Raising a Child in the US Can Be Unaffordable for Low-income Families

Baby Shoes” by Ⅿeagan licensed under CC BY 2.0

Source: Huffington Post

According to the International Federation of Health Plans, the United States is the most expensive place on the planet to have and raise a child.

The average cost for giving birth to a child in the hospital in the US is more than $12,000 and for a C-section $16,000.

Moreover, the largest portion of the cost happens in the two days following the actual birth of the baby. This is because clinics encourage check-ups that are not always necessary.

These costs vary across the states, however. For example, in Alabama a C-section is $13,000 and in Alaska it can be up to $26,000.

Additionally, families in the US face obstacles in the workplace when seeking parental leave, which is not always paid. In addition to paying for the actual costs of raising a child — food, clothing, education, etc, the costs for delivering a baby are nearly unrealistic for many low-income and even middle class families.

Read Full Story: Huffington Post

Children & Families, Justice & Poverty, News
Children & Families, Justice & Poverty, News