Childbirth Can Lead to Severe Medical Debt for New Parents
Childbirth Can Lead to Severe Medical Debt for New Parents
Medical Debt: A Weighty Burden for New Parents
Bringing a new baby home is a joyous occasion, but for many new parents, it also comes with an unexpected burden: medical debt. Recent research conducted by Michigan Medicine reveals that postpartum women are more likely to accumulate medical debt than their pregnant counterparts. This finding sheds light on the financial strain that many families experience during this critical and emotional time.
The study involved analyzing data from over 14,000 pregnant women and more than 12,000 postpartum women with commercial insurance. Lead author, Dr. Michelle Moniz, an obstetrician/gynecologist at the University of Michigan Health’s Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, explains, “Our findings suggest that current out-of-pocket costs before and after childbirth are objectively more than many commercially insured families can afford, leading to medical debt.”
The Impact of Medical Debt
The research highlights the need to address the issue of ever-increasing healthcare costs for expectant and new parents. Even though medical advancements have improved the quality of maternity care, the financial burden that comes with it remains a persistent concern. The study reveals that individuals who live in low-income neighborhoods face a higher likelihood of accumulating medical debt.
“Having unpaid medical bills was not only significantly more common among postpartum individuals, but more common among the most socioeconomically vulnerable people,” says Dr. Moniz. “These results suggest that all postpartum individuals are at risk of economic strain related to out-of-pocket spending for medical care before and after childbirth, and that medical debt is most prevalent among postpartum individuals living in neighborhoods with the lowest median income.”
Why Postpartum Women Are at Higher Risk
Several factors contribute to the higher risk of medical debt among postpartum individuals. Dr. Moniz points out that health care costs associated with pregnancy, birth, postpartum care, newborn care, and caregiving expenses can quickly add up. In addition, potential reductions in earnings after childbirth also exacerbate the financial strain.
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To address this issue, the study authors propose several policy measures. These include reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket health care spending for maternal and infant care. This could involve lowering deductibles for those with lower household incomes or offering pre-deductible coverage that prohibits out-of-pocket spending for essential services like prenatal visits, ultrasounds, hospitalization for both parents and infants, and postpartum services.
“We know that financial hardship can negatively impact health — it is associated with delayed or deferred health care, mood disorders, and mortality among adults. No one wants these outcomes for new parents and infants,” emphasizes Dr. Moniz. “We need to pursue initiatives that help us identify and assist individuals with the lowest capacity to buffer against high health care bills or other expenses around the time of childbirth so that families can bring home a baby without a bundle of unpaid bills and financial distress.”
Looking Ahead
Unfortunately, medical debt remains a significant concern for many families, even after the joyous arrival of a new baby. The study’s findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions that reduce the burden of healthcare costs for expectant and new parents. By alleviating the financial strain, we can ensure that all families have access to quality care without the added stress of accumulating medical debt.
