Vaginal birth cost without insurance
The median hospital cash price for vaginal delivery, including prenatal and postpartum care is $3,815.00 across 202 US hospitals; most list between $1,412.67 and $6,990.75. The lowest outpatient cash price in any of 127 markets is $483.12. Prices come from each hospital's own price file; pick your area below to compare hospitals side by side.
Collected Nov 7, 2026 Each price links to its source file All Pregnancy and birth costs
Cash or insurance?
If you have insurance but have not met your deductible, you pay the rate your plan negotiated with the hospital, not the cash price. Hospital price files list those rates too: for vaginal birth, the highest negotiated rate in a hospital's file has a median of $4,874.97 and the lowest a median of $1,574.05. At 122 of 154 hospitals that publish both, the cash price is below the highest negotiated rate.
With a high deductible, cash can cost less. But a cash payment may not count toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum: ask your plan for its rate at that hospital (most have a cost estimator) and whether it will credit a cash payment.
Plan's rate starts at the median highest negotiated rate and cash at the national median; put in your own numbers. Nothing you type leaves your device. To price a whole year with premiums, use the insurance or cash calculator.
What is CPT 59400?
This is a 'global' maternity code for routine care during pregnancy, a vaginal delivery and care after birth. It is billed by the doctor or midwife and covers routine prenatal visits, the delivery itself, and routine postpartum visits.
What the price covers
It covers the delivering clinician's services. The hospital's labor and delivery stay, anesthesia (such as an epidural), lab tests, ultrasounds and the newborn's care are billed separately.
Why prices differ
Prices vary because some hospitals list only the professional fee while others show package prices, and because prenatal visit counts and complications differ.
What to ask
Ask whether the self-pay price for CPT 59400 covers only the doctor's care or also the hospital stay, and whether any maternity cash package covers anesthesia and newborn care.
Prices by state
Among 16 states with at least 5 hospitals listing a cash price, the median is lowest in Tennessee ($490.82), Texas ($2,680.40) and California ($2,817.00), and highest in Oregon ($6,990.75), Massachusetts ($6,793.00) and New Jersey ($5,339.00).
Median outpatient cash price, one line per hospital. Pick a state to see every hospital, cheapest first.
- Alabama$2,135.87, 1 hospital
- Alaska$2,017.19, 2 hospitals
- Arkansas$3,111.70, 4 hospitals
- California$2,817.00
- Connecticut$1,367.19, 1 hospital
- Georgia$3,092.50, 2 hospitals
- Hawaii$3,793.35, 2 hospitals
- Idaho$4,565.10, 2 hospitals
- Illinois$4,634.45
- Indiana$2,195.45, 1 hospital
- Iowa$4,099.00
- Kansas$3,894.23
- Kentucky$483.12, 1 hospital
- Louisiana$2,039.82, 2 hospitals
- Maine$9,705.13, 2 hospitals
- Maryland$3,468.00, 1 hospital
- Massachusetts$6,793.00
- Michigan$3,283.20
- Minnesota$3,167.78
- Mississippi$490.82, 1 hospital
- Missouri$3,351.59, 3 hospitals
- Montana$4,818.35, 4 hospitals
- Nebraska$4,542.50
- New Hampshire$2,705.65, 3 hospitals
- New Jersey$5,339.00
- New Mexico$2,976.50, 3 hospitals
- New York$3,150.00
- Ohio$4,209.60
- Oklahoma$2,278.00, 1 hospital
- Oregon$6,990.75
- Pennsylvania$3,815.00
- South Carolina$1,879.00, 1 hospital
- South Dakota$5,606.00, 1 hospital
- Tennessee$490.82
- Texas$2,680.40
- Utah$2,641.91, 1 hospital
- Vermont$2,985.75, 1 hospital
- Washington$4,798.79
- West Virginia$3,770.00, 2 hospitals
- Wisconsin$4,589.60, 1 hospital
Prices by market
Outpatient cash prices. “×” is how many times the highest price in that market exceeds the lowest.
