal checkups.
The most significant cost of having a child is childbirth. The cost of delivery can be high whether you have insurance or not.
Whether a childbirth is a traditional one or a c-section procedure is also another factor that determines cost.
So, depending on where you live, the hospital or medical clinic you choose, whether you have insurance or not, and the type of childbirth delivery that you elect to have, you might incur some significant financial debt if you don’t have a budget.
Almost 2.7 million women had traditional births in 2016 while another 1.25 million opted to have c-section births.
Meanwhile, the average cost of delivering a baby without complications is $10,800.
Still, when you combine the costs of prenatal and post-pregnancy care with childbirth, the cost of having a baby in America can be as much as $30,000.
Think $30,000 is a lot of money?
According to a 2017 study by the United States Department of Agriculture, it costs over $233,610 to raise a child from birth to the age of 18.
Before you can hope to pay for two decades of a child’s life, you must be able to pay for its birth first.
Uninsured Americans
Listen, I am not telling you not to have children. That isn’t my business or concern.
If you are expecting or contemplating starting a family, then you should be acutely aware of the inherent costs of delivering a child.
These costs increase exponentially and dramatically if you are uninsured.
And, this is usually the first big cost of having a baby before you even begin raising it.
According to information compiled by the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 27.5 million Americans were uninsured.
If you, or anyone you know, is uninsured and expecting a child, log onto Health.gov.
You could be able to qualify for low-cost or nearly free public health insurance depending on your state of residency.
Considering the importance of regular prenatal and post-pregnancy checkups, and avoiding crushing financial debt, there’s no reason to be uninsured if you can help it.
So, with that in mind, here is a list of the most affordable states to deliver a baby, traditionally or via c-section, whether you have health insurance or not.
This information was compiled by FAIR Health, an organization that advocates for more public awareness about health care costs, and Business Insider. You can find the full list of states on those sites.
For the sake of simplicity, this informative but partial list of 28 states will only feature delivery costs, for the insured and uninsured, that doesn’t go over $10,800.
$10,800 is the average national cost to deliver a baby.
Alabama
A traditional birth here costs $5,200 with insurance and about $9,500 without insurance. It’ll cost you $8,200 to have a c-section birth in Alabama.
Arkansas
In Arkansas, a traditional birth costs $5,700 with insurance and about $10,200 without it. A c-section with insurance costs $8,600.
Arizona
A traditional birth with insurance costs $8,000 and a c-section with insurance costs $10,000.
California
Have a traditional birth here and you’ll pay $7,700.
Colorado
In Colorado, a traditional birth with insurance costs $7,400 and a c-section with insurance will set you back about $10,300.
Connecticut
A traditional birth with insurance costs $8,000 here.
Georgia
Traditional birth delivery with insurance costs $7,200.
Hawaii
A traditional birth with insurance costs only $6,000 in Hawaii and $10,500 if you don’t have any. A c-section procedure costs $9,000 if you have insurance.
Idaho
It costs $6,500 to have a traditional birth with insurance and $9,500 to have a c-section with insurance here.
Illinois
In Illinois, a traditional delivery costs $8, 300 if you have insurance.
Indiana
A traditional birth costs $6,800 if you have insurance. It costs $7,500 to have a c-section with insurance here.
Iowa
A traditional delivery costs $6,400 with insurance and $10,900 without insurance (only $100 above the national average). It costs $9,700 to have a c-section with insurance.
Kansas
In Kansas, a traditional birth costs $6,300 with insurance and $10,800 without insurance. A c-section with insurance costs about $10,300 here.
Kentucky
It costs $6,100 to have a traditional delivery here with insurance and about $9,000 to have a c-section with insurance here.
Louisiana
A traditional birth costs $6,000 here with insurance and about $10,900 without any. It only costs $8,500 to have a c-section with insurance here.
Maine
It costs $6,000 to have a traditional birth here with insurance and about $9,100 to have a c-section with insurance here.
Maryland
If you have insurance, a traditional birth costs $6,500. It cost about $9,600 for a c-section here with insurance.
Massachusetts
A traditional delivery costs $7,700 if you have insurance.
Michigan
In Michigan, a traditional birth costs $6,500 with insurance and a c-section costs $9,700 with insurance.
Minnesota
A traditional birth here cost $7,000 with insurance and a c-section costs $10,400 with insurance.
Mississippi
Here, a traditional birth costs about $6,500 with insurance and a c-section costs $9,700 with insurance.
Missouri
In Missouri, a traditional birth costs $6,300 with insurance and about $10,800 without insurance. It costs $9,800 to have a c-section with insurance.
Montana
A traditional birth costs $6,000 with insurance and $10,200 if you don’t have any. It costs $8,400 to have a c-section with insurance here.
Nebraska
It costs $5,700 to have a traditional birth here with insurance and about $9,600 if you don’t have any. A c-section costs $8,700 if you have insurance.
Nevada
A traditional delivery costs $7,700 here with insurance.
New Hampshire
If you have insurance, you’ll pay $6,600 for a traditional delivery here or about $9,600 for a c-section.
New Jersey
A traditional birth costs $9,000 if you have insurance.
New Mexico
It costs $5,900 to have a traditional birth if you have insurance or $10,800 if you don’t have any. A c-section costs $9,000 if you have insurance.
Don’t Deliver a New Life Into Debt
If you’re uninsured, consider your options at Healthcare.gov. You may have more options than you realize, no matter your financial situation.
It’s better to be insured and prepared for childbirth. If you’re uninsured, refer to the full list to understand your full financial liability.
Read More
Expecting? Here’s How to Prepare Your Budget for a Baby
Your Ultimate Guide to Starting a Baby Emergency Fund
How to Save Money on Baby Clothes
Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase “personal finance,” contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.
