CDC Report: Health Care Coverage During Labor and Delivery 　

Emergency Message System

May 28th, 2023

Characteristics of Mothers by Source of Payment for the Delivery: United States, 2021

Data from the National Vital Statistics System

More than one-half of mothers who gave birth in 2021 (51.7%) were covered by private insurance as the source of payment for the delivery, while 41.0% used Medicaid, 3.4% used other types of coverage, and 3.9% as self-pay.

At least one-half of American Indian or Alaska Native non-Hispanic, Asian non-Hispanic, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander non-Hispanic, and White non-Hispanic mothers were covered by private insurance, while at least one-half of Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic mothers used Medicaid.

Mothers under age 25 were more likely to be covered by Medicaid, while mothers aged 25 and over were more likely to use private insurance.

Mothers with lower levels of educational attainment were more likely to be covered by Medicaid or to self-pay than mothers with higher educational attainment.