Racial and Ethnic Differences in Out-of-Pocket Spending for Maternity Care.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Rising out-of-pocket costs of maternal health care for people with commercial insurance may affect use of health care and outcomes. There are stark racial and ethnic disparities in outcomes, but little is known about differences in spending.

Objective

To measure differences in out-of-pocket spending for maternity care by race and ethnicity.

Design, setting, and participants

This retrospective cross-sectional study used administrative data from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2022, for pregnancies, deliveries, and 42-day postpartum care. Participants were continuously enrolled during pregnancy, delivery, and 42 days post partum (collectively termed maternity episode).

Exposures

The primary characteris

SUBMITTER: Gourevitch RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11871542 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature