How much does a C-section delivery (full package) typically cost in the United States?

Across 1,257 U.S. hospitals in 51 states, the modeled national fair BaseRate for C-section delivery (full package) is $3,272, with most hospital negotiated prices falling between $2,149 and $6,472.

Why do hospital prices for C-section delivery (full package) vary across facilities?

Commercial rates are negotiated individually between hospital systems and insurers, creating wide local dispersion even within the same metro area. Comparing facility-specific cash and in-network rates before scheduling care helps avoid overpaying.

National price data · 1,257 hospitals

C-section delivery (full package) cost

What a c-section delivery (full package) costs across the U.S. — and the fair price to aim for.

Near Fair BaseRate Benchmark

1.00×vs. Fair Market Price

Typical commercial prices here match the fair market benchmark (1.00×) after accounting for local nurse/doctor wages and patient complexity.

86/100 · Verified

86/100Hover Any Check Below to See How Prices Were Audited

File Completeness90

Price Logic88

Peer Alignment86

Clean Billing83

Real Cash Discount84

Regional Value Leader

Balances commercial hospital prices against CMS clinical safety, infection control, and patient experience.

Behavioral Pricing FingerprintHigh-HHI Market Leverage

Consolidated System Premium Pricer

Operating in a concentrated regional market (CBSA HHI 4,758), Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center commands a 1.37× BaseRate commercial premium across insurers. Self-pay cash quotes, in-state peer hospitals, and freestanding outpatient facilities offer critical leverage against consolidated system pricing.

#64 of 107 in IN · 58th State Percentile#2,395 of 3,385 in U.S. · 70th National Percentile

Advantage

Where They're Good (Patient & Payer Edge)

Bottom-quartile procedures (Q25) price at 0.97× the peer BaseRate benchmark
Self-pay cash beats commercial insurance on 19% of shoppable procedures (81/100 Cash Honesty)
2-Star CMS clinical rating with 67% patient recommendation (63/100 safety score)
IRS 501(c)(3) charity care provides free care up to 200% FPL and discounted care up to 400% FPL (33.9% AGB cap)

Watchout

Where You Can Get Burned (Markup Traps)

Even at low-cost facilities (1.00× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
Captive ER (2.0×) & laboratory (3.4×) services average 1.21× higher multiples than routine shoppable care (1.4×)
Even at low-cost facilities (1.00× Fair BaseRate), out-of-network or unnegotiated chargemaster bills can exceed commercial medians — confirm in-network status or request a self-pay cash quote up front.
Consolidated metro market (HHI 4,758) limits in-network hospital competition (Highly Concentrated Monopoly (>2,500))

Front-Door ShoppableElective / Imaging

1.4× Medicare

Pre-scheduled outpatient procedures where patients can comparison-shop.

Back-Door Captive & ER1.21× Divergence

1.7× Medicare

Emergency, inpatient DRG, lab, and specialty drug lines billed after admission.

Quantile Tail Spread+9% Upper Tail

Q25 0.97× · Q50 1.41× · Q75 1.54×

Detects median-gaming when upper-quartile codes spike above the p50 median.

Select any lens to inspect department markups, federal cost accounting, or insurer discounts.

Department & Integrity Multiples (vs. CMS Medicare Cost Anchor) Green ≤1.3× · Teal 1.3–1.8× · Amber 1.8–2.5× · Rose >2.5×

Front-Door Shoppable CareFront-Door Shoppable

1.4× MedicareGood

Outpatient Surgery & ORBack-Door Captive

0.5× MedicareGood

Diagnostic Imaging (CT/MRI)Front-Door Shoppable

1.9× MedicareGood

Back-Door Captive ER VisitsBack-Door Captive

2.0× MedicareGood

Inpatient Lab & PathologyBack-Door Captive

3.4× MedicareElevated

Specialty & Infusion Drugs (J-Codes)Back-Door Captive

0.7× MedicareGood

Self-Pay Cash Honesty & 501(r)Integrity & Outcomes

19% Cash Edge · 81/100Good

CMS Clinical Safety & Star ValueIntegrity & Outcomes

2 CMS · 63/100Elevated

National Geographic Price Intelligence · 50-State + DC/PR Cartogram

National State Price Index Heatmap · C-section delivery (full package)

State commercial price index vs. U.S. median (1.00×) and average Medicare multiple across all 53 priced states & territories

