Delivery cost - VBAC more expensive

Klmorgan83

I got some paperwork from the billing department at my OB today.  I didn't really get to read it until I got home.  It states their global fee for delivery and then says "pregnancy delivered VBAC or cesarean will be charged a higher fee."  I plan on asking about it at my next appointment, I mean it's not really a huge deal to me that it would cost more, I just don't understand why it would be.  I could understand it if there were complications but if everything goes like a "normal vaginal" delivery it doesn't make much sense to me that it would be more just because it was a VBAC.  Any ideas?

iris427

Maybe to cover the increase in malpractice premiums that VBAC providers have to pay?  Or because of the whole "immediately availabl"e thing?

How much more do they charge for VBAC?  You have to let us know what they say about this!

Klmorgan83

There's no exact fee for the VBAC listed, so I'l definitely ask about it.

rena5498

Yes I agree with Iris that has to be a reason the malpractice. I never heard of this so I will definitely ask my midwife is there a difference. I know staff has to be there and readily available for anything to happen and monitor you the entire time once you are checked in. I guess that can contribute to the increase but if so..but its not like they are not going to have the staff there anyway because anything can happen with anybody..

papagena

While I get that malpractice ins. could be an issue - how irritating.  I wonder if your ins will have an issue with it or if they have different rates that will actually apply.  Still cheaper than a RCS.

akbride25

I don't know why it costs more, but I know that my doctor's office charges $500 more for a VBAC.

cg0112358

Could it be because an OB has to be available in the immediate area in case of any problems? From what I understand, never having been through it myself I'm not sure, during a vaginal delivery the doctor is not present throughout but I from what I've read a doctor has to be available for a VBAC in case any complications arise.

MAprincess

My co-pay was the same for my CS and VBAC (and would have been the same had I had a "normal" vaginal delivery the first time).  I got the bills for both too (though insurance covered them).  The hospital charged $40,000 for my CS and $9,500 for my VBAC.  Even taking into account the fact that I stayed at the hospital 4 days with my CS and was discharged in 24 hours with my VBAC, it appears that I paid less for the VBAC.

papagena

MAprincess:

My co-pay was the same for my CS and VBAC (and would have been the same had I had a "normal" vaginal delivery the first time).  I got the bills for both too (though insurance covered them).  The hospital charged $40,000 for my CS and $9,500 for my VBAC.  Even taking into account the fact that I stayed at the hospital 4 days with my CS and was discharged in 24 hours with my VBAC, it appears that I paid less for the VBAC.

She's talking VBAC vs. vaginal birth w/o any cesarean history.

jen5-03

My OB was at the hospital for 19.5 hours. He couldn't leave the hospital because of me. He could see other patients at that hospital, but he couldn't do anything else from 6am until 10:30pm. If I was a 1st time vaginal birth, I'm sure he would have gone back to his office at some point.  I think that's probably worth a couple hundred extra bucks.

beckynick04

I'd have to go dig out the price sheet I got...which I'm too lazy to do right now.  I do remember that the least expensive option is a "regular" vaginal delivery, followed by a VBAC (maybe 1k more?), and then a c/s.  I don't know why that is, though.

MAprincess

papagena:

MAprincess:

My co-pay was the same for my CS and VBAC (and would have been the same had I had a "normal" vaginal delivery the first time).  I got the bills for both too (though insurance covered them).  The hospital charged $40,000 for my CS and $9,500 for my VBAC.  Even taking into account the fact that I stayed at the hospital 4 days with my CS and was discharged in 24 hours with my VBAC, it appears that I paid less for the VBAC.

She's talking VBAC vs. vaginal birth w/o any cesarean history.

I guess the point was that I personally paid the same for both but the insurance picked up the rest.

MaggieGrace

I think it's because the doc must be in the hospital for the trial of labor.  I delivered my VBAC with midwives, and their backup Dr. was in the hospital the entire time.  I never saw him. but he was there.  I never thought of a VBAC being more expensive, but it makes sense that they'd charge more.  I have no clue if I was charged more, since I don't know what a regular vaginal delivery would have cost.