Are Childbirth Classes Covered by Health Insurance? 

New parents may wonder if childbirth education classes are covered by insurance — and if they are considered part of your prenatal care. In this article we’ll cover the following topics: If they are covered, how to get them covered and if a birth class is really necessary if not a covered benefit.

But first, how do I know so much about birth classes?

Hi — I’m Hilary — The Pregnancy Nurse 👩‍⚕️. I have been a nurse since 1997 and I have 20 years of OB nursing experience, I am also the curly head behind Pulling Curls and the creator of The Online Prenatal Class for Couples. 🩺​ I understand insurance more than the average person after working for a pediatrician, and many large hospitals through my career (plus submitting reimbursement forms for prenatal education for others) so I’m a good one to answer this question for you.

Are Birth Classes Covered by Insurance?

In some cases, yes! Some insurances do cover childbirth classes but it varies by policy to policy, and by what your company has planned to cover.

But, it’s complicated, and sometimes even getting your insurance to cover it (even if it’s an included benefit) can be complicated, so let me give you the steps to try….

How To Get Your Birth Class Covered By Your Insurance:

Here are the steps you’ll want to try to find out if your insurance will cover your birth class:

Call your insurance company (usually the number is on the back of your card or on the website). You’ll want to have your group and policy number on hand so that they can look up your current coverage (coverage can change frequently, so you’ll want to check with the most current coverage). Ask the customer service representative:

1. Are Childbirth classes covered under your plan? (if the answer is no, the conversation ends there)
2. How are they covered? (more on this in the next section)
3. What requirements does the class need to meet to be covered? (more coming on up on that too)
4. How do you submit for coverage?
5. Do you need pre-approval of the class?
6. Their name and department (just in case you need this later on)

All of those four things are really important to know so you can do it correctly.

Keep in mind that health insurance companies keep up a LOT of red tape in order to stop submission of insurance claims. They plan on you getting so annoyed at the process you just foot the bill yourself. This is especially true for “outsiders” like you (vs a doctor who submits to them consistently).

If that didn’t work, there is one more thing to try:

You can also try your work’s HR. Some businesses offer perks like this separately. So, you do it directly through the benefits department at work rather through insurance. Often this is a cheaper way to have it handled for large companies so they’d rather foot the bill themselves than run it through insurance.

I’ve actually had people who’s HOA covered education for them, so don’t stop with health insurance — you may have other areas that will cover it.

How Insurances Cover Childbirth Classes:

This is where it gets complicated. Your rep may say YES we do cover childbirth classes, but the next question you have to ask is how they are covered.

There are a variety of ways that childbirth education is covered:

• The send you a book on having a baby (often old and poorly written), and that’s it.
• They have a video class they send you (will likely not be your favorite)
• They “cover” them, but they are applied to your deductible. If you plan to reach your deductible through your birth it may be worth it (but make sure you submit the class in the year that you will reach your deductible)
• They do cover them, but after a copayment. That copay may be really high… and may not make the submission process worth it.
• They cover up to $XYZ of a class. That amount can be anything they choose. So, if they only cover $30, that is $30….
• Whatever the heck they want (and this varies by group and policy for sure)

Also, they may want to be the one to make payment to the provider (meaning they pay for the class up front), or they want you to pay the provider and then submit for reimbursement.

What Requirements Does a Childbirth Class Need to Be Covered by Health Insurance?

They may require certain things of the teacher or the company providing the class:

This also really varies by insurance provider.  

• Some require the provider to be licensed (like an RN or a doctor) or a certified childbirth educator
• Some require it to be done at a health institution (so, a hospital class).
• Some want the diagnosis and procedure code (I’ll give you those, so stay tuned)
• Some want the EIN number of the provider (so like the business’s social security number)
• Some want the address of the provider
• Some may also want a completion form from the class to show you’ve taken it

I will say that any birth class provider should easily be able to offer all of these things (in fact, I have an email already set-up that will just send this out to students who ask, but I don’t put it on my website for safety reasons).

I also have students who ask for this information prior to taking the class and I am happy to provide it. So, you can always check with your chosen class to decide if it’s right for you.

They may also require certain things to be in the class.  

• Some will only cover “prenatal education” (but sometimes any other education within it like postpartum, baby care, breastfeeding, etc is just a bonus)
• Some providers will only cover the “childbirth portion” — so if you take a childbirth and parenting class they’ll only cover half or something like that.
• Many will not cover newborn care classes (but if they come with prenatal education they don’t exclude it)
• Some may cover lactation classes (but may have caveats to them as well as listed above)
• Whatever the heck they want. {are you seeing a theme here}

So, you want to be really clear on what your insurance requires before you take a class that may or may not be covered (or you find out that they’re not covered, or covered so little it’s not worth your time).

