While money shouldn’t be the only factor in choosing pregnancy care, it’s certainly a huge consideration. In contrast to hospital-based obstetrical practices that operate on a tight schedule and follow one-size-fits-all protocols, the value of home birth midwifery is in the personalization of care, the relationships that are built, and the emphasis on physiological support and wellness that results in fewer harmful interventions and healthier outcomes for mom and baby.

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At Salmonberry, the package fee for routine midwifery care is $5500*. This fee is significantly lower than delivery at a hospital (average $20,000) or a freestanding birth center (average $10,000) and applies to those who are paying out-of-pocket or have private insurance that is out-of-network (though your insurance may cover some of the cost). If you have Apple Health (Molina or CHPW), or we are in-network with your insurance provider, your out-of-pocket costs will generally be much lower but will depend on the provisions of your specific plan. Fees for medications, home birth supplies, the Birth Assistant, procedures and alternative therapies and services considered "non-covered" by insurance companies are not included in the package.

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*Discounts are available based on need, or for transfers into care during the third trimester.

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The midwifery package includes:​

• Extended prenatal and postpartum care visits (usually an hour long, sometimes longer)

• 24/7 on-call availability

• Childbirth education

• Preparation of a comfortable and safe labor and delivery environment in your home

• Birth attendance

• Use of a birth pool

• Newborn care during the first two weeks of life

• Breastfeeding support

• Prescriptions

• Referrals to specialists when needed

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Costs that are not included and may apply:

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• Ultrasounds, non-stress tests and lab work

• Fee paid directly to the Birth Assistant ($500)

• Home birth supply kit 

• Services not covered by insurance (alternative therapies, prolonged support during labor or transfer)

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One of the most common reasons people end up choosing to birth in the hospital, even when they wanted a home birth, is that their insurance wouldn’t cover the costs.
 

This is always interesting to think about, because even with insurance covering a portion of the costs of care at the hospital, often your deductible and co-pays add up to MORE than you would have spent on a home birth midwife!

 

Unlike Salmonberry, hospitals do not charge a flat fee. Hospital charges accumulate based on all of the tests and procedures that occur during your stay (think medications, IV fluids, epidurals and anesthesia, newborn care, room charges per day, etc...). So, it might seem “cheaper” to be in-network with the hospital, but the bill you receive later might surprise you.

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This still seems like a lot to pay all at once...

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The up-front price can be the biggest barrier to choosing a home birth midwife, even if hospital delivery ends up being more expensive in the long run. We want to make midwifery accessible for as many people as possible, while also making staying on-call 24/7 sustainable for us as mothers, wives and human beings ourselves. In order to do this, we only require a $500 deposit when you come into care. The rest of the fee can be broken into payments and is not due in full until 36 weeks of pregnancy, when we actually go on-call for you and your birth. 

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Private Insurance and Apple Health Coverage

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Salmonberry is in-network with Molina and Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW). Contracts with other insurance providers are in-process and can be billed out-of-network. In addition, we can accept payment from HSA and FSA accounts.

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Have questions about the costs of home birth? Shoot us a message or comment and we will get back to you!

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