The cost of birth

[make_your_move]

From Regis & Kelly this morning, for births in a hospital in New York:

Uncomplicated vaginal delivery: $10,000

C-section: $12 to $15,000

Complicated pregnancy: $287,000

What we charge at the birth center for a home or birth center birth, normal pregnancy, including labs & usually 1 ultrasound: $4800

And yet, a lot of insurance companies still don't cover this as an option....

Comments

[potassiumman.livejournal.com]

Adoption isn't really an issue for insurance, though, and at the very least not medical insurance since adoption isn't a medical procedure.

With birth, at least, there's some manner of justification for the invocation of a medical professional, in the case of complications.

[musicman.livejournal.com]

Being told that infertility is a pre-existing condition so not covered is a medical issue. And unfair -- after all, fertility is not only a pre-existing condition, but it is very expensive. If health insurance covers the one, it should cover the other.

There are many excuses for not assisting adoptive families, and I've probably heard them all by now. I still wait to hear valid excuses for leaving orphaned children in orphanages, rather than helping families find financial means to adopt and raise the children. Most health insurance in the US comes as part of an employer-sponsored benefits package. As long as most benefits packages don't assist adoption, millions of children will continue as orphans aroudn the world, in orphanages or even out on the street. Seems very unfair to the children. But if people don't speak out on this, nothing will change.

[potassiumman.livejournal.com]

Health insurance should cover assistance in procedures designed to remedy infertility. Aiding in adoption doesn't treat the medical problem of infertility, so it's unrelated to health insurance.

I'm not disputing that employer benefit packages should take adoption into account, nor that adoption should be an easier, less expensive option with more incentives than it is. The only thing I'm disputing is the idea that health insurance should help to cover adoption costs.