Facing the Financial Storm: The High Price of Pregnancy and Miscarriage in America
My mind was reeling as I listened to the news, sitting in the delivery room, preparing to meet my third child—a daughter. Months earlier, I had confronted a devastating miscarriage that began to heal only through medical intervention: an endometrial biopsy and D&C procedure, both designed to hopefully give birth to a healthy baby.
Adeline Chen
The emotional and physical toll of that miscarriage still hangs heavy on me, even now, more than a year later. What surprised me most, besides the heartbreak, was the financial impact—a cruel reminder of how expensive pregnancy can be in the United States.
Despite not requiring medical treatment for every miscarriage, many women do. And when unforeseen medical expenses enter the picture, it often becomes a financial nightmare, adding a fresh layer of pain in an already trying time.
The next day, my doctor confirmed my dreaded suspicions—a suspected miscarriage that hurt like the loss of a person who was just beginning to grow within me.
I could still remember that dejected feeling as I asked questions like "Why?" and "What do I do with the remains?" I wondered if I'd be just as angry if I had lost the pregnancy in the 7th or 8th week. Questions like these crossed my mind as I considered the insurance implications—would coverage for the pathology report help? I sighed inwardly, feeling a mix of shame, sadness, and frustration at the necessity of delaying the report due to cost considerations.
A few weeks later, the bill arrived. I was fortunate enough to have a good job and insurance covering most of the costs (for US standards). Nonetheless, the total bill for medical consultations and ultrasound scans still amounted to almost $500.
My body didn't follow the typical script either. For four months, I was a test subject—weekly ultrasound scans, hormone level tests, hysteroscopies, and finally that D&C procedure, followed by consultations with a gynecological oncologist and a reproductive endocrinologist.
Before the D&C, I received a call from the hospital billing department, asking me to pay several hundred dollars upfront to cover my share of the procedure costs. Without insurance, the cost for a hysteroscopy and D&C would have surpassed $30,000.
I reluctantly handed over more than $1,000, feeling the weight of my misfortune. I still can't be sure if more bills are on the way. I feel privileged to be in a position to afford this ordeal, while knowing that many other women are not so fortunate.
Today, abortion remains a socially stigmatized topic. Pregnancies are often kept secret for the first trimester, while many women suffer in silence through the 10-20% of miscarriages that affect our society.
My miscarriage experience is one brush with reality that leaves no doubt: women carry a disproportionate burden—emotionally, physically, and financially. Even if you choose to give birth, you cannot escape the pitfalls of pregnancy, miscarriage, or infertility without conceding to a toll that's beyond your control.
Despite South Korea boasting the third-highest maternal mortality rate among industrialized nations, America ranks the highest with drastically increasing numbers in the last decade. In 2020, more than 23 American women died per 100,000 live births, up from 20 in 2019 and 17 in 2018.
For women dealing with high blood pressure or pregnancy-associated diabetes, their risk of developing heart disease or diabetes later in life significantly increases. And though newborns often have regular check-ups in the first few weeks, freshly delivered mothers are largely left to their own devices to cope with the physical and emotional trauma.
Medical guidelines from early 2018 called for just one postpartum visit within six weeks following delivery. While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends that postpartum care be a continued process, this recommendation doesn't guarantee that every woman gets the care she deserves, since it ultimately depends on her doctor.
Then there's the mental health aspect. A 2011 study suggested that as many as 15% of women facing a healthy pregnancy after a miscarriage suffer from anxiety and postpartum depression. The challenges associated with reproductive health are often personal issues that emerge from circumstances beyond one's control, even when the decision to get pregnant is intentional.
I cannot be the only one feeling the emptiness of our so-called "celebration of motherhood" in this country, where discussions about reproductive healthcare are ostracized and labeled as personal problems. Women in the United States deserve better than a last-minute bouquet or meaningless platitudes on Mother's Day. Instead, we demand and rightfully deserve comprehensive legislative reform to support all aspects of reproductive healthcare.
Additional Considerations
Costs for pregnancy and miscarriage in the United States can be substantial and vary based on several factors, including the stage of pregnancy, specific medical procedures, and individual insurance coverage. Here an overview of potential costs:
- Miscarriage Costs
- Early Miscarriage (Up to 12 Weeks)
- Suction aspiration abortion: $500 to $750
- Ultrasound: $100 to $250
- Lab work and consultation fees: $100 to $200
- Follow-up visit: $50 to $150
- Total estimated cost: $500 to $1,300[1]
- Late Miscarriage (13-24 Weeks)
- Dilation & Evacuation (D&E) abortion: $1,500 to $3,000
- Anesthesia or sedation: $200 to $600
- Extended recovery care: $100 to $300
- Travel expenses (if out-of-state care required): $500 to $2,000
- Total estimated cost: $1,800 to $5,900[1]
- Late-Term Miscarriage (25+ Weeks)
- Induction or D&X abortion: $3,000 to $10,000+
- Hospital fees: $1,000 to $5,000
- Travel and lodging: $500 to $2,000
- Legal expenses in some cases
- Total estimated cost: $3,500 to $17,000+[1]
- Miscarriage Without Insurance
- The costs can range from $500 for an early procedure to $10,000 or more for a late-term abortion, depending on the stage of pregnancy and the specific procedure required.[1]
- Financial Aid Options
- Some clinics and organizations provide financial assistance, but these options can vary depending on location.[1]
[1] Source: Planned Parenthood
