Giving birth now costs up to $39k in this US state
Alaska records the highest average costs, with vaginal deliveries estimated at approximately $29,000 and C-sections at nearly $39,500.
Other states, including New York, New Jersey, Maine, and Vermont, also report elevated costs, particularly for C-sections, which are more complex and expensive procedures.
Cost disparities are influenced by factors such as provider training levels, local salaries, malpractice insurance, and insurers' bargaining power, with Black and Hispanic people often incurring higher maternal care costs.
The escalating expenses associated with childbirth and childcare are a primary reason for the plummeting fertility rate across the US, as families express concerns about financial resources.
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The Independent
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- The Independent
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Reuters
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