Lawmakers Push for Free Childbirth under Private Insurance
WASHINGTON D.C. – A bipartisan effort is underway on Capitol hill to eliminate out-of-pocket costs for childbirth for individuals with private health insurance. The proposed legislation,dubbed the “Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act,” aims to ensure that families do not face financial hardship when welcoming a new child.
The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Rep. young Kim (R-Calif.), seeks to mandate that private health insurance companies fully cover the expenses associated with childbirth.This includes prenatal care, ultrasounds, the delivery itself, and up to a year of postpartum services, preventing any cost-sharing from the patient.”Having a baby shouldn’t bankrupt a family,” stated Rep. Harder, a father of two young children. He emphasized the stress new parents already face and the importance of removing the burden of medical bills.
Rep.Kim, a mother of four and grandmother, shared her personal connection to the issue, having witnessed her own children navigate the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum care. “Seeing my children also going through the challenges of being pregnant, childbirth, prenatal care, postpartum care, it really struck a chord,” she commented.
According to the health policy organization KFF, the average out-of-pocket cost for childbirth for mothers with large-group employer insurance is approximately $3,000, with nearly 17% of mothers incurring costs exceeding $5,000.
“This is such a bipartisan issue. It’s not a political issue,” Rep. Kim asserted,highlighting the broad support for making childbirth more affordable.
A similar bill has also been introduced in the Senate, and lawmakers are working to garner additional co-sponsors for the House version. The goal is to remove financial barriers for families starting or expanding their households.