Giving Birth in Oregon Now Costs Nearly $37K as State Ranks Among Nation’s Most Expensive

It costs $36,997 to give birth in Oregon, more than double the charge in Mississippi, the state with the lowest cost in the U.S. for having a baby.

Oregon Is the Fourth Most Expensive State Nationwide To Give Birth

Oregon is the fourth most expensive state, charging 35.27% above the national average, whereas the average cost in Mississippi is $15,606, representing a significant saving of 42.9% compared with the national average of $27,351.

These figures have been released in a study by the Birth Injury Lawyers group, which analyzed data provided by the Health Care Institute.

While Oregon’s overall position is the fourth most-expensive state in which to give birth, the study shows that it has increased the cost of C-sections by 66.1%, second only to Alaska.

Alaska is the most expensive state in the country to have a baby, increasing the cost of C-sections by 74.7%, and charging an average of $40,691 to give birth. This represents 48.77% above the national average.

Researchers found that C-sections are the most expensive birthing procedures nationwide, averaging 54.2% more.

The top five most expensive states to give birth in are Alaska, California, New York, Oregon, and Connecticut. The average cost of giving birth in California is $39,892, followed by New York at $38,488, and fifth is Connecticut at $36,169.

Rounding out the top 10 are New Jersey, Washington, Massachusetts, West Virginia, and Delaware.

Several Southern States Offer Cheaper Rates

Apart from Mississippi, the other four states offering the cheapest birth rates are Arkansas ($16,252), Oklahoma ($18,830), Missouri ($19,742), and Louisiana ($20,181).

Commenting on the findings, Bob Goldwater, Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Attorney at Birth Injury Lawyers, said the number of C-sections has increased from 22.9% in 2000 to more than 32%.

He said healthcare providers should improve prenatal care to lower the chance of someone needing a cesarean, which brings additional risk factors, costs more, and adds to the stress levels of new parents.

Goldwater said the below-average cost in many Southern states points to the economic disparity between regions and raises questions, such as do better facilities and services exist in the more expensive regions.

No data was provided for Hawaii, Alabama, Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota.