Better beginnings: The key to lower maternity costs and healthier outcomes

Healthcare costs are rising. In fact, 2025 is expected to bring the sharpest spike in more than a decade, with Mercer forecasting group healthcare cost increases of 8%, on average, if employers take no action to lower costs. 

One area hitting budgets particularly hard: maternity-related claims, which continue to rank among the top five cost drivers for employers, rising by 8 to 12% annually. 

But here’s the good news: Many of the most expensive aspects of maternity care — complications, late diagnoses, high-intervention births — are linked to preventable conditions and missed opportunities for early intervention. With the right strategy in place, employers can significantly bend the cost curve. 

Here’s a look at what’s driving today’s maternity spend, and how Progyny’s benefits help members achieve healthier pregnancies and better outcomes. 

1. Late engagement in maternity programs 

Most traditional maternity programs don’t engage until midway through pregnancy—often only after a claim is filed—missing the critical window for early intervention. By then, opportunities to prevent complications and manage costs from the start are already lost.

Progyny benefits begin with preconception care before someone is even ready to start conceiving, connecting members to support early. Progyny Care Advocates (PCAs) guide members through fertility and health planning, helping them address risks proactively and begin pregnancy from a healthier place. 

2. Undiagnosed or unmanaged chronic conditions 

Conditions such as obesity, PCOS, endometriosis, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders are increasingly common among women of reproductive age. When left unmanaged before pregnancy, they drive higher rates of complications, high-risk births, and costly interventions. 

Progyny makes it easier for members to identify and address health risks early, eliminating delays caused by bouncing between providers or navigating fragmented benefits. With a single point of contact and an actively managed network of specialty providers who focus on women’s health, members receive high-quality care that’s tailored to their needs. 

3. Fragmented fertility and maternity care 

Disconnected care across fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum increases the risk of duplicated services, poor handoffs, and missed support, each of which can drive up costs and reduce member satisfaction. 

Progyny PCAs guide members every step of the way — offering connected, continuous care across the entire reproductive journey. Support spans from preconception through postpartum, including doula access, return-to-work, and lactation support, improving clinical outcomes and delivering a better experience. 

4. Delayed family building and advanced maternal age 

As more people delay starting families, they’re entering pregnancy with age-related risks and existing conditions that increase the need for complex, high-cost care. 

Progyny supports members with personalized care plans that address their unique health needs. And because this model focuses on paying for outcomes, not clicks, employer dollars go toward high-value support, not just digital engagement metrics. 

5. Unaddressed mental health needs 

Mental health challenges, such as perinatal anxiety, postpartum depression, and the emotional toll of infertility, can have serious clinical and financial consequences if left unaddressed. 

Progyny takes a whole-person approach to women’s health, offering 1:1 emotional support. Whether navigating fertility treatments, pregnancy, or postpartum, members get emotional support that’s built into their care. 

You don’t have to wait for maternity costs to hit your budget before taking action. According to a recent study, Progyny’s solution delivers industry-leading results, including more healthy pregnancies, more healthy babies, and fewer high-risk pregnancies and NICU visits. Employers who invest in women’s health through Progyny are seeing a cost avoidance of 25 to 30%.