Bringing a child into the world is one of life’s greatest joys. Yet, for many families rising maternity care costs in the United States create significant financial challenges. Expectant parents often ask: How can I afford pregnancy and childbirth without breaking the bank? The average cost of childbirth can be daunting, but there are solutions to ease the burden.
A 2022 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reveals that women who give birth face nearly $19,000 in additional health care expenses over three years. Cesarean deliveries are associated with more than $26,000 in childbirth costs, while vaginal births average over $14,700. These figures include monthly premiums, which according to KFF’s Employer Health Benefits Survey, averaged nearly $2,000 a month for family coverage in 2023.
Out-of-pocket maximums add to the financial burden. These limits vary by insurance plan but often reach or exceed $8,000 for family plans [Link]. Along with restrictive provider networks and surprise medical bills, these costs drive many families to seek alternatives to traditional health insurance for maternity care.
Managing Maternity Costs in Today’s System
Many families choose high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) to lower monthly premiums. However, these plans require a minimum annual deductible of $3,300 for family coverage and a maximum out-of-pocket limit of $16,600 in 2025, according to the IRS. These expenses can strain budgets, especially when combined with pregnancy and childbirth costs.
Government programs like Medicaid cover over 40% of U.S. births, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Eligibility for Medicaid is limited to low-income families, typically those earning less than 138% of the federal poverty level. Medicaid often restricts provider options, which can be a challenge for families who want personalized care or home birth alternatives.
As a result, health sharing programs have grown in popularity. These nonprofit, community-based models allow members to contribute monthly to help share each other’s eligible medical expenses. While some programs offer limited support, such as low maternity caps or long waiting periods, others provide more flexible, family centered solutions.
Zion HealthShare’s Community-Driven Maternity Program
Zion HealthShare gives expectant parents a better way to manage the high average cost of childbirth and pregnancy. Instead of facing complicated insurance plans and expensive monthly premiums, members contribute to a nonprofit community that shares major medical expenses, including maternity needs.
With Zion HealthShare, you won’t be limited to a narrow network of providers. Whether you’re planning a hospital delivery, a birth center experience, or a home birth, you have the freedom to choose the care that fits your family best during childbirth. After a one-time maternity-specific Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) is met, many maternity-related costs may be eligible for sharing.
What’s Eligible for Sharing Through Zion HealthShare’s Maternity Guidelines?
Once members meet the maternity specific IUA, a broad range of pregnancy and childbirth related expenses may be eligible for sharing. Here’s a closer look at the types of costs the Zion HealthShare community supports:
- Prenatal care and routine screenings: This includes essential prenatal visits with your healthcare provider, ultrasounds, lab tests, and other routine monitoring that help ensure a healthy pregnancy.
- Labor and delivery: Whether you choose a hospital birth, a birthing center, or a home birth, Zion HealthShare members have the freedom to select the birth setting that fits their needs. Eligible expenses include the costs associated with labor, delivery, and immediate postpartum care, helping ease the financial impact of welcoming your new baby.
- Complications and specialist care: Pregnancy doesn’t always go as planned. When unexpected complications arise, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or the need for specialized medical attention, related expenses may also be shared.
- Newborn care: Your baby’s initial healthcare needs shortly after birth, such as screenings, doctor visits, and treatments, may be shared as well. To be eligible, newborns must be added to the membership within 30 days of birth.
All sharing requests must be submitted in accordance with Zion HealthShare’s member guidelines and within specified timeframes to maintain eligibility. For a full list of eligible maternity expenses and detailed requirements, please visit the Member Guidelines.
How Zion HealthShare Compares to Other Maternity Options
When families evaluate their options, Zion HealthShare stands out for its affordability, transparency, and simplicity. Here’s how it compares:
| Feature | Zion HealthShare | Traditional Insurance | Other Health Sharing Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | Member contribution (starting at $112 per month) | $2,000/month average for family plans | Varies widely by organization |
| Out-of-Pocket Responsibility | $2,500 or $5,000 maternity IUA | Up to $8,000+ deductible plus coinsurance | May cap sharing at $5,000 or less for maternity |
| Home Births / Midwives | Eligible up to $7,000 | Rarely supported | Sometimes excluded or limited |
| Support for Complications | Complications tend to be eligible | Typically included but costly | Often excluded or unclear |
| Waiting Period | 6 months (some exemptions apply) | Coverage starts immediately | May have 12+ month wait for maternity |
| Transparency | Clear, accessible member guidelines | Plan documents often complex | Guidelines vary, not always public |
| Network Restrictions | None. Choose any provider | Yes, limited to in-network providers | May have limitations or require preapproval |
Start Your Maternity Journey with Zion HealthShare
Welcoming a child should be a joyful milestone, not a financial obstacle. Zion HealthShare is committed to supporting growing families through a model that prioritizes clarity, compassion, and community. Our maternity program empowers parents to choose the care that best fits their needs, whether that is at home, in a birthing center, or in a hospital. Explore how our health sharing community can support your family:
- Learn more about our maternity sharing guidelines
- View monthly contribution options at zionhealthshare.org/memberships/
- Connect with our team at https://zionhealthshare.org/contact-us/
Zion HealthShare offers a better way to approach maternity care with confidence and peace of mind. Let Zion HealthShare help you focus on the joy of your growing family, not the bills.