| Market | Hospitals | Lowest | Median | Highest | × |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 1 | $4,920.00 | $4,920.00 | $4,920.00 | 1.0× |
| Altoona, PA | 1 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | 1.0× |
| Astoria, OR | 1 | $6,990.75 | $6,990.75 | $6,990.75 | 1.0× |
| Atchison, KS | 1 | $4,013.00 | $4,013.00 | $4,013.00 | 1.0× |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 7 | $2,756.98 | $2,756.98 | $2,756.98 | 1.0× |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 1 | $1,785.01 | $1,785.01 | $1,785.01 | 1.0× |
| Beatrice, NE | 1 | $4,450.00 | $4,450.00 | $4,450.00 | 1.0× |
| Birmingham, AL | 1 | $2,135.87 | $2,135.87 | $2,135.87 | 1.0× |
| Bishop, CA | 1 | $5,801.00 | $5,801.00 | $5,801.00 | 1.0× |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 10 | $5,218.00 | $7,218.00 | $11,985.00 | 2.3× |
| Bozeman, MT | 2 | $5,370.40 | $5,370.40 | $5,370.40 | 1.0× |
| Brenham, TX | 1 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | 1.0× |
| Brookville, PA single city | 1 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | 1.0× |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 1 | $6,362.52 | $6,362.52 | $6,362.52 | 1.0× |
| Cambridge, NE single city | 1 | $5,040.00 | $5,040.00 | $5,040.00 | 1.0× |
| Camden, AR | 1 | $2,000.00 | $2,000.00 | $2,000.00 | 1.0× |
| Carroll, IA | 1 | $4,865.21 | $4,865.21 | $4,865.21 | 1.0× |
| Champaign-Urbana, IL | 1 | $6,289.00 | $6,289.00 | $6,289.00 | 1.0× |
| Charles City, IA single city | 1 | $1,890.00 | $1,890.00 | $1,890.00 | 1.0× |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 9 | $1,076.69 | $4,574.70 | $7,038.00 | 6.5× |
| Chico, CA | 1 | $2,414.00 | $2,414.00 | $2,414.00 | 1.0× |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 2 | $4,209.60 | $4,209.60 | $4,209.60 | 1.0× |
| Clay Center, KS single city | 1 | $3,937.50 | $3,937.50 | $3,937.50 | 1.0× |
| Clinton, MO single city | 1 | $3,351.59 | $3,351.59 | $3,351.59 | 1.0× |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 1 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | 1.0× |
| Columbus, OH | 1 | $2,903.85 | $2,903.85 | $2,903.85 | 1.0× |
| Corydon, IA single city | 1 | $4,099.00 | $4,099.00 | $4,099.00 | 1.0× |
| Cumberland, MD-WV | 1 | $3,468.00 | $3,468.00 | $3,468.00 | 1.0× |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1 | $592.59 | $592.59 | $592.59 | 1.0× |
| Denison, IA single city | 1 | $3,244.00 | $3,244.00 | $3,244.00 | 1.0× |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 1 | $6,483.00 | $6,483.00 | $6,483.00 | 1.0× |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 2 | $3,358.99 | $3,358.99 | $3,358.99 | 1.0× |
| DuBois, PA | 2 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | 1.0× |
| Duluth, MN-WI | 1 | $2,400.00 | $2,400.00 | $2,400.00 | 1.0× |
| Dumas, TX | 1 | $838.40 | $838.40 | $838.40 | 1.0× |
| El Paso, TX | 2 | $512.76 | $512.76 | $512.76 | 1.0× |
| Ellensburg, WA | 1 | $4,180.30 | $4,180.30 | $4,180.30 | 1.0× |
| Farmington, NM | 1 | $2,976.50 | $2,976.50 | $2,976.50 | 1.0× |
| Fergus Falls, MN | 1 | $1,790.10 | $1,790.10 | $1,790.10 | 1.0× |
| Forrest City, AR | 1 | $5,517.09 | $5,517.09 | $5,517.09 | 1.0× |
| Freeport, IL | 1 | $4,338.40 | $4,338.40 | $4,338.40 | 1.0× |
| Gallup, NM | 1 | $1,165.00 | $1,165.00 | $1,165.00 | 1.0× |
| Gordon, NE single city | 1 | $3,492.00 | $3,492.00 | $3,492.00 | 1.0× |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 1 | $2,190.50 | $2,190.50 | $2,190.50 | 1.0× |
| Grants, NM single city | 1 | $4,007.94 | $4,007.94 | $4,007.94 | 1.0× |
| Grantsburg, WI single city | 1 | $4,589.60 | $4,589.60 | $4,589.60 | 1.0× |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | 3 | $4,937.35 | $6,503.90 | $6,846.98 | 1.4× |
| Hermitage, PA | 1 | $3,973.27 | $3,973.27 | $3,973.27 | 1.0× |
| Hilo-Kailua, HI | 1 | $1,526.70 | $1,526.70 | $1,526.70 | 1.0× |
