DYI:  Here is an example of the cost of having a normal vaginal birth back in 1943.  My wife’s relative who is a retired nurse found an old bill of her mother’s when she was born and posted the cost on her Face Book page.

• $10.50 Board & Nursing
• $10.00 Delivery Room
• $5.00 Anesthetic
• $3.00 Labs
• $1.00 Drugs
• $29.50 Total Cost

Of course it is necessary to correct this for inflation to make a comparison in today’s dollars.  Go to DollarTimes put in $29.50 and presto-change-o drum roll please: $430.32 in today’s dollars for a zero complication vaginal birth.  Same criteria the median cost is:

Vaginal delivery or cesarean section -- that is the question. The answer could mean an average difference of $1,900 to $2,600 in your hospital bill. Vaginal births, on average, cost $2,600 without complications, and C-sections cost $4,500, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project. Vaginal deliveries account for about 7 in 10 childbirths, and C-sections for about 3 in 10, according to the Project.

500% Price Markup!

Simple arithmetic:

(2,600 – 430.32) / 430.32 x 100 = 504%

You are being bilked!

The Medical Industrial Complex since the early 1960’s has been in violation of the three major laws but due to campaign donations [bribes] Attorney General’s either Federal or State(s) have failed to prosecute individuals and their respective corporations.  The problem continues to worsen as corporate entities gobble up hospitals and private practices at a blistering pace reducing competition thus driving prices ever higher.

 The Sherman Antitrust Act 

The Robinson–Patman Act

The Clayton Antitrust Act 

This major industry unless brought back under those three laws – along with a bevy of consumer protection laws as well – costs will continue to leap ahead crushing the U.S. economy.  Already the seeds are there as many working poor and working class are unable to afford the premium payments from the insurance companies.  Remember insurance companies are only financial intermediaries they do not dictate what prices hospitals or corporate doctors’ offices will charge.  Don’t get me wrong the insurance companies are no saints but they are not the 300 pound gorilla problem.  Unless paying cash; most folks work with the insurance company making them the easy target for all of the runaway costs.

 DYI