<0.93× Below Fair Price 0.93–1.05× Near Average 1.05–1.18× Elevated >1.18× High-Cost State

AK2.70× 3.2× Med ME1.14× 1.4× Med WA1.00× 1.2× Med ID0.84× 1.0× Med MT1.27× 1.5× Med ND0.84× 1.0× Med MN0.85× 1.0× Med WI1.54× 1.9× Med MI0.92× 1.1× Med VT0.85× 1.0× Med NH1.29× 1.6× Med OR1.32× 1.6× Med NV0.90× 1.1× Med WY0.94× 1.1× Med SD0.92× 1.1× Med IA1.13× 1.4× Med IL0.95× 1.1× Med IN0.76× 0.9× Med OH0.82× 1.0× Med PA0.94× 1.1× Med NY1.01× 1.2× Med MA1.48× 1.8× Med CA1.21× 1.5× Med UT0.86× 1.0× Med CO1.71× 2.1× Med NE0.78× 0.9× Med MO1.23× 1.5× Med KY0.83× 1.0× Med WV0.86× 1.0× Med VA1.75× 2.1× Med MD1.20× 1.2× Med NJ1.22× 1.5× Med CT0.94× 1.1× Med AZ1.37× 1.7× Med NM3.39× 4.1× Med KS0.81× 1.0× Med AR0.98× 1.2× Med TN0.86× 1.0× Med NC0.84× 1.0× Med SC0.86× 1.0× Med DE0.69× 0.8× Med DC2.03× 2.4× Med RI1.94× 2.3× Med OK1.48× 1.8× Med LA1.35× 1.6× Med MS0.90× 1.1× Med AL1.24× 1.5× Med GA1.49× 1.8× Med HI0.89× 1.1× Med TX1.18× 1.4× Med FL0.90× 1.1× Med PR0.77× 1.1× Med

DE0.69×0.8× Med IN0.76×0.9× Med PR0.77×1.1× Med NE0.78×0.9× Med KS0.81×1.0× Med OH0.82×1.0× Med KY0.83×1.0× Med ID0.84×1.0× Med NC0.84×1.0× Med ND0.84×1.0× Med MN0.85×1.0× Med VT0.85×1.0× Med SC0.86×1.0× Med TN0.86×1.0× Med UT0.86×1.0× Med WV0.86×1.0× Med HI0.89×1.1× Med FL0.90×1.1× Med MS0.90×1.1× Med NV0.90×1.1× Med MI0.92×1.1× Med SD0.92×1.1× Med CT0.94×1.1× Med PA0.94×1.1× Med WY0.94×1.1× Med IL0.95×1.1× Med AR0.98×1.2× Med WA1.00×1.2× Med NY1.01×1.2× Med IA1.13×1.4× Med ME1.14×1.4× Med TX1.18×1.4× Med MD1.20×1.2× Med CA1.21×1.5× Med NJ1.22×1.5× Med MO1.23×1.5× Med AL1.24×1.5× Med MT1.27×1.5× Med NH1.29×1.6× Med OR1.32×1.6× Med LA1.35×1.6× Med AZ1.37×1.7× Med MA1.48×1.8× Med OK1.48×1.8× Med GA1.49×1.8× Med WI1.54×1.9× Med CO1.71×2.1× Med VA1.75×2.1× Med RI1.94×2.3× Med DC2.03×2.4× Med AK2.70×3.2× Med NM3.39×4.1× Med

5 Lowest-Price States (Confounder-Isolated Value Leaders)

DE0.69×(0.8×)IN0.76×(0.9×)PR0.77×(1.1×)NE0.78×(0.9×)KS0.81×(1.0×)

5 Highest-Markup States (Strict Bill Audit Recommended)

NM3.39×(4.1×)AK2.70×(3.2×)DC2.03×(2.4×)RI1.94×(2.3×)VA1.75×(2.1×)

The BaseRate high confidence

$3,272

the fair national price for a c-section delivery (full package)

typically $2,149–$6,472 across 1,257 hospitals · how we calculate it

modeled estimate · not a bill or quote

1,257

hospitals priced

states

3×

price spread — where shopping matters

1.2×

vs. Medicare

Across 1,257 hospitals in 51 states, a c-section delivery (full package) has a fair BaseRate of $3,272 and typically costs $2,149–$6,472. The cheapest state is IN; the priciest is NM.

