Pregnancy Insurance Policies

It has been stated by the Kaiser Family Foundation that the average cost of a woman's prenatal care is $2,000. The tab for a hospital delivery of the child can run into several thousands of dollars, depending upon services rendered.

Definition of Maternity Coverage

• Maternity coverage will normally cover a woman for all of her prenatal care, starting from early obstetrical care, through her delivery and subsequent hospitalization and up to six weeks after childbirth.

Benefits

• The benefit to having maternity care coverage is to enable a pregnant woman to have the cost of her prenatal care, delivery and any subsequent hospitalization or postnatal care covered by this insurance, rather than her having to pay out of pocket.

Average Cost of Vaginal Delivery

• According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average cost of a vaginal delivery in a hospital runs between $5,000 and $10,000. If a Cesarean Section becomes necessary, the cost can balloon another $2,000.

Average Cost for Postnatal Care

• A 2003 report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRA report in the According to a 2003 report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) states that the average cost of a postnatal care visit can average $133 per visit.

Insurance Industry Insight

• The Aetna Insurance Company stated in a 2005 report that over 70 percent of expectant mothers spent "no time at all" reviewing the specifics of their health care benefits.