Peripartum Medical Debt Plagues Many Families with Insurance

Peripartum medical debt is a significant issue for many families with insurance, according to a recent study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology. The study found that the out-of-pocket costs associated with childbirth are often higher than what commercially insured families can afford, resulting in medical debt. The researchers analyzed data from a statewide cohort of commercially insured pregnant and postpartum adults and found that postpartum individuals were more likely to have medical debt in collections compared to pregnant individuals. Additionally, individuals in the lowest-income neighborhoods were more likely to have medical debt in collections than those in other neighborhoods. The study suggests that policies aimed at reducing maternal-infant healthcare spending among commercially insured individuals could help mitigate financial hardship and improve birth equity.