Pregnancy-related medical costs | Progyny

Written by the Progyny Editorial Team — September 2025.

It’s no surprise that having a baby can be expensive. A Peterson-KFF analysis found that in 2022, the average cost of pregnancy, childbirth in a hospital, and postpartum care was nearly $19,000. On average, out-of-pocket costs were almost $3,000.

Fortunately, understanding your coverage can help.

What is covered by insurance?

Routine, preventive pregnancy care should be covered by insurance if you stay in-network. This means no out-of-pocket costs for you.

However, not all services are fully covered. You may need to pay part of the cost through your deductible, co-insurance, or co-pay. If you have pregnancy complications or manage a health condition, your costs may be higher. And childbirth itself is expensive due to the hospital stay, anesthesia if used, care for you and the baby, and more.

To manage your expenses, it helps to:

• Understand your coverage
• Stay in-network for medical care, tests, and delivery
• Consider enrolling in tax-advantaged accounts

Tax-advantaged accounts

If your employer offers a pre-tax spending account for medical or childcare expenses, this can help you save. Your employer may add money to some of these accounts, as well.

Common accounts include:

• Health Savings Account (HSA). An HSA is like a personal bank account for medical expenses. The money you contribute is pre-tax, so you’ll get tax savings. The funds roll over every year — it’s your money to save, invest, and use until you retire.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA). An FSA is an employer-owned account for medical expenses. The money you contribute is pre-tax, so you’ll get tax savings. But the money may expire at the end of the year.
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA). A DCFSA is an account for dependent services like preschool, summer day camp, before and after school programs, and child or adult daycare. The money you contribute is pre-tax, so you’ll get tax savings. But the money expires at the end of the year.

Read this article on tax-advantaged accounts and reach out to your Progyny Benefits Specialist if you’d like any guidance or help understanding your coverage. They’re here for you.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional for financial guidance.