As an expatriate in America, you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Expecting a baby soon? Congratulations! You have an extraordinary adventure ahead of you. Around the world, women experience motherhood and childbirth in very different ways. Such an event requires preparation, especially when you’re an expatriate, far from your usual points of reference. After the joy of the news, it’s time to get down to the practicalities: health insurance, healthcare costs, appointments with various professionals, and so on. Today, we’d like to give you an overview of the process and costs of pregnancy in the United States, including the cost of giving birth in the USA.
Just like in France, you’ve bought a pregnancy test in a pharmacy or supermarket and, surprise: it’s positive. What wonderful news! Congratulations! Now it’s time to get organized for this wonderful adventure.
Pregnancy follow-up
Your doctor will follow you throughout the nine months of your pregnancy. He or she is often attached to a hospital, and therefore determines the facility in which you will give birth. You are free to choose the doctor of your choice, but we advise you to check that the practitioner you have chosen is covered by your insurer, so that your follow-up costs can be reimbursed.
Coverage for pregnancy follow-up in the U.S. depends enormously on the practitioner you choose and your state of health. In France, we’re used to a medicalized scheme that’s more or less the same for all expectant mothers. In the USA, it’s very different… You’re likely to have more than a dozen ultrasounds, sometimes even weekly in the last trimester. On the other hand, some doctors opt for a much less medicalized approach, not performing any gynecological examinations before the 8th month of pregnancy. It is therefore advisable to discuss the matter carefully with your future “ob-gyn” in order to choose a practitioner who meets your expectations in terms of follow-up.
You will have a monthly check-up; in the event of minor concerns or complications, these appointments may be more frequent. Examinations are quite similar to those carried out in France. However, there is no screening for toxoplasmosis, so there is no follow-up if the mother-to-be has not been immunized. The medical teams are particularly well-trained and provide precise follow-up. So there’s no stress to worry about.
Giving birth
First of all, you can take a childbirth preparation course. These help you to prepare for childbirth and the first few days after your baby’s birth.
You can also give birth in the hospital where your “ob-gyn” works. You can also choose to give birth at home, with the help of a midwife, or in a birthing center. It’s important to check your health insurance contract to see what conditions apply to coverage and reimbursement. You can also choose to return to France to give birth close to your loved ones, or to exchange views with the medical profession in French.
Maternity stays are much shorter than in France. You can be discharged a few hours after delivery for an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. At most, you’ll stay in the hospital for two days. This may be due to the daily cost of the room, which is not necessarily covered by insurance companies.
One of the major differences with France is that in the USA, you’re not a patient, you’re a customer! Your satisfaction will therefore be of paramount importance to the establishment you choose. You’ll certainly find yourself in a comfortable room, with the staff at your service, so you’ll want for nothing. Of course, this comfort comes at a price, so watch out for the bill, which is often very high.
How much does childbirth cost?
The cost of childbirth in the United States varies according to hospital, state and specific circumstances. On average, an uncomplicated delivery costs between $15,000 and $50,000, with prices rising in the event of complications or if you choose a high-end facility. Then there are the costs of pregnancy follow-up, such as obstetric visits and blood or urine tests, which can run into the hundreds of euros.
It is therefore crucial to check your health insurance coverage before giving birth, as some costs, such as hospitalization of the mother (around $2,700), hospitalization of the baby (around $900) and routine obstetric care (around $2,000), are not always fully covered. Other costs, such as anesthesia, laboratory tests and radiology, may also be added, depending on the care provided.
To make sure you’re well protected, we recommend you check the limits and deductibles for the maternity option in your insurance contract. You should also check your coverage for obstetric emergencies, as not all insurance companies offer the same level of cover. It’s important to take out this option even before you conceive, as contracts often include a waiting period.
What happens after childbirth?
As you can imagine, you’ll be discharged quickly after giving birth, even if you’ve had a Caesarean section. In France, after your delivery you continue to be monitored by your obstetrician for perineal reeducation, for example. This is not the case in the USA. If you wish to have follow-up care or re-education, you’ll have to pay for it yourself. So it’s a good idea to find out whether your international health insurance can also cover these costs.
Breast-feeding
In the United States, breastfeeding is a widespread practice: around 72% of women breastfeed, and this figure is rising. Even so, breastfeeding in public is controversial, and each state has different laws on the subject. 45 states allow mothers to breastfeed in public spaces, including California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, New York and the District of Columbia.
Maternity leave
Federal law provides for 12 weeks’ unpaid maternity leave for mothers who have worked for at least 12 months in a company with 50 or more employees. However, this leave is subject to specific conditions, and pay varies from state to state. For example, in California, maternity leave is limited to 6 weeks, with a 55% payment. Each state has its own rules, which can affect the length of leave and the rate of pay. It is therefore essential to find out about local laws before giving birth, especially if you are an expatriate, taking into account the costs associated with the price of giving birth in the USA.
Nationality
Are you or one of your parents French, and have you given birth in the United States? Congratulations, your child is now Franco-American! Since the 14th Amendment of 1868, any child born on American soil automatically obtains American citizenship. Don’t forget to register your child with the French consulate within 30 days of giving birth. And of course, it’s important to take into account the price of a birth in the USA when planning your trip.
In conclusion: as an expatriate, you can take advantage of French-style health insurance toensure 100% coverage for your maternity abroad (emergencies, hospitalization, follow-ups, childbirth…). santexpat.fr’s international health experts will be happy to help you compare the maternity options available under the various policies.
