How can I have a baby if I can't afford the $20,000 to pay for the pregnancy?

Question

My husband and I want to have our second baby.

I had insurance with the first, but I no longer work for the company that provided my health care. We have no health insurance now. Last night we decided we want to have another baby. We are both excited. This morning, I started doing a little research to see how much it would cost to have the baby.

From what I can see, it will be about $20,000. And since I have no insurance, I will be expected to pay all expenses up front. What can I do? I don't know if I can qualify for Medicaid. There are only a few doctors in my town, 3 that are private insurance doctors, and the rest are Medicaid doctors.

Should I just not have a baby? I didn't realize health care was so outrageous! Someone give me some tips on how to do this intelligently! Thanks!

Answer 1

If you're definately set on having another child, I'd recommend finding some way of getting some health insurance.  It may only cost about $20k for a healthy birth, but there is always the possibilty of complications.  I gave birth to my son at 29 weeks.  Then I stayed in the hospital for about a week, and my son for 7 weeks.  Altogether, we estimated our insurance paid $500,000 - 750,000 or more.  I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but you always have to be prepared in case things don't go as planned.

Answer 2

Go ahead and try for medicaid and see if you would qualify.  In TX, so long as you make less than 32k for 2 (don't know what it would be for 3) and limited assets, you would qualify.

Several years ago when my wife and I had our first, we tried.  Made about 600 too much.

Hospital visits can be expensive.  Ours without insurance would have ran close to, if not over, 30k.  There were a few complications (cord wrapped around her neck, week stay, etc) though.

You could also talk to the hospital about a payment plan and reduced costs.  Part of the reason for the higher prices to the public is because so many people skimp out of not paying or the insurance company keeps them in check on the price for those that have coverage.

I wish you luck.

Taxes be damned.  Your paying for the services, might as well use them.

Answer 3

mbrcatz gave you good suggestions about birthing centers.

If you want a hospital birth, I'd suggest that you contact that specific hospital and discuss negotiating a cash price.  Many hospitals have a standard discount for patients who are self-paying.  I work for a large hospital system, and we have a department that makes financial arrangements with self-paying individuals.  You may be surprised to see that the cash price would be less than the $20,000 you have in mind.  (I've had 2 c-sections, and the total medical bills were under $20K each time.  Vaginal births are significantly cheaper than c-sections.)

Of course, even with a discount, you're still going to have to pay *something*.  (Unless you qualify for Medicaid or obtain health insurance in advance that will cover your pregnancy/birth.)  But, as I'm sure you know, that's part of the reality of being a parent...advance planning, making financial sacrifices, etc.

Answer 4

Responsible people don't do things they can't afford to do, no matter how much they want to.

On the other hand, one of the people who answered makes an intriguing point, which is why it should cost much at all to have a baby.  While it's true that women have babies in parking lots and rice paddies, if anything went wrong and you needed emergency care you couldn't afford it.

The answer to your question is that you can have a baby when you can't afford it if you're willing to ruin your credit and go into debt, or you can decide to not have the baby.

Answer 5

Women have been having babies for thousands of years without paying for them.  Pregnancy costs NOTHING.  Childbirth can cost nothing.  Heck, every year you hear of babies born in McDonald's parking lot on the way to the hospital.  Not that I'm recommending that.

Prenatal care costs a little.   If you do a homebirth, with a midwife, all your prenatal care and the birth usually cost LESS than 2,000.    A birthing center birth with midwife usually costs LESS than $4,000.

MOST women in the world, do NOT have hospital births, and do NOT pay $20,000.  AND, for the record, there are 26 countries in the world where it is SAFER to have a baby than the US - most of which do NOT have hospital births as the preferred way to deliver.

The hospital where I just gave birth, is $7,000 for both mom and baby, two nights in the hospital after birth.

So I have NO idea where you plan on doing it, but I don't know anywhere where it's that much!!

Healthcare is outrageous, because people want to spend $20,000 to have a baby!!  Figure, that's more than $2,000 a month!!

