That is about $4,438 in 2025.
I searched and the average cost for a vaginal birth in 2025 is about $13,000.
Hospital Bill 1961
Submitted 2 days ago by Mickey7@lemmy.world to [deleted]
https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/cf5d660d-0663-4d78-9942-a28e0359c6e9.png
Comments
JoMiran@lemmy.ml 2 days ago
jj4211@lemmy.world 4 hours ago
Another thing to keep in mind, this was a bill for a 9 day hospital stay. Generally speaking a vaginal birth has you back out the door in 24 hours, maybe 48 if something warrants a little more observation.
thebestaquaman@lemmy.world 2 days ago
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?
BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 1 day ago
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.
JoMiran@lemmy.ml 2 days ago
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.
ignotum@lemmy.world 2 days ago
If you can’t pay then they’ll put the baby back in
captainlezbian@lemmy.world 2 days ago
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.
thespcicifcocean@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Yeah, that’s about right. When my daughter was born, they sent a bill for 100k because of complications.
hawgietonight@lemmy.world 2 days ago
People living under the bridge have to come from somewhere
ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 2 days ago
They expect you to have the baby in a manger full of farm animals on a pile of hay, like Jesus’s mom.
TipsyMcGee@lemmy.dbzer0.com 22 hours ago
For profit health care is a wild and truly bizarre concept, regardless, but advancements in health care have outpaced inflation by a lot since the sixties
Therobohour@lemmy.world 23 hours ago
Rip off,in the uk it’s zero
Mickey7@lemmy.world 23 hours ago
You still think it’s free? Nothing is free you are just taxed more
H4CK3RN4M3D4N63R570RM@lemmy.ca 22 hours ago
But even in places with universal healthcare you’d pay less than the average US citizen over a lifetime.
bennypr0fane@discuss.tchncs.de 2 days 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 2 days ago
How do you pay the doctors if the healthcare is free?
Checkmate communists.
NihilsineNefas@slrpnk.net 1 day 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
Therobohour@lemmy.world 23 hours ago
The government pays. They can afford it
Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 days ago
Why should you pay for it, it’s free!
Checkmate euh, logical people I guess.
Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world 2 days ago
Lesson 1: Don’t shake the baby.
Lesson 2: I said DON’T shake the baby!!!
shalafi@lemmy.world 20 hours ago
I live in America and paid $0 to have both our children. No idea how that worked at the time, but it’s true.