Cost of Starting a Family

Before starting a family, it's important to think about your finances. Make a list of your money and things you need to spend it on. There are costs you may have before getting pregnant, during pregnancy and after having a baby.

Some costs include:

Prenatal vitamins
Doctor visits
Giving birth
Preparing a room for the baby
Breastfeeding supplies

Some of these costs may be covered by insurance, but you might still need to pay for some things yourself. On average, the cost of childbirth in North Carolina is around $11,000. In the Mecklenburg County area, the average cost of delivery is higher, at $12,549 on average. A vaginal birth will cost around $10,701, while a C-section costs around $16,117.

Enrolling in Insurance
The open enrollment period is from November 1 to January 15.

You MUST enroll your baby after they're born.

You can apply for marketplace coverage within 60 days of having your baby or one year after your Medicaid coverage ends.

You can apply for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time during the year.
Benefits
If you do not have insurance, tell Medicaid about your pregnancy to save money.

In North Carolina, Medicaid gives a mother full coverage and extended coverage for 1 year after the baby is born.

The baby will be covered for one year under Medicaid.

If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant:

If you don't have insurance through the Marketplace, having some kind of coverage will help pay for the costs of doctor's visits during pregnancy. Getting pregnant does not qualify you to enroll or change your Marketplace plan. But if you move, or lose your job, or lose coverage, you may be eligible to apply.

If none of these situations apply, you can apply for coverage within 60 days after your baby is born.

If you already have insurance, you might save money by telling Medicaid about your pregnancy. You don't have to tell them if you want to keep your current insurance, but you do need to enroll your baby in health coverage after they're born.

You can apply for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time during the year, not just during the open enrollment period from November 1 to January 15.
If you recently gave birth:

If you don't have insurance from the Marketplace, having a baby lets you sign up for it. You must apply within 60 days after your baby is born or if your Medicaid coverage ends after 12 months. You can make changes to your Marketplace plan during these times.

The open enrollment period is from November 1 to January 15.

If you already have insurance, you can add your baby to your plan or choose a different plan to possibly save money. If you have Medicaid in North Carolina, the mother gets full coverage and extended coverage for 12 months after the baby is born.

The baby will automatically be covered for 12 months after birth.

For more information about what costs to expect and information on resources to help with insurance, visit the guide below.