Sarai Jones, a California-based content creator, recently shared a video on TikTok breaking down the cost of giving birth to her baby. The video quickly went viral, racking up close to 40 million views. In the video, Jones explained that she had just received the hospital bill for her recent childbirth.
The breakdown of expenses was as follows: Labor and Delivery Room ($13,900), Room and Board ($19,111), Anesthesia ($2,181), Pharmacy ($1,291.33), Other Diagnostic Services ($1,001), Laboratory ($862), Emergency Room ($411), US Anesthesia ($1,356.68), Vaginal Delivery Postpartum Care ($6,793), and Cervical Dilator ($385). The total charges amounted to a staggering $47,292.01. However, due to her insurance coverage, Jones only had to pay $2,205.09 out of pocket.
The high cost of childbirth in the United States is not uncommon.
California mom’s viral hospital bill
According to various sources, the average cost of giving birth in the US stands at $18,865, which includes pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care.
For those with health insurance, the out-of-pocket price might be reduced to just under $3,000. More than half of women in the US rely on private insurance to cover the costs of delivery. However, even within the same hospital, the prices for vaginal childbirth can vary by as much as 50% or more.
While Jones’ insurance covered a significant portion of her childbirth expenses, many of her followers still found the roughly $2,200 she had to pay out of pocket to be too high. Netizens expressed their thoughts in the comments section of the video, with many expressing surprise, shock, and empathy for the high costs associated with childbirth in the US. The viral video highlights the ongoing issue of high healthcare costs in the United States, particularly when it comes to childbirth.
It also underscores the importance of having comprehensive health insurance coverage to help mitigate the financial burden of medical expenses.
