Cost of Raising a Child Calculator

For all thos that were interested, Erica, please share with your hubby

calculator

Lisa, I was suprised by the # I got too

I agree, Lisa. And, I also think that $1200 annually for healthcare is alot (God forbid you have a sick child, tho) and $2600 for Misc. is total BS. I don't spend $2600/per year on balloons to make Paul smile

How much does the average hospital delivery cost?

Expert: Ann Linden, Certified Nurse-Midwife [See Biography]

Question: About how much does an average hospital stay for labor and delivery cost? I'm planning on natural childbirth with a certified nurse midwife, at a hospital, with a 1-day stay.
Answer: This is a difficult question to answer, since hospital charges vary enormously by region. Costs also vary by institution, with tertiary care centers (hospitals with a wide range of services, specialists, and availability of the most 'high-tech' ancillary services, including intensive care) generally costing more than community hospitals, even if you don't use any of these services. Remember, too, that unless you're getting care from a hospital-based clinic, the fee covering the care rendered by your midwife will be separate.

I called a few hospitals in New York and found that the cost of a normal ******l birth for a self-pay patient with a one-day stay ranged from $2,500 to $3,000. If, however, things do not go as you plan and you end up being delivered by cesarean section, then the cost will be significantly higher.

Like hospital charges, provider fees vary greatly by region. Midwives in private practice in New York City, for example, charge about $4,000 for professional services, which includes care during pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. Labs fees generally are separate, as are special tests like amniocenteses and sonograms.

If you're in an HMO and choose a provider from their list, then you should pay nothing (or a small co-payment) for the provider and hospital stay. For those of you insured in New York who want to use a midwife, be aware that there is a state law requiring an insurance company (including HMOs) to allow you the option of using a midwife, even if this requires going out of network to do so. Thirty other states also mandate private insurance reimbursement for midwifery care, and medicaid reimbursement is mandatory in all 50 states.

If you have point-of-service insurance, then you usually have to pay about 20 percent of the provider fee, but in most cases the hospital charges will be covered completely.

If you have no insurance coverage for maternity care, but do not qualify for Medicaid, I suggest you call your local or state health department to find out if any special programs exist that might cover your situation. There are many clinics with midwives on staff.

When looking for information about costs where you live, you can start by calling a hospital's business or patient account office. Ask about the charge for a ******l delivery with a one-day stay. Be sure to find out if there are other hidden costs:

* Will you be charged for the nursery, even if your infant rooms in with you?

* Will you be billed separately for lab tests done in the hospital?

• What if a cesarean is needed?

• What is the charge for anesthesia?

• What if your infant needs any special care?


Finding out about your midwife's fee is more straightforward, but do remember to ask how a physician is paid if one becomes involved in your care at any time during the pregnancy or birth.

I disagree with those stating that the child does not have a housing cost.

For example if you're a child-free couple, perhaps a 2-br apt is enough for you. But if you start having children, you're technically are looking into a house, b/c you need more space.

A child needs a bedroom and possibly a play area, no? So when you guys say - well, I have a 4-br house anyway, you probably purchased that house with the intent of having children, b/c a couple does not need a 4 br house... Or if you have a house of that size, you can also rent some rooms out, which is not possible if a child occupies those rooms...

So, to that effect children do have 'housing' costs, they are just normally incurred prior to the child's birth.

hmmm...$500K total (my child is going to a public university - especially since CA has some of the best) - not too bad...


thanks for thinking of me Shamma...