Answer 6

Raising the baby will cost even more. You should know that since you already have a child. Just wait until later. Personally, I wouldn't opt to have a baby right now while times are so hard and money is tight.

Answer 7

I'm so impressed that you are planning ahead.  My husband said the cost to raise a child is now about $200,000. (yikes!)   So the cost of the hospitalization is added to that, and, the $20k is if you don't have complications, right?

I like your idea of trying to find private insurance, or Medicaid (which you're probably right - you probably can't get)

You will need health insurance for the family, anyway, once the baby is born.  Can you imagine being uninsured for your husband or you or the baby, then 100% of your savings goes to a medical emergency?  So you might as well begin shopping now.

Some states offer health insurance plans for self-employed families such as yourselves, and for people who can't get it from their jobs.  

If you're set on having the baby without insurance, check into a doula or a home birth with a different type of medical professional than a full fledged hospital compliment.  It is risky if there is a complication, but there is always 911, for emergencies, and most home births are decided upon because the mother is in good health and the baby doesn't have any worry signs.

And please don't scrimp on pre-natal care and those doctor visits :)

Good luck!

Answer 8

Apply for Gov aid.  If your income is low enough it will not cost you a dime.  On the other hand please stop doing this... my taxes are high enough as it is.  Thanks.

Answer 9

You should not have the baby until either of you two are able to support it medically.

Taxes are high enough as it is.

You could apply for state aid, but I do not suggest this as it will only raise my and everyone elses taxes, but cut you a break, also they will probably tell you to get a job, unless of course you're disabled and can't get a job, in which case you should allready have medicare or medicaid, and should not be having children (assuming you're disabled)

So its best to wait until you have a job!

Answer 10

DO you qualify for medicaid? Many pregnant women do. Check into that, and good luck ttc!

Answer 11

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Answer 12

The smartest thing to do is not get pregnant.  You have weigh your desires against the reality of the situation.  Just because you want a baby, it doesn't mean that you should have one, especially if you can't afford it.  Why should our tax dollars pay for your kid?  There are already so many kids who have nothing.  Don't make another one.  To do so would be selfish.

Answer 13

Wow, why do some people even bother to answer questions?

$20,000 is not a realistic number. It is more like $5,000 for a vaginal birth. I am not really sure about C section.

If you visit the hospital in advance they will give you a lower price as long as you make monthly payments leading up to the birth. I had a client do this in Virginia Beach and the hospital charge was reduced from $5,000 to $3,500. This can vary greatly depending on where you live.

You can also use a midwife instead of a hospital.

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/Spring20...

The Maternity Card offered by AHCO is a discount card. It cost about $300 and they guarantee if you don't save at least $300 they will give you your money back and $100.

http://client.ahcoagent.com/22328/matern...

If you do end up with large medical bills you can use a medical claim review and settlement organization. If you visit MyMedicalcontrol.com they will try and negotiate a lower price for you. If they succeed you will pay them 30% of what they saved you, if they are not able to get you a better price you are not charged anything.

Lastly you could purchase a high deductible health plan, say $5,000. Even though you would be responsible for the first $5,000 of medical bills. These bills would still be negotiated by the insurance company and this would save you thousands vs. not having insurance. If you couple this with a Health Savings Account the money you spend on medical care would be tax free and could be written off your income tax just like an IRA contribution. This type of plan would cost a 31 year old female roughly $98 per month. You have to make sure your health plan has maternity or the hospital won't discount the cost of services. Depending on the insurance company you must have the policy in effect 90 days up to 9 months prior to conception for the pregnancy to be covered

Insurance would be the best thing you could do, if there were serious complications it could bankrupt your family.

Good Luck, and if you need more info feel free to contact me

Answer 14

I think it great that you wish to expand your family. I would personally wait until your husband can add you to his insurance or you could get your own. I would not rely on Medicaid because you are married, it is unlikey you would qualify unfortunately.  

Good luck and best wishes to you and your family.

Answer 15

You should both obtain insurance regardless of whether you want to have another baby.  Go to an independent agent and get some quotes for individual policies.  No, it is not cheap, but neither are "full retail" medical bills.