Birth Classes Covered by Insurance

If birth classes are a covered benefit The Online Prenatal Class for Couples should be a covered class (unless you have to take it at a specific hospital). It is taught by a licensed RN, you can provider proof of completion and she has the billing information easily available for you.

But, coverage varies, so be sure to talk with your insurance before you plan on them paying (the good news is that class is well-priced either way.

Coding for Birth Class Reimbursement:

Usually, these are the numbers you need for medical billing:

Diagnosis code: Z32.2

Procedure code: S9436 (also called a cpt code)

What are those? Diagnosis code Z32.2 is an encounter for childbirth education and Procedure code S9436 is childbirth preparation not provided by a physician (aka, not your doctor just talking to you about in the office).

I am seeing some classes just saying “free” on it and saying it should be free with your insurance, and submit to them — but I think that’s really disingenuous, because most plans don’t cover it. Sadly. BUT I do have some good options for you, so keep reading!

What to do if the insurance refuses to cover my birth class?

It can always happen that you dot your i’s and cross your t’s and the insurance still refuses to cover it.

I would definitely call and ask them why it was refused. You may have unknowingly made a small error that is easy to fix and you can re-submit. Or, they now have some new rule that no longer makes it covered. That can happen too.

Insurance Coverage for Birth Classes by Company:

Here is the general answer for some popular health insurance plans (you can skip these by clicking here)

Does Medicaid Pay for Birth Classes?

As Medicaid varies state to state, there are some states that cover it (but they differ in how they administer it). This article had some good information on which states cover it, and how they structure it. If you are Medicaid I would definitely call to see if they can help you out. Keep in mind they may offer their own classes which may not fit your needs though. Finding a low-cost birth class that looks good may be a better option for you.

Does Cigna cover childbirth classes?

Cigna has a helpful page on what childbirth classes are, but no mention of coverage is given on that page (as it varies by policy and group plans).

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover childbirth classes?

Blue Cross Policies and plans vary, especially state to state, so check with your customer service rep as mentioned above. If you google it, you see they do have a reimbursement for in Massachusetts but are clear that your plan has to cover it in order to submit that form.

Does Aetna cover childbirth classes?

Aetna’s page on maternity coverage does not mention prenatal classes, but I’d recommend calling and asking about your specific coverage.

As you can tell you really need to call about YOUR specific coverage. If you hate talking on the phone you could always see if your health insurer has a chat option!

What has changed about maternity coverage?

In recent years, there have been notable changes in maternity coverage and the ways in which it is included in health insurance plans. Insurance providers have recognized the importance of adequate maternity coverage for expectant mothers, leading to an increase in the number of health plans that include it as a standard benefit.

The affordable care act was huge for maternity coverage. Prior to that act, insurance companies were easily able to exclude maternity coverage as either a pre-existing condition or just as not part of the policy (and some people bought those policies, because they were cheaper — but didn’t know they didn’t include maternity coverage).

Additionally, pregnant women are now more likely to be eligible for coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions, making it easier for them to obtain the care they need throughout their pregnancy. For instance prior to now they may have said a woman’s high blood pressure during pregnancy was a pre-existing condition and they would not cover treatment for it in labor and delivery, but now they have to cover it.

This shift towards improved maternity coverage has been driven by a growing recognition of the long-term benefits that it provides for both mothers and their children. While there is still progress to be made in terms of ensuring that all expectant mothers have access to adequate coverage, the recent changes within the insurance industry are a promising development for women’s health. It is SO important for women to review their health insurance options carefully to ensure that they have the coverage they need during this significant time in their lives. 

I can’t stress it enough that when you are considering or have had a baby your needs for health care coverage change a lot and you should look thoroughly at all the options available to you.

Does the Affordable Care Act Require Insurances to Cover Prenatal Education?

No. The affordable care act (also known as Obamacare) did require companies to pay for maternity care, and breast pumps but it did not cover education at all.

But yes, it does require your health insurance to provide you with a breast pump. Some insurance companies only provide you with a specific breast pump (read: cheap), and some allow you to purchase your own and reimburse you up to a certain amount.

Insurance companies are required to include maternity coverage but remember that is only applied as other limits on your policy, meaning:

• You may have a high deductible (many patients don’t even reach their deductible with the childbirth, which is horrible)
• You may also have a high out of pocket maximum — meaning you have to pay a certain percentage of care after the deductible up to your out of pocket maximum)
• Your insurance may specific your providers and may require a higher payment if your provider (including your anesthesiologist – who you don’t get a choice in) isn’t in your “network”

Many people think that the affordable care act made it “free” to have a baby, but that is very far from the truth. In fact, I think most patients are actually paying more to have a baby now then they were prior to the affordable care act, unfortunately.

