Pregnant women say health care providers are billing them to deliver their babies earlier than expected. Patient advocates say that's unethical.

Summary

Some women are being asked to prepay for their baby, a practice that is legal but considered unethical by patient advocacy groups.

The practice is driven by the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed in the U.S., where bundled billing has become outdated.

Critics say this exacerbates maternity care inequities, with families left to navigate unclear costs and insurance complexities amid rising healthcare expenses.

  • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
    311·
    2 months ago

    Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?”

    I’m gonna be that guy: if you can’t handle an unexpected $1k bill, even by putting it on credit or setting a payment plan, you can’t afford to be having a kid.

    More on topic, if $960 is the full cost out of pocket for the whole delivery process, that seems pretty cheap to me. (Really healthcare should be socialized, but we’re not there yet.)

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      21·
      2 months ago

      Someone better let the “your body, my choice” crowd know.

      Oh wait, they’ll be able to get out of child support now.