The quick numbers
| Total cost | What families pay | |
|---|---|---|
| All births | $20,416 | $2,743 |
| Vaginal birth | $15,712 | $2,563 |
| C-section | $28,998 | $3,071 |
Average costs of pregnancy, birth and recovery for families with insurance through work. Source: KFF, a nonprofit health research group (2025).
These are national averages. Your own cost depends on two big things: which hospital you choose and which insurance you have. The same birth at the same hospital can cost thousands more or less depending on your plan.
What you'll be billed for
Having a baby usually means several bills, not just one:
- Your hospital stay. This is the biggest part. In Dallas–Fort Worth, insurance typically pays the hospital $10,280 for a vaginal birth and $11,934 for a C-section.
- Your OB or midwife. Usually one fee that covers your checkups, the delivery and your follow-up visit. It's typically around $2,600 to $2,700 with insurance in DFW.
- Anesthesia. If you get an epidural or have a C-section, the anesthesiologist bills separately, usually a few hundred dollars with insurance.
- Your baby's own bill. Your baby's hospital stay is billed on its own, typically around $2,623 in DFW, plus visits from the pediatrician.
- Tests and ultrasounds. Blood work, screenings and ultrasounds during pregnancy.
- Extras if needed, like NICU care or a longer stay.
Real hospital prices in Dallas–Fort Worth
Here are the DFW hospitals with the lowest typical prices for a vaginal birth, based on the price data they're required to publish:
| Hospital | City | Range, by insurance plan | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navarro Regional Hospital | Corsicana | $5,747–$5,747 | $5,747 |
| Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth | Fort Worth | $4,353–$19,139 | $6,890 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Centennial | Frisco | $4,353–$17,556 | $6,890 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Grapevine | Grapevine | $4,353–$19,139 | $6,890 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Irving | Irving | $4,353–$19,139 | $6,890 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Lake Pointe | Rowlett | $4,353–$17,556 | $6,890 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney | Mc Kinney | $4,353–$19,139 | $6,890 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Waxahachie | Waxahachie | $4,353–$19,139 | $6,890 |
| Baylor University Medical Center | Dallas | $4,353–$19,139 | $6,890 |
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Frisco at PGA Parkway | Frisco | $4,353–$19,139 | $7,137 |
The highest is Methodist Dallas Medical Center at $14,163. Compare all 46 hospitals.
How much you'll pay with insurance
With insurance, you don't pay the full hospital price. You pay your share, which comes down to three numbers on your plan:
- Deductible: what you pay yourself before insurance starts sharing the cost.
- Coinsurance: after that, you pay a percentage of each bill (often 10% to 30%).
- Out-of-pocket max: the most you'll pay in a year. After that, insurance pays 100%.
Because having a baby costs more than most deductibles, many families end up paying close to their out-of-pocket max. Two things to watch for: your baby often has their own deductible, and a pregnancy that crosses January 1 can mean paying two years' worth of deductibles.
What will you pay with your insurance?
Choose your hospital and insurance, then add your plan's numbers. You'll find them on your insurance card, app or benefits summary. What you type stays on your device.
This is a helpful estimate, not a quote. Your real bill depends on your plan, your doctors and how the birth goes. It's always worth a quick call to your insurance before your due date.
If you don't have insurance
Ask every hospital for its self-pay package price and a written Good Faith Estimate. You have a legal right to one. In DFW, only 8 of 46 hospitals publish a self-pay price, from $5,722–$11,935 for a vaginal birth. Texas Medicaid and CHIP also help many families pay for pregnancy care. Read our full guide.
Six ways to lower your bill
- Make sure everyone is in your network: the hospital, your OB and the anesthesia group. Ask the hospital which anesthesia and pediatric groups it works with.
- Compare hospitals if you have a choice. Your insurance may pay very different prices at different hospitals.
- Think about timing: if you're planning ahead, a due date early in your plan year means paying one deductible instead of two.
- Use your HSA or FSA to pay with money you haven't paid taxes on.
- Ask about financial help: nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance programs.
- Check every bill against the statement from your insurance before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to have a baby with insurance?
On average, families with insurance through work pay about $2,743 out of pocket for pregnancy, birth and recovery: about $2,563 for a vaginal birth and $3,071 for a C-section. Your cost depends on your deductible, coinsurance and out-of-pocket max. Try our cost estimator for a personal estimate.
How much does it cost to have a baby without insurance?
In Dallas–Fort Worth, hospitals that publish a self-pay price charge $5,722–$11,935 for a vaginal birth and $10,742–$16,557 for a C-section. That covers the hospital stay only, not your doctors or your baby's own bill. See our guide to giving birth without insurance.
Does a C-section cost more than a vaginal birth?
Yes, because it's surgery with a longer stay. Nationally, the total cost averages about $29,000 for a C-section and about $15,700 for a vaginal birth. In DFW, insurance typically pays the hospital $11,934 for a C-section and $10,280 for a vaginal birth.
Will my baby get a separate bill?
Yes. Your baby is a patient too, with their own hospital bill (around $2,623 in DFW for a healthy baby) and pediatrician charges. Many family plans give your baby their own deductible. Remember to add your baby to your insurance within 30 days of birth.
Why is the hospital bill so much higher than what I paid?
The bill shows the hospital's full sticker price. Your insurance has agreed to a much lower price, and you only pay your share of that lower price.