Alaska ranks as the most expensive state for childbirth costs, new data shows

• The cost of childbirth in the United States is escalating, with some states seeing significantly higher expenses than others.
• Alaska has the highest average costs, with C-sections estimated at nearly $40,000 and vaginal deliveries around $29,000.
• Vaginal deliveries at expensive hospitals in New York and New Jersey can run around $21,800, while C-sections in Maine and Vermont may exceed $28,000.
• Disparities in costs are influenced by factors such as provider training, local living expenses, and insurance bargaining power, with racial differences also noted.
• The rising financial burden of childbirth is a key reason for the plummeting US fertility rate, as many individuals choose to delay or forgo starting families.

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Picking up the newborn tab: These are the states where delivering your baby will cost the most