[prettymom]

I had a birth center birth with #1 and loved it, but want to look into home birth for #2 (not yet conceived). How much does a homebirth typically cost? Is there any insurance company in the history of the world that has covered one (or at least part)?

 

[alegna]

The costs vary GREATLY by where you are. Here it ranges from around $2500 to $6000

My insurance covered mine 100%

-Angela

 

[dogmom327]

My insurance doesn't cover home birth and although they cover prenatal and postpartum care, the deductibles for out-of-network care (which all HB midwives are for this company) are to high to bother submitting anything.

That being said, here's what I found. I started my pregnancy in Utah. HB midwives there run $1600-$2000. I moved to Oregon when I was 30 weeks and midwives here run $2500-$3500. Some give discounts for cash payment (not having to bill insurance) or for early payment (usually paid in full by 35 weeks). Be sure to ask!

 

[mendomidwife]

I charge $3500 for complete prenatal care, delivery and pp care, including newborn care to one month.
I work with each client individually and depending on their situation I have a sliding scale.
If they have insurance, I ask them to pay what the insurance does not pay.

Carla

 

[emski4379]

It varies here. Anywhere frokm $1800 to $3000. The midwife we chose charges $2600.

 

[mommymurray2]

well i live in Maine... my home birth costs $2800... that includes all visits, birth, checks on the baby one day after, three days after, 3 weeks after and 6 weeks after... that is for my midwife and her assistant... i pay my midwife upfront then bill the insurance...and get reimbursed

 

[~MoonGypsy~]

A homebirth in 2005 cost me $1800
A homebirth in Nov is going to cost me $2600
Both in AZ

 

[aylaanne]

Mine's $3200, with a $200 discount for paying by 36 weeks. That covers all prenatal care, the birth, and pp care to 6 weeks. I'm in rural massachusetts.

 

[prettymom]

anyone ever had medicaid in their state cover a homebirth?

 

[momto l&a]

In Idaho we paid 1,400 a peice for our first 2 and 1,800 for our third.

We then moved to Ca and paid 3200 BUT that includes ALL visits which are done in my home. It normally 4,000 but because we came to her late and paid cash before the birth it was knocked down to 3,200

Our insurance doesnt cover hb

 

[teachinmaof3]

Quote:

anyone ever had medicaid in their state cover a homebirth?

It's going to depend on your state. Here in OK, they will not.

 

[lc81002]

Here, it's $2500. My insurance will reimburse for roughly half of it. If there was an in-network midwife it would be covered 100%, but that doesn't exist here in VA. The VA medical board does NOT like home births.

 

[4daughters]

Wow, wish I lived in some other places right now. In NJ it's $5500 to $6000. So we have a $6000 deductible anyway and our insurance doesn't cover midwives.

 

[Belleweather]

Quote:

Originally Posted by prettymom anyone ever had medicaid in their state cover a homebirth?

Medicaid will be covering our homebirth in December, unless DH gets a job that gives him immediate insurance. Even then, since the best we can hope for is a PPO where we'd be paying out of network rates (so insurance will only cover 60%), we'll maintain Medicaid as the second payor and see if they'll pick up a portion of the remainder. Medicaid paid for most of our birth center birth with my son -- we had to pay the facility fee, since that wasn't covered -- and it was no hassle at all, so I'm not anticipating it being a problem this time since it's the same midwife group doing the birth, and the billing.

Also, if you deliver while on Medicaid, your new baby has automatic coverage for 1 year. This is a BIG DEAL if (god forbid) your baby has any serious health problems since the coverage Medicaid provides is often more generous than private insurance for therapies and isn't subject to lifetime maximums.

 

[rootzdawta]

$7,000 with $500 deposit. I really really hope insurance covers this.

 

[lyttlewon]

Mine is on an income scale. It will be $2800 for prenatal, birth and postnatal. If I was on state assistance it would be covered by insurance but since I am on private insurance it will not.

 

[~Kristina~]

1500-3500 in Michigan.

 

[saskiaofthewoods]

The usual rate here is between 2600 and 3500 Dollars. But I found one midwife who works with the Amish and does it all for 1000 Dollars.

I will just hire her for postpartum care, so I have to check how much that is. But of course she does not take insurance, which is fine, since mine would not pay it anyway.

What good is an insurance for if she does not cover the birth I want? Really, I am still mad about it. It feels so odd to me. Maybe if you are American you are used to it and it does not seem odd to you, but to me it makes so sense. Why the hell should I pay for giving birth? I just cannot get it into my head.

 

[lrmama]

$1350 covered all pre-natal, birth, and pp care. Insurance covered all but ~$250, due to our deductible, but our flexible spending account will cover that. Our FSA also covered my birth kit.

When I talked to my insurance company before the birth, the cs reps insisted that they didn't cover hb. We paid out of pocket, then sent the bill for reimbursement. My mw had the correct codes listed, so they just paid (probably figured they were getting off cheap!

)

 

[ani'smommy]

I'm in Michigan, too, and paying $2000 for prenatals, birth and 6 wks post partum.

I don't expect insurance to cover any of it, but we're going to try.