Hospitals Are Forcing Expecting Mothers to Pay Before Giving Birth 

By Consumers for Quality Care, on December 4, 2024

Many hospitals and medical providers are now requiring soon-to-be mothers to pay in advance before giving birth, according to KFF Health News. 

Kathleen Clark and her husband were told to pay the bill for the birth of their child after just the second prenatal visit, 12 weeks into her pregnancy. Clark reluctantly paid the nearly $1,000 bill at that visit.  

What the Clarks experienced is becoming increasingly common as a growing number of hospitals are now choosing to bill their patients before treating them. While the practice is not illegal, health care advocates believe it is unethical, causing both financial and emotional anxiety for the consumer. Additionally, consumers are at times initially overcharged and then forced to go through a convoluted and bureaucratic process to receive whatever refund they may be owed. 

Giving birth is expensive. Consumers with private health insurance incur nearly $3,000 in out-of-pocket expenses related to pregnancy and childbirth. A KFF poll found that the costs associated with childbirth account for roughly 12 percent of the 100 million consumers with medical debt. 

Clark, who had already met her deductible before being asked to pay for her pregnancy care upfront, was able to get about half of what she had previously paid back. She gave birth prematurely via emergency cesarean section. After multiple calls back and forth with the hospital, Clark resolved her bills the day that she and her husband brought home their newborn son. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” 

Requiring payments before medical services are rendered puts undue financial stress on consumers. CQC calls on lawmakers and regulators to ensure consumers are not forced to skip needed medical procedures due to arbitrary prepayment requirements.