Maternity Checklist:
- Submit maternity sharing requests online through your Member Portal
- Schedule your first provider appointment
- Submit provider notes from your appointment to your Member Portal
- Submit bills/financial agreements/payment packages to your Member Portal
- Pay your IUA
- Submit your facility payment agreement to your Member Portal
- Deliver your baby at home, in a birth center, or at the hospital
- Add your newborn to your Zion HealthShare membership within 30 days of birth
- Submit any final medical bills to your Member Portal
You are encouraged to open a maternity sharing request as soon as you receive confirmation of your pregnancy. This allows for proper and timely processing of the bills associated with the eligible maternity services and avoids circumstances where medical services may become ineligible for sharing with the Zion HealthShare community. Maternity requests must be submitted through your Member Portal.
Please note that your maternity Sharing Request must be opened within six months of pregnancy confirmation to be considered for sharing.
At your first provider appointment:
- Request a record of the first OB visit and submit to maternity@zionhealthshare.org.
- If you do not have insurance, tell your provider you are not utilizing insurance and ask how the provider will work with you as a self-pay patient. If you have primary insurance, you must declare this when you submit your sharing request.
- Request a copy of the financial package or prepayment agreement with the provider that includes self-pay discounts. These packages include prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. They may or may not include sonograms and bloodwork.
- Submit itemized bills and package/agreement documents to maternity@zionhealthshare.org.
When you schedule the birth, if you do not have insurance, please contact the pre-registration department, let them know you are not utilizing insurance, and ask them how they will work with you as a self-pay patient. Request a written prepayment agreement and submit it to your Member Portal as soon as possible.
When you baby is born, add your newborn to your Zion HealthShare membership within 30 days of delivery and gather all final medical bills and submit them to Zion HealthShare.
Prepayment Agreements
Prepayment agreements can be obtained from most OB/GYNs and hospitals or birthing centers. Obtaining a prepayment agreement allows Zion HealthShare to share your eligible maternity expenses ahead of time.
Prepay agreements with itemized statements must be submitted within six months of your pregnancy confirmation, but it is best to obtain these documents as soon as possible. The Zion HealthShare community cannot share in any medical expenses until you have paid your IUA.
OB/GYN
A prepayment agreement from your OB/GYN is also called a global package. It will usually include appointments, blood work, and labor and delivery charges.
Hospital
If you plan to give birth at a hospital, you will need a hospital prepayment agreement in addition to your OB/GYN prepayment agreement. In most cases, the Zion HealthShare community can share your delivery charges before the baby is born.
Submitting Bills
All submitted bills related to your maternity need request must include the following information:
- Patient/Member full name
- Date of service
- Place of service
- An itemized list of charges for each service
- Procedural (CPT) codes for each service (or a detailed description of services)
Maternity FAQs
How do I know if my maternity sharing request is eligible for sharing?
Maternity sharing requests are ineligible for sharing during the first six (6) months of membership. To be eligible for sharing, the conception date must occur after six (6) months of continuous membership, as confirmed by medical records.
How will I know what bills are eligible for sharing?
Once Zion HealthShare receives the necessary paperwork and itemized invoices, we will review the bills to make sure they’re eligible for sharing according to our Member Guidelines and that there are no billing mistakes.
When will Zion HealthShare share my expenses?
Each member has an Initial Unshareable Amount (IUA) that must be paid before your maternity sharing request becomes eligible for sharing. Your IUA was selected when you registered with Zion HealthShare.
What if my healthcare provider will only bill per visit?
If your OB/GYN will not provide you with a prepayment agreement, you must submit medical bills directly to Zion HealthShare. If you do not have insurance, inform your provider you are a self-pay patient to receive a fair rate.
How do I pay my IUA?
IUAs can be paid to your provider or directly to Zion HealthShare. If you pay your IUA to Zion HealthShare directly, it helps us account for payments more easily. Please contact us if you would like to pay your IUA directly. If you pay your IUA to your provider, you must submit copies of all payment receipts.
How long do I have to submit my medical bills?
Your sharing request must be opened within six (6) months of from the initial date of service. Original, itemized bills must be submitted within six (6) months of service. Expenses that are submitted after these deadlines may be considered ineligible for sharing.
How do my providers receive payment?
Zion HealthShare can pay the provider directly or reimburse you for eligible expenses. If your provider has a set limit for reduced charges (seven months is common), notify Zion HealthShare as soon as possible.
What if I have complications with my pregnancy?
Please contact the Maternity Department and let us know and we will work with you.
What if my provider recommends that I see other providers?
Please contact the Maternity Department prior to your first visit with your additional provider so we can discuss what services are eligible for sharing. We may require medical confirmation and a letter of medical necessity from your provider for additional services to be eligible for sharing.
What if I have medical insurance alongside my Zion HealthShare membership?
If you have primary insurance, you must declare this when you submit your sharing request. Zion HealthShare can only share after your insurance has been exhausted.
The content in this blog is meant to be informative in nature, but it shouldn’t be taken as medical advice. The content should not take the place of medical advice or supervision from a trained professional. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and does not guarantee specific outcomes. All maternity sharing requests are subject to the Member Guidelines. Please refer to the member guidelines or consult with a Zion HealthShare representative for specific details.
Current as of: August 9, 2026