NY Senator: Childbirth For Moms In US Should Be Free For Those On Private Insurance Just As For Medicare – Bipartisan Legislation Seeks To Make This Reality

GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE CHILDBIRTH FREE FOR FAMILIES WITH PRIVATE INSURANCE 

Editor’s note: When one considers the rising rates of maternal mortality in the US, this bill seems like it could provide a pathway to reversing that trend.  For so many mothers, the reason they don’t get the healthcare they need while pregnant is a matter of finances: they simply can’t afford their medical care.  Premiums can be high, and as a recent study showed, women overall are charged 20% more for healthcare of all types, with only 2% attributable to maternity costs.  This bill would bring America into line with other developed nations, including Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, and Sweden.  All of these countries have better outcomes for mothers and babies than the US in their present maternity care models, as the United States comes in last among developed nations for maternal outcomes, and it has the highest maternal mortality of the ten developed countries it was compared to.  This also has to do with the lack of midwifery, where the model of care for midwives provides better outcomes with fewer interventions.  It is based on patience, following the rhythm of the birth at hand, helpful support, and non-invasive testing and assessment methods.  The cash cost of a C-section in New York City averages $3,551.  Readers learned about the Midwifery and Doula services available, generally under insurance coverage, at the NYU Langone in New York.  When considering the cost of childbirth, about 4% of people are uninsured, and the price with insurance for a vaginal delivery averages $14K, while a C-section averages $16K. Out-of-network costs can also be much higher, averaging $28.5K for a vaginal delivery and $37.6K for C-sections.  Uninsured cost for delivery is the same or similar to out-of-network, so those without insurance can expect to incur a staggering amount of medical debt just for having a baby, particularly if they cannot afford to pay for it.  A significant percentage of insured individuals will use a provider that is considered out-of-network, thus raising their cost of delivery much further.    The cost in New Jersey for uninsured people is among the highest in the nation at about $52K. 

According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund: “The U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rate among developed countries. Obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns) are overrepresented in its maternity care workforce relative to midwives, and there is an overall shortage of maternity care providers (both ob-gyns and midwives) relative to births. In most other countries, midwives outnumber ob-gyns by severalfold, and primary care plays a central role in the health system. Although a large share of its maternal deaths occur postbirth, the U.S. is the only country not to guarantee access to provider home visits or paid parental leave in the postpartum period.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to discuss her Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act, bipartisan legislation that would require insurance companies to fully cover the costs associated with childbirth, including labor and delivery and prenatal, neonatal, perinatal, and postpartum care. Even with insurance, childbirth can cost families thousands of dollars, and expenses are even greater for women who have additional health complications during pregnancy, a high-deductible health plan, or gaps in their coverage. As a result, new mothers are twice as likely as other young women to have medical debt.

The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would require that costs associated with birth be categorized as essential health benefits (EHB) and would remove the relevant services from insurance cost-sharing.

Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Josh Hawley (R-MO) cosponsor this legislation.

“The costs associated with having a baby can be astronomical, and we should be doing everything we can to lower them,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The fear of an enormous bill leads some women to delay seeking prenatal or postpartum care, or to avoid it entirely, which creates worse outcomes for both women and their babies. That is unacceptable. I am proud to be introducing this bipartisan legislation to require insurance companies to fully cover care throughout pregnancy and a year postpartum. I look forward to working with my colleagues across the aisle to get this bill passed.” 

The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act would eliminate cost-sharing for a variety of services, including:

• Ultrasounds
• Delivery services, including anesthesiology, fetal monitoring, consultations with specialists, and services relating to postpartum health
• Comprehensive postpartum care for physical and mental health conditions caused or exacerbated by pregnancy, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and postpartum depression and anxiety
• Mental health care and treatment for substance use disorder related to new parenthood for adoptive parents
• Care for miscarriages

The bill is expected to cause only a minor increase of $30 annually per enrollee in average premiums. Any rise in premiums due to covering out-of-pocket pregnancy costs will be likely less than annual inflation in premiums.

The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act is supported by medical providers and pro-family advocates, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Medical Association, American Hospital Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Catholic Health Association, March of Dimes, American Principles Project, Concerned Women for America, and the Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

Banner Image: Senator Gillibrand video cover. Image Credit – Sen. Gillibrand