Maternity care costly under new insurance

Washington -- A new study says U.S. families with high-deductible insurance plans pay much more out of pocket for maternity care.

The report by Georgetown University and the Kaiser Family Foundation found that those enrolled in a traditional health plan for federal employees would likely pay $1,455 out of pocket for care during an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery, The Washington Post said Wednesday.

Families in a high-deductible plan for federal employees would pay $3,000. Those who had a high-deductible plan offered through small businesses would pay $7,000.

"If you are contemplating having a baby or having any kind of big health event, this is not the policy for you," said study co-author Karen Pollitz, project director of Georgetown's Health Policy Institute.

Supporters of the high-deductible plans say the lower monthly premiums make it possible to provide affordable insurance to people who might otherwise have no coverage at all, the newspaper said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.