No Cost Birth is a Bipartisan Idea, But Is It a Good One?

Abby McCloskey, Bloomberg Opinion, June 21, 2026

“Second lady Usha Vance’s due date is rapidly approaching. I have no idea how healthcare expenses are treated for the vice president’s family. But JD Vance has long been an advocate for $0 out-of-pocket costs for giving birth. He is not alone. A bicameral, bipartisan group in Congress is working to make free birth a reality for all Americans.

Childbearing in America isn’t cheap. For most families, the costs start accumulating right away, with prenatal appointments, ultrasounds and blood tests. One in five pregnant women will also need miscarriage treatment.

Then there’s the birth itself. Childbirth is the most common reason for hospitalization in the US. For families with private health insurance, the average cost of birth hovers around $3,000. If a newborn requires care in the neonatal intensive care unit or if a family has a high-deductible health plan, the costs can easily climb above $10,000. Then tack on more costs for postpartum appointments and newborn pediatric visits.

The American middle class feels this burden the most. For families with income low enough to qualify for Medicaid, hospitalized childbirth is free, along with prenatal and postpartum care. And Medicaid covers 40% of births. Looking abroad at America’s peer countries, the average out-of-pocket cost of childbirth is zero.”