Cheapest hospitals for a c-section delivery (full package)

C-section delivery (full package) cost by state

AK $8,024 5 hospitals AL $3,686 16 hospitals AR $2,912 7 hospitals AZ $4,082 23 hospitals CA $3,606 82 hospitals CO $5,080 40 hospitals CT $2,796 6 hospitals DC $6,052 2 hospitals DE $2,052 2 hospitals FL $2,666 87 hospitals GA $4,418 39 hospitals HI $2,647 10 hospitals IA $3,369 38 hospitals ID $2,491 10 hospitals IL $2,822 41 hospitals IN $2,263 41 hospitals KS $2,397 26 hospitals KY $2,478 10 hospitals LA $4,020 10 hospitals MA $4,415 8 hospitals ME $3,389 16 hospitals MI $2,748 54 hospitals MN $2,526 27 hospitals MO $3,654 23 hospitals MS $2,684 5 hospitals MT $3,777 6 hospitals NC $2,502 25 hospitals ND $2,489 5 hospitals NE $2,325 26 hospitals NH $3,851 9 hospitals NJ $3,615 30 hospitals NM $10,073 6 hospitals NV $2,686 19 hospitals NY $3,000 53 hospitals OH $2,453 41 hospitals OK $4,390 33 hospitals OR $3,924 12 hospitals PA $2,803 41 hospitals RI $5,780 3 hospitals SC $2,550 10 hospitals SD $2,726 5 hospitals TN $2,572 31 hospitals TX $3,513 138 hospitals UT $2,572 31 hospitals VA $5,220 25 hospitals VT $2,515 9 hospitals WA $2,971 13 hospitals WI $4,589 46 hospitals WV $2,573 5 hospitals WY $2,790 6 hospitals

Inline Bill X-Ray & 501(r) Calculator 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Free Care ≤200% FPL · AGB Cap 36.3%

Audit a Bill or Quote at U.S. Hospital Benchmark (Zero PHI Required)

Fair BaseRate™ $3,272

Medicare Rate $1,898

Self-Pay Cash Request Quote

Insurer Median $2,975

1. Amount on Your Bill or Quote ($) Pre-filled with U.S. Hospital Benchmark’s charged/list benchmark

2. Household Annual Income ($) Screened against 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines

3. Household Size (1–8) 2026 FPL: $15,650 + $5,500 per additional person

Step 1 · 501(r) Charity Care Check 501(r) AGB Cap: $2,592 (274% FPL)

Statutory 501(r) AGB Cap Limits Bill to $2,592

At 274% FPL (201%–400% FPL tier), 26 U.S.C. § 501(r)(5) caps FAP-eligible bills at Amounts Generally Billed (36.3% of gross = $2,592).

Step 2 · Cash vs. Insurance Arbitrage Request Prompt-Pay Quote

Compare Prompt-Pay Cash Rate Against Remaining Deductible

Ask U.S. Hospital Benchmark's billing desk for their written 45 CFR § 180 discounted self-pay cash price and Good Faith Estimate under the No Surprises Act.

Step 3 · Fair BaseRate Target +$3,868 Above Fair BaseRate

Negotiate Toward $3,272 Fair BaseRate ($1,898 Medicare)

Your bill ($7,140) is $3,868 above the denoised Fair BaseRate ($3,272) and 3.8× the $1,898 Medicare rate.

1-Click Factual Dispute Summary: Copy a citation-backed benchmark memo (with CMS CCN, CPT code, Medicare reference, Fair BaseRate, and 26 U.S.C. § 501(r) calculations) to paste into patient-portal messages or billing appeals.

Care-Setting Arbitrage, Bilateral SVD Insurer Leverage & Regional Alternatives

How to Pay Less Nearby: Freestanding Centers, Insurer Leverage & Outpatient Savings

Inpatient MS-DRG vs. Outpatient CPT Care-Setting Savings

Cesarean Section DeliveryDRG 788 vs CPT 59510

Inpatient: $24,316Outpatient: $6,608 Save $17,708 outpatient

Clinical Scope Note:Inpatient MS-DRG reflects a multi-day hospital admission (room, nursing, higher clinical acuity); outpatient CPT reflects the outpatient facility fee for clinically eligible low-acuity patients and excludes separate surgeon and anesthesia professional fees.