That is about $4,438 in 2025.
I searched and the average cost for a vaginal birth in 2025 is about $13,000.
Submitted 1 day ago by Mickey7@lemmy.world to [deleted]
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/cf5d660d-0663-4d78-9942-a28e0359c6e9.png
That is about $4,438 in 2025.
I searched and the average cost for a vaginal birth in 2025 is about $13,000.
Wat? Are you saying that people who give birth in a hospital are sent a 13 000 USD bill afterwards? Like, is that actually what happens? I feel like I have to ask, because I actually cannot comprehend that being the case.
What if you don’t have the money? Do they expect you to just hold it in until you’ve saved up? Or do they just prefer that people give birth at home with no access to medical care if something goes wrong?
When my son was born in 1999, the bill showed two prices - one was the price for the insurance company, which was around $5000, and one was the price without insurance, which was about $20,000.
Luckily, we had the insurance, so it was covered, but I asked about it anyway. I was told that the hospital had negotiated a lower price with the insurance company, so I said that presumably they still make a profit from the insurance payout, so why can’t uninsured patients pay 4x more for the exact same service? They literally looked at me like I asked in a foreign language, and repeated that they had negotiated a lower price with the insurance company.
“I understand that,” I kept saying, “but why can’t you offer that price to your uninsured patients?”
“Because we negotiated a special price with the other insurance companies.”
“I understand that, but…”
Fucking predators.
Yeah, that’s about right. When my daughter was born, they sent a bill for 100k because of complications.
Are you saying that people who give birth in a hospital are sent a 13 000 USD bill afterwards?
Without insurance? Yes, it can be that or more.
What if you don’t have the money?
No hospital will refuse service in case of an emergency. I believe that it is actually illegal. They will send you a bill afterwards though.
What if something does go wrong and you call an ambulance, du they bill you for that afterwards as well?
Absolutely. A lot.
What if you have no money for that either? Just… die?
Ambulances cannot refuse service in case of emergency, but they will invoice you later.
If you don’t have the money you get debt. At some point in a hospital visit a person swings by to get your financial information. They can’t refuse care, but they can demand your info.
If you can’t pay your bill that’s totally ok, it’ll sit there waiting as debt collectors hound you every few days. Or you can reach out to a hospital run charity program to prove you’re sufficiently poor and get a reduced cost payment plan.
It’s dystopian, yes, but more in the “a lot of Americans go into medical bankruptcy” way than the “you’re forced to give birth out back” way.
If you can’t pay then they’ll put the baby back in
People living under the bridge have to come from somewhere
They expect you to have the baby in a manger full of farm animals on a pile of hay, like Jesus’s mom.
bennypr0fane@discuss.tchncs.de 1 day ago
…or you live in a normal country, where you have universal health insurance, giving birth is free, and you get a free parenting starter-kit and counseling
SantasMagicalComfort@piefed.world 1 day ago
How do you pay the doctors if the healthcare is free?
Checkmate communists.
NihilsineNefas@slrpnk.net 2 hours ago
I pay taxes. Once.
You pay your hospital, the doctor, the pharmacist, the nurse, the insurance company, the car parking for your stay, and your taxes.
Checkmate capitalists :p
Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com 20 hours ago
Why should you pay for it, it’s free!
Checkmate euh, logical people I guess.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 22 hours ago
Lesson 1: Don’t shake the baby.
Lesson 2: I said DON’T shake the baby!!!