U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has introduced new legislation that would make childbirth free for families with private insurance. The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act was announced Wednesday during a press conference in Washington, D.C.
The bill would require all prenatal, labor, delivery, and postpartum care to be categorized as “essential health benefits.” This means private health insurance plans would be mandated to fully cover these costs without any out-of-pocket expenses.
Services covered under the proposal include ultrasounds, fetal monitoring, labor and delivery, mental health support, and postpartum physical care.
“Families Shouldn’t Be Burdened by Hospital Bills”
“When you’re having a baby, the last thing you should be worried about is how to pay your hospital bills,” Gillibrand said. “This bill provides families with financial predictability and stability, so they can focus on raising healthy children.”
She emphasized that the cost of childbirth often leads to financial stress and difficult choices. “Families are forced to choose between paying off medical debt or covering everyday essentials,” she added.
Health and Economic Impacts
Gillibrand also linked high maternal mortality rates in the U.S. to the financial barriers to care. Fear of medical bills can cause pregnant individuals to delay seeking care, putting both their health and the baby’s health at risk.
“Sometimes, mothers wait to seek out care until it’s too late,” she said.
In New York, families can still expect to pay about $3,000 out of pocket for childbirth-related care—even with good insurance coverage, she noted.
Bipartisan Support for the Bill
The legislation has received bipartisan backing, with supporters arguing it could reduce long-term healthcare costs and ease economic pressure on young families.
“The high cost of childbirth places an undue burden on our nation’s healthcare system and our economy,” Gillibrand said. “This bill is a step toward giving every family a fair start.”
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