I usually write about topics that pertaining to people of retirement age but found this subject interesting because it illustrates the low cost of health care in Costa Rica.

In the United States the cost of giving birth can depend on which state you live in. In some states it is much cheaper to give birth. It is much cheaper to give birth, for example, in lower income states like Iowa and Kansas. Hospitals and doctors are forced to adjust their fees because the average median income is much lower than other places like California or Colorado. Generally, it costs more to give birth in places where there is a larger percentage of people with high incomes. Hospital fees can also impact the cost of the birth. The average vaginal childbirth cost around $7,737or more. Most hospitals charge additional fees for the surgery or they take a portion of what the doctor makes. Cesarean-sections are on the rise and more surgical births are done every day, causing the cost of care to go through the roof. One-third of all U.S. babies are born via C-sections, at an average cost of $10,958, which is $3,000 more than vaginal births. The cost goes up depending on how long the patient stays in the hospital and if any complication arises before or after the delivery.

Now let’s look at the cost in Costa Rica. If you belong to the Caja or public health care system your childbirth is free. The only thing you really have to pay is your monthly premium which is under $40.

If a woman chooses a private hospital, the fees are high for Costa Rica but low in comparison to the United States. The Clínica Bíblica charges about $1400 for a vaginal birth and $1800 for a Cesarean section. A vaginal birth at Cima hospital is around $3,000. The Clínica Católica charges $1,250 for a vaginal birth and around $2,000 for a Cesarean section. The Jerusalem Hospital and Clínica Santa Rita have similar prices. Private hospitals offer additional services like photographs of the mother and child and hair styling for the mother.