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Is childbirth free in the military?


Having a baby can be an expensive endeavor in the United States, with the average cost of delivery alone ranging from $5,000 to $11,000 depending on the type of birth and location. However, for active duty military members and their families, the costs of prenatal care and childbirth are covered 100% by TRICARE, the military’s health insurance program. This article will examine the childbirth benefits available to military families and how they differ from civilian healthcare.

TRICARE Coverage for Prenatal Care and Delivery

TRICARE offers comprehensive maternity coverage for active duty service members, retirees, activated National Guard/Reserve members, and family members. This includes:

  • Prenatal care – All prenatal checkups, screenings, and ultrasounds are covered with no out-of-pocket costs.
  • Labor and delivery – Hospital births, birthing centers, and home births are all covered at 100% when seeing a TRICARE-authorized provider.
  • Postpartum care – At least one postpartum checkup is recommended and covered after giving birth.
  • Breastfeeding support – Lactation counseling sessions are covered.
  • Newborn care – Initial newborn exams and screenings are covered.

The only costs that military families may need to pay for childbirth are small copays for prescription drugs or anesthesia services if using a non-network provider. But otherwise, TRICARE covers all medical care related to pregnancy and delivery at military or civilian facilities worldwide.

TRICARE Prime vs. Select

Under TRICARE, active duty service members must enroll in TRICARE Prime and retirees/family members can choose between Prime and Select:

Plan Prenatal/Maternity Coverage
TRICARE Prime Free with assigned primary care manager referral
TRICARE Select Free but may need prior authorization

With Prime, beneficiaries have no out-of-pocket costs when referred by their PCM for specialist or obstetric care. With Select, they may need prior authorization and civilian provider claims may take longer to process, but maternity care is still covered 100% after the annual deductible is met.

Using the Military Health System

When it comes to childbirth, military families have access to high-quality care through the Military Health System which includes:

Military Hospitals and Birth Centers

There are over 50 military hospitals and medical centers worldwide that deliver babies. These facilities offer obstetric care and newborn services on base. Some advantages include:

  • Familiar doctors – Can choose a military OB/GYN for prenatal care and delivery.
  • Most cost-effective – No claims to file, everything is handled in one military facility.
  • Baby bonding programs – Some offer extra services like breastfeeding support or neonatal care units.

However, capacity is limited at military facilities so service members are often referred out to civilian providers.

TRICARE Network Providers

If military hospitals cannot accommodate, TRICARE Prime offers access to a large network of over 400,000 civilian providers. Beneficiaries can search for in-network obstetricians, hospitals, birthing centers, midwives, lactation consultants, and pediatricians to coordinate a seamless delivery experience. Out-of-pocket costs are lower when using network providers.

Non-Network Providers

Beneficiaries can use any TRICARE-authorized provider but may pay higher out-of-pocket costs with non-network providers. Claims may also take longer to process. But TRICARE still covers all medically necessary care so beneficiaries have flexibility in their provider choice for childbirth services.

How Military Maternity Benefits Compare to Civilian Plans

Compared to civilian health plans, TRICARE offers much more robust maternity benefits:

Lower Out-of-Pocket Costs

Civilian plans often require copays for prenatal visits, coinsurance of 10-40% for delivery hospital stays, and deductibles to meet. TRICARE has zero out-of-pocket costs for medical services for active duty families. Retirees may pay small copays.

No Limit on Provider Choice

Many civilian plans restrict patients to an approved network of maternity providers. TRICARE allows patients to see any authorized provider they choose, even out-of-network, with some limitations.

Worldwide Coverage

Civilian insurance is often limited to coverage within the United States. But TRICARE covers enrollees living abroad as well.

No Need for Separate Insurance for Baby

On civilian plans, parents must enroll their newborn within 30 days after birth or the baby won’t be covered. Newborns are automatically covered under TRICARE for the first 60 days after birth while parents complete enrollment.

So in summary, military families enjoy much more flexibility and security when it comes to maternity benefits compared to civilian plan restrictions. Healthcare coverage is just one way the military aims to support families during childbirth and parenthood.

Other Military Benefits Related to Childbirth

In addition to cost-free healthcare, military families have access to other benefits surrounding childbirth:

Paid Maternity Leave

After giving birth, active duty service women receive 12 weeks of fully paid maternity leave, which is much more generous than the average civilian employer. Partners may receive up to 21 days of paternity leave as well.

Breastfeeding Support

All military facilities have designated lactation rooms to support breastfeeding mothers. Some bases also offer breastfeeding classes and support groups.

On-Base Childcare

Many bases provide subsidized childcare centers with priority access for active duty families. This makes returning to work after maternity leave easier.

Baby Supplies and Resources

To ease the transition to parenthood, some bases have support programs that provide classes, support groups, and even free baby items like diapers, formula, and clothes for families in need.

Conclusion

In summary, active duty military families can have babies at zero cost through TRICARE coverage. Prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum services are provided free of charge at military facilities or through TRICARE-authorized civilian providers. Military families also enjoy generous maternity leave, breastfeeding support, convenient childcare options, and other benefits designed to support new parents. While having a baby is never easy, TRICARE’s robust maternity benefits help reduce the financial stress and administrative hassles that many civilian families struggle with during this precious but costly period of childbirth and new parenthood.