An American mother on TikTok says she was billed more than $30,000 for giving birth in a U.S. hospital, sparking alarmed reactions from viewers around the world about how expensive American health care can be.
TikTok user @hannahleiigh explained that her delivery was straightforward: no complications, no epidural, and a relatively short hospital stay. Even so, she said, the final bill was staggering and left her wondering how families cope when births are more complicated or require additional interventions.
Why It Matters
The U.S. is among the most expensive places on earth to have a baby, and even families with health insurance can face large medical bills.
By contrast, many nations with publicly funded health systems — such as Canada and most of Western Europe — typically provide childbirth at little to no direct cost to residents, shifting the financial burden to the tax system instead of new parents.
What To Know
In her video, TikTok creator Hannah breaks down the charges for her unmedicated, complication-free birth after spending about six and a half hours in the hospital.
She says the total bill came to $30,689.72, noting that the labor and delivery room alone accounted for more than $11,000 of the charges.
Her post is captioned with disbelief that such a bill is “one of the lower balances” she has seen, and tagged with hashtags like #hospitalbill, #birth, #baby, #postpartum, and #insurance.
The comment section quickly filled with users from Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere, many expressing shock at the amount.
What Childbirth Costs in the U.S.
The price of giving birth in the U.S. varies widely depending on:
- The state and hospital
- Whether the birth is vaginal or via C-section
- Use of pain relief such as an epidural
- Whether the patient has insurance and if the hospital is in-network
A 2024 analysis by FAIR Health found that for patients without insurance or using an out-of-network hospital:
- The national median hospital charge for a vaginal delivery is just over $31,000
- The median charge for a C-section is around $44,400
For patients with insurance at an in-network hospital, the typical allowed amounts are:
- About $15,200 for a vaginal delivery
- About $19,300 for a C-section
Insurance often pays a substantial portion of these totals, but many families are still left with thousands of dollars in deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs.
How Other Countries Compare
In many Western countries with publicly funded systems, standard maternity care — including prenatal visits, labor and delivery, and postpartum follow-up — is covered under public health insurance for citizens and permanent residents.
Parents can sometimes choose to deliver in private facilities for extra comfort or amenities, but they still retain the option to use the public system at little or no direct cost.
What People Are Saying
Several TikTok users from outside the U.S. responded with disbelief:
- A commenter from Canada wondered where U.S. tax money goes, noting that in their country, taxes cover hospital care.
- An Australian user said they do not pay anything for childbirth because public taxes fund their Medicare system.
- Someone in Scotland wrote that giving birth costs £0, and mentioned additional support like child benefits, other payments, and a baby box for new parents.
- A commenter from New Zealand said that pregnancy, delivery, and aftercare are all free there under their public health setup.
What Happens Next
The viral video is the latest example fueling long-running debates about health-care costs in the U.S., especially around childbirth and family care.
Stories like Hannah’s are likely to keep pressure on policymakers, advocates, and insurers to address affordability — and will continue to draw comparisons between the American system and countries where starting a family doesn’t come with such a hefty bill.
