Having a Baby
Delivery, hospital stay, and newborn care are billed very differently depending on which side of the Atlantic you're on.
Norway
United States
Cost of childbirth & newborn care
USD, per birth. "Total cost" is what's billed to insurance; "out-of-pocket" is what the family actually pays.
View as table
| Item | Norway (USD) | United States (USD) |
|---|
What's actually happening
In the US, childbirth is billed like any other hospital procedure. Even with employer insurance, the average family pays about $2,743 out of pocket for pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care combined, on top of a much larger total bill covered by the insurer. A C-section costs roughly 50% more than a vaginal delivery. Uninsured families face the full total cost directly.