How to Afford an Out-of-Hospital Birth

Hey mama, if you’re hoping to have your baby at home or at a birth center but are stressing about your health insurance not covering midwifery care outside of a hospital (don’t even get me started on how ridiculous the health insurance industry is), don’t throw in the towel just yet!

I know how stressful finances can be, but if you envision your birth outside of a hospital or have found a midwife you love who matches your birth philosophy, know you have options and there are ways to make your dream a reality! You shouldn’t have to settle for a provider or location that you don’t love!

Here are some ideas for how to pay for an out-of-hospital birth that might not be fully covered by insurance:

1. Start saving in advance.
   Whether you are thinking about getting pregnant or are trying to conceive now OR are early on in your pregnancy already, start putting aside a fixed amount of money each month to help pay for your care.

2. Ask the midwife if you can do a payment plan.
   Most midwives and birth centers are very flexible about payment plans! Talk about your concerns and figure out a realistic payment plan that works for both parties.

3. Contact your insurance company to see what they cover AND request coverage for your situation.
   Even if your health insurance company says they will not cover births at home or a birth center, it never hurts to submit a claim but also to write a letter to them before your baby is born, requesting coverage for your birth. I was told my health insurance wouldn’t cover any of my birth at a birth center, but I decided to write a letter with studies showing that I was actually at a lesser risk of interventions and therefore lesser risk of need of further coverage beyond the birth, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out after our birth that the insurance company ended up covering a portion of my birth center birth! You never know what could happen, so it’s worth pursuing!

4. Save the money from your tax return to use towards the cost of your care/birth.
   If you know you usually get money back from your tax return, set it aside and plan on using it towards the cost of your care.

5. Sell things you don’t need around your house on facebook marketplace.
   This is a great way to get rid of things you don’t even use, while also making even a couple hundred dollars! If you have nice clothes or shoes you know you will never actually wear again, sell them! If you have workout equipment you haven’t used in years, list it on facebook! Look around your house and make a list of things you can sell and then get to work.

6. Put a cash fund on your baby registry.
   I recommend this for doula services, too! In reality, if you are dreaming of your ideal birth team and birth location, that experience is far more important than bibs and onesies. You can add a cash fund to your baby registry and ask people to contribute to your dream birth, as that will impact you more in the long run than baby gear ever could.

7. Plan ahead and consider getting a Christian health share instead of traditional health insurance BEFORE you conceive, as many of these companies cover any kind of birth!
   Do your research on these to find out which companies cover what kinds of births, AND make sure you sign up with them BEFORE you conceive, as most will only cover you this way.

I’m sure there are even more creative ways to help pay for your out-of-hospital birth, but these are my top recommendations! Just remember, in all things, PRAY! God cares for you and He is with you every step of the way!

If you’ve already been through this, I’d love to hear ways that helped you pay for your out-of-hospital birth! Please share in the comments! :)