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]

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.