| Hood River, OR | 1 | $6,990.75 | $6,990.75 | $6,990.75 | 1.0× |
| Huntingdon, PA | 1 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | 1.0× |
| Imperial, NE single city | 1 | $4,635.00 | $4,635.00 | $4,635.00 | 1.0× |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 1 | $2,195.45 | $2,195.45 | $2,195.45 | 1.0× |
| John Day, OR single city | 1 | $3,939.00 | $3,939.00 | $3,939.00 | 1.0× |
| Johnstown, PA | 1 | $3,758.40 | $3,758.40 | $3,758.40 | 1.0× |
| Kellogg, ID single city | 1 | $4,369.20 | $4,369.20 | $4,369.20 | 1.0× |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 3 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | 1.0× |
| Kotzebue, AK single city | 1 | $586.00 | $586.00 | $586.00 | 1.0× |
| Lakeview, OR single city | 1 | $4,108.05 | $4,108.05 | $4,108.05 | 1.0× |
| Lancaster, PA | 1 | $5,991.36 | $5,991.36 | $5,991.36 | 1.0× |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 2 | $2,190.50 | $2,190.50 | $2,190.50 | 1.0× |
| Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT | 2 | $2,104.30 | $2,404.98 | $2,705.65 | 1.3× |
| Lexington, NE | 2 | $3,254.00 | $5,047.00 | $6,840.00 | 2.1× |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 1 | $483.12 | $483.12 | $483.12 | 1.0× |
| Lima, OH | 1 | $3,681.00 | $3,681.00 | $3,681.00 | 1.0× |
| Litchfield, MN single city | 1 | $3,584.00 | $3,584.00 | $3,584.00 | 1.0× |
| Littlefield, TX single city | 1 | $1,400.00 | $1,400.00 | $1,400.00 | 1.0× |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2 | $936.62 | $2,078.31 | $3,220.00 | 3.4× |
| Lyons, KS single city | 1 | $1,312.50 | $1,312.50 | $1,312.50 | 1.0× |
| Machias, ME single city | 1 | $13,723.00 | $13,723.00 | $13,723.00 | 1.0× |
| Marble Falls, TX single city | 1 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | 1.0× |
| Marquette, MI | 1 | $9,590.32 | $9,590.32 | $9,590.32 | 1.0× |
| McAlester, OK | 1 | $2,278.00 | $2,278.00 | $2,278.00 | 1.0× |
| McPherson, KS | 1 | $3,850.96 | $3,850.96 | $3,850.96 | 1.0× |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 5 | $490.82 | $490.82 | $490.82 | 1.0× |
| Moab, UT single city | 1 | $2,641.91 | $2,641.91 | $2,641.91 | 1.0× |
| Morgan City, LA | 1 | $3,294.90 | $3,294.90 | $3,294.90 | 1.0× |
| Morgantown, WV | 1 | $5,700.00 | $5,700.00 | $5,700.00 | 1.0× |
| Morris, MN single city | 1 | $3,615.00 | $3,615.00 | $3,615.00 | 1.0× |
| Moscow, ID | 1 | $4,761.00 | $4,761.00 | $4,761.00 | 1.0× |
| Moultrie, GA | 1 | $3,501.00 | $3,501.00 | $3,501.00 | 1.0× |
| Mount Vernon, OH | 1 | $4,196.58 | $4,196.58 | $4,196.58 | 1.0× |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | 1 | $1,879.00 | $1,879.00 | $1,879.00 | 1.0× |
| Nacogdoches, TX | 1 | $1,331.00 | $1,331.00 | $1,331.00 | 1.0× |
| Napoleon, OH single city | 1 | $4,297.50 | $4,297.50 | $4,297.50 | 1.0× |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1 | $4,451.40 | $4,451.40 | $4,451.40 | 1.0× |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1 | $784.74 | $784.74 | $784.74 | 1.0× |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 18 | $2,078.59 | $4,754.00 | $25,368.66 | 12.2× |
| Owosso, MI | 1 | $3,283.20 | $3,283.20 | $3,283.20 | 1.0× |
| Pampa, TX | 1 | $580.00 | $580.00 | $580.00 | 1.0× |
| Pearsall, TX single city | 1 | $5,166.00 | $5,166.00 | $5,166.00 | 1.0× |
| Peoria, IL | 1 | $11,201.00 | $11,201.00 | $11,201.00 | 1.0× |
| Pine Bluff, AR | 1 | $4,223.39 | $4,223.39 | $4,223.39 | 1.0× |
| Polson, MT single city | 1 | $2,908.80 | $2,908.80 | $2,908.80 | 1.0× |
| Port Angeles, WA | 1 | $4,835.20 | $4,835.20 | $4,835.20 | 1.0× |
| Port Townsend, WA | 1 | $7,677.60 | $7,677.60 | $7,677.60 | 1.0× |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 5 | $6,990.75 | $6,990.75 | $6,990.75 | 1.0× |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 2 | $5,511.16 | $6,262.78 | $7,014.40 | 1.3× |
| Quincy, CA single city | 1 | $5,202.40 | $5,202.40 | $5,202.40 | 1.0× |
