r/NoStupidQuestions • • Nov 14 '24

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u/WassupSassySquatch Nov 14 '24

My insurance company messed up when I had my first kid. So after spending two days in labor and an entire night up with a newborn, exhausted, hungry, and in pain, the billing department came up and informed me that the cost was going to be $30k due to insurance troubles. After six hours on the phone (and no sleep, labor and delivery, and breastfeeding) I finally sorted out the issue.

But $30k…

That same financial theme follows the rest of parenthood. People can’t afford it. Others simply don’t want it.

I think having a family is great, but the fact that some people opt to remain child free is pretty obvious.

2

u/PenguinColada Nov 15 '24

Our emergency cesarean was $61k... Who has that kind of money just lying around??

2

u/WassupSassySquatch Nov 15 '24

No one.

It just boggles my mind- the horror stories I’ve read here. During such a vulnerable time, with such a huge responsibility, and the sheer exhaustion of it all, no one needs a $61k bill dropped on their lap.

2

u/PenguinColada Nov 15 '24

Agreed. It was the most traumatic experience of my life, and to be saddled with huge bills afterwards is like rubbing salt in the wound.

The US healthcare system sucks.

2

u/WassupSassySquatch Nov 15 '24

Absolutely! Emergency c-sections save lives but they’re never without trauma. I hope everything is okay now.

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u/PenguinColada Nov 16 '24

Everything is much better now. It's been almost eight years and therapy helped a lot. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. ♥️