{
  "id": 17946042,
  "title": "Expecting a Baby? Five Tips To Help You Prepare for Pregnancy Costs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/expecting-a-baby-five-tips-to-help-you-prepare-for-pregnancy-costs",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-03T10:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "KFF Health News",
    "slug": "kff-health-news",
    "url": "https://kffhealthnews.org/health-care-costs/helpline-pregnancy-expenses-planning-5-tips-surprise-bills/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Expecting a baby can be an exciting time, but it also comes with financial considerations. As Grace Griffin and her husband prepared for their daughter's arrival, they were concerned about the potential medical costs. To get a better idea of the expenses, they researched the costs associated with pregnancy and delivery using their UnitedHealthcare student plan's Summary of Benefits and Coverage. They found that the estimated out-of-pocket costs for a routine pregnancy and delivery were around $2,700. However, as their pregnancy progressed, they quickly realized that the actual costs would far exceed their initial estimate. Early in the pregnancy, Grace met her $500 deductible, and then she had to pay 20% coinsurance for in-network care, which meant she was responsible for a portion of the costs for each service received. When they received their \"explanation of benefits\" notice after the delivery, they discovered that the hospital had charged about $18,000, and they were on the hook for a significant portion of that amount. In total, Grace's family's out-of-pocket expenses totaled more than $9,000, which was more than three times the general estimate provided by their insurer for pregnancy-related costs. This experience highlights the importance of understanding and budgeting for the potential costs of pregnancy and childbirth. Federal lawmakers have been working to make healthcare costs more transparent and accessible to patients. The No Surprises Act, which was enacted in 2020, requires insurers to provide consumers with an individualized \"advanced explanation of benefits\" estimating the costs of scheduled care. However, due to delays in implementation, many patients are still not receiving this information. Until clearer guidelines are in place, here are some tips to help you budget for the cost of pregnancy: 1. Enroll your baby before the deadline. When a newborn is born, a special enrollment opportunity becomes available for parents to sign up their child for health coverage. Many employer health plans require parents to request enrollment within 30 days of birth, while Marketplace plans generally allow 60 days. Missing this deadline could leave your newborn uninsured until the following year. 2. Understand key cost terms. When budgeting for a pregnancy, it's essential to understand terms like deductible, copayments, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) expense. The deductible is the amount you'll pay before your insurance coverage kicks in. Copayments are fixed fees paid each time you receive a service, regardless of the bill's size. Coinsurance is the percentage of the cost you'll be responsible for paying for each service. MOOP is the maximum amount you'll have to pay in out-of-pocket expenses for covered services in a given year. Being aware of these costs can help you better plan for the financial aspects of pregnancy.",
  "summary": "The cost of having a baby is frustratingly difficult to predict. The actual amount families pay varies widely. Here are five tips to help you prepare for the often-unexpected costs of pregnancy and giving birth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}