| Republic, WA single city | 1 | $4,798.79 | $4,798.79 | $4,798.79 | 1.0× |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 4 | $1,675.80 | $3,135.60 | $4,305.22 | 2.6× |
| Roseau, MN single city | 1 | $6,364.16 | $6,364.16 | $6,364.16 | 1.0× |
| Russellville, AR | 1 | $817.31 | $817.31 | $817.31 | 1.0× |
| Sandersville, GA single city | 1 | $2,684.00 | $2,684.00 | $2,684.00 | 1.0× |
| Satanta, KS single city | 1 | $3,169.80 | $3,169.80 | $3,169.80 | 1.0× |
| Seneca, KS single city | 1 | $4,014.90 | $4,014.90 | $4,014.90 | 1.0× |
| Sidney, MT single city | 1 | $4,266.29 | $4,266.29 | $4,266.29 | 1.0× |
| Skowhegan, ME single city | 1 | $5,687.25 | $5,687.25 | $5,687.25 | 1.0× |
| Smith Center, KS single city | 1 | $3,302.81 | $3,302.81 | $3,302.81 | 1.0× |
| Snyder, TX | 1 | $13,598.00 | $13,598.00 | $13,598.00 | 1.0× |
| St. Johnsbury, VT single city | 1 | $2,985.75 | $2,985.75 | $2,985.75 | 1.0× |
| St. Marys, PA | 1 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | $3,815.00 | 1.0× |
| Staples, MN single city | 1 | $2,751.56 | $2,751.56 | $2,751.56 | 1.0× |
| Ste. Genevieve, MO single city | 1 | $2,266.00 | $2,266.00 | $2,266.00 | 1.0× |
| Sweetwater, TX | 1 | $3,218.00 | $3,218.00 | $3,218.00 | 1.0× |
| Temple, TX single city | 1 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | 1.0× |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 1 | $5,110.00 | $5,110.00 | $5,110.00 | 1.0× |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 1 | $6,060.00 | $6,060.00 | $6,060.00 | 1.0× |
| Utah Hiawatha, KS single city | 1 | $4,013.00 | $4,013.00 | $4,013.00 | 1.0× |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 1 | $1,736.40 | $1,736.40 | $1,736.40 | 1.0× |
| Valdez, AK single city | 1 | $3,448.38 | $3,448.38 | $3,448.38 | 1.0× |
| Waco, TX | 1 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | $2,680.40 | 1.0× |
| Warrensburg, MO | 1 | $6,095.20 | $6,095.20 | $6,095.20 | 1.0× |
| Waterbury, CT single city | 1 | $1,367.19 | $1,367.19 | $1,367.19 | 1.0× |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 1 | $1,840.00 | $1,840.00 | $1,840.00 | 1.0× |
| Winner, SD single city | 1 | $5,606.00 | $5,606.00 | $5,606.00 | 1.0× |
| Yakima, WA | 1 | $2,873.00 | $2,873.00 | $2,873.00 | 1.0× |
Common questions
What is CPT code 59400?
CPT 59400 is the billing code for vaginal delivery, including prenatal and postpartum care. This is a 'global' maternity code for routine care during pregnancy, a vaginal delivery and care after birth. It is billed by the doctor or midwife and covers routine prenatal visits, the delivery itself, and routine postpartum visits.
Does 59400 include the hospital stay?
Usually not. The hospital bills for the delivery stay separately, and the baby has its own bills.
What if I start care late in pregnancy?
If the same practice does not provide all of the prenatal care, different codes may be used, such as delivery-only codes. Ask the practice.
Is it cheaper to pay cash or use insurance for vaginal birth?
It depends on your deductible. Until you meet it, you pay your plan's negotiated rate, not the cash price. In hospital price files the highest negotiated rate for vaginal birth has a median of $4,874.97 and the lowest a median of $1,574.05; at 122 of 154 hospitals the cash price is below the highest negotiated rate. A cash payment may not count toward your deductible, so ask your plan for its rate at that hospital first.
Which states have the cheapest vaginal birth?
Among 16 states with at least 5 hospitals listing a cash price, the median is lowest in Tennessee ($490.82), Texas ($2,680.40) and California ($2,817.00), and highest in Oregon ($6,990.75), Massachusetts ($6,793.00) and New Jersey ($5,339.00). Prices vary as much between hospitals in the same state, so compare hospitals near you.
Other pregnancy and birth prices
Median hospital cash price, one per hospital.