Bargain Birthing Basics

A friend I know will return to work this fall for the sole purpose of getting insurance to have a baby. She absolutely hates her job, but is willing to grin and bear it for the health care. If you plan to go commando and pay out of pocket for a hospital baby delivery, you'll pay a whopping $13,000 on average. Up to $10,000 more for a Cesarean section. That's a big ouch in more than one way.

Then the baby incurs additional hospital fees ranging from $1,500-4,000. The financial ruin doesn't stop here. The pediatrician wants to monitor his every move and insists on seeing the new baby 5-6 times in the first six months. But before you opt for a tubal ligation there are many ways to reduce the cost of delivery without dependency on workplace welfare.

Hospital Delivery
It is a little known secret that doctors and hospitals are willing to negotiate services for people without insurance. They treat so many patients who are delinquent on hospital bills that they're eager to work out individual solutions for bills. However, if you fail to file with your insurance to make a deal, don't expect to be able to file in the future.

While the hospital is by far the safest option for delivery, it is also the priciest. The SWAT team who descends upon you during the actual delivery somehow manages to squeeze twelve bills out of their twenty-minute service. And bring someone with an opinion (your husband, mother, sister) who will be your hospital advocate. Charge them with asking what will be billed and what is already included in the hospital stay. Something as small as a package of Tylenol will run you $5. Also find out if food must be covered in your overnight fee. It may be tastier and cheaper to have friends and family bring you food.

Filing your delivery with insurance? Check and recheck numbers with your insurance company--get names, dates, and figures before rushing to the hospital with the overnight bag to eliminate any surprises.

Birthing Center
These facilities are becoming more and more popular with women who want an intimate setting for delivering. Prices also vary by region, but the centers near me charge between $3000-$5000, more than 50% less than hospital deliveries. Some include one or two sonograms with the fee. Most also add routine checkups, postpartum visits, and newborn assessments. They are so much cheaper than hospital deliveries because of the lack of drugs and overnight stays.

Always ask the professionals at the birthing center if there are any extra costs or fees that will be added to your estimate and always ask others who have used the facility how their experience was.

Home Birth
If you choose to employ a midwife for home birth, overall cost reduces dramatically. Delivering at home is not for every person--if you've had a previous C-section, preeclampsia, or other medical problems, a hospital birth may be the wiser option. But many women prefer the privacy and comfort of home births.

Charges range widely depending on your area but expect to pay between $1500-$3500 for at home delivery. This figure includes all lab work, pre-delivery checkups with the midwife, and the delivery itself. If you don't have insurance this can be an attractive option (and keep in mind that most insurance companies will not cover any part of a home birth).

Should you or the baby need medical attention, you will be transported to a hospital where, of course, the bills will start to pile on. Yours and the baby's health will always take precedence over wanting to cut bills. And, no, you will not have access to pain relieving drugs nor epidurals at home.

Consider all options before finalizing your decision--just know that delivery doesn't have to induce bankruptcy! Armed with knowledge of your options should give you peace of mind.