New legislation has been introduced in Congress that backers said would make childbirth free for families with private insurance.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who sponsored the legislation, announced the Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act on Wednesday during a news conference.
She said the bill will categorize all prenatal and postpartum expenses as essential health benefits, which means insurance companies will be required to fully cover the cost of all childbirth related services. This includes ultrasounds, fetal monitoring, labor and delivery, and physical and mental health support after giving birth.
“When you're having a baby, the last thing you should be worried about is how to pay your hospital bills,” Gillibrand said.
She added that requiring full insurance coverage will provide families with a “financial predictability and stability” and put them in a better place to care for their kids.
The bill has received bipartisan support.
“The high cost of childbirth places an undue burden on our nation's healthcare system and our larger economy,” Gillibrand said. “Families are forced to choose between paying off their debt and paying off other essentials.”
Maternal mortality can also be linked to the high cost of childbirth, Gillibrand said, adding that medical debt or the potential to incur it can discourage mothers from going to the doctor.
“Sometimes, mothers wait to seek out care until it's too late, putting their health and sometimes the health of their baby at risk,” she said.
In New York, even with good insurance, Gillibrand said a family can expect to pay roughly $3,000 out of pocket on labor and delivery and other associated fees.