Want more information on maternity health coverage I thought this article had a lot of good points people need to think about. This article also specifies what is and what is not covered under the Affordable Care Act (as it currently stands) and how they can and can not apply things to your deductible (aka, birth control has to be free on Obama care plans).

While it can be frustrating, remember that nothing is true “free” — if an insurance covers specific things, they have to raise the price of that insurance to cover those things. Hence, it’s just spread out across the members, not actually “free”.

What If I Don’t Have Insurance Or Money To Pay For A Course?

If you’re unable to come-up with the funds for a birth class you have a few options:

Some charities or private organizations offer grands or scholarships for those who would like to take a class but can’t afford it. 

However, personally as an instructor of my own class just email me (you can contact me here). If you really find yourself unable to afford a class I know we will be able to make something work. I believe in birth education and I want to make it accessible to patients of all income levels. You may be shocked at the price tag on my class (it’s the lowest in the businsess), and the payment plans make it VERY affordable.

Are paid childbirth classes covered by HSAs/FSAs or insurance?

If you have an HSA or FSA (full names are health savings accounts or a flexible spending account), you may be able to use those funds to pay for the birth class and then submit a receipt for reimbursement. It is always best to check with your provider prior to enrolling in a class to ensure that you will be able to receive reimbursement for the cost. By being proactive and informed, expectant parents can make the best financial choices when it comes to their childbirth education. 

Some HSA’s/FSA’s only cover certain portions of a class, so check with yours. This article had some interesting info in it (btw, The Online Prenatal Class for Couples would be covered 100% by HSA’s as the class info falls under those guidelines — we do have some “free” bonuses that fall beyond that– which makes it awesome).

Remember what can be used by an HSA or FSA is actually a government mandate in the US, so check with your CPA is you have questions.

Some business have “cafeteria plans” (also known as flexible benefit plan, flexible fringe benefit options, or Section 125 plans) that help you pay for things like daycare or healthcare in other ways than an HSA or FSA. These often have more specific things that are reimbursable, but check with your employer (or the company they pay to administer it — but your HR should be able to point you in the right place).

Pro tip: A lot of people attempt to use their HSA card (like a debit card for that account) to purchase a prenatal class, but those cards can only be used a pharmacies, or hospitals not any other registers. Most often you just have to submit proof of payment and they will reimburse you.

How much do childbirth classes cost?

The cost of childbirth classes varies depending on the location, the instructor, and whether they are in-person or virtual. On average, in-person classes can cost around $200 to $400 whereas online courses can range anywhere from $50 to $500 (depending on what they cover).

I actually did a study on the cost of childbirth classes and found that the average cost of a full childbirth class (that includes information on pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum) in 2022 was $189.

And yes, my birth class starts at under $100. So I really do want to make it affordable. Even my top tier class that offers much more hands-on instruction with many “bells and whistles” comes in at just about the average price at $197.

You’ll find that class fees really vary class to class, and don’t always mean the class is better.

I am able to offer my class at a lower price because I have been doing it so long. I work to keep any fees like class hosting, video hosting and other things at a minimum on my end, and I pass that savings onto you. I also sell a LOT of classes, so it makes keeping the price lower easier.

It it Necessary to Take a Childbirth Class?

This one is hard to answer because no, you definitely don’t have to take a class (and the hospital will still support you very well), but studies do show that those who take a birth class have better outcomes.

• Less C-sections
• Less inductions
• Less assisted births (forceps or vacuums)
• Less larger tears
• And less anxiety about birth heading up to their due date

I want that for you, and I agree with what those studies show in my 20 years of the bedside. Couples who took a birth class were ultimately just happier with their birth and had much less birth trauma because they were educated in advance.

Birth Class FAQ’s

+ At what point during my pregnancy should I take a childbirth class?

I recommend you start by the beginning of your third trimester (27 weeks – or about 6 months of pregnancy) and finish before you are 34 weeks, if possible. BUT many people take their birth classes much later than that and love that they feel very prepared at birth.

If you are planning on an in-person class you’ll want to register for classes asap as they fill quickly. This is why a lot of people take classes online because they are a lot more convenient (and reviewable).

I have a whole article on when to take a birth class.

Pro Tip: Find a class that offers a refund period, that way you can try to take it and if you have your baby before you are able to get the class in, you can ask for a refund. Check with their refund policy before attempting this though. This is actually one of the reasons that I have a 14-day return period because I want people to start the class (not delay it) but also have cushion if they’re not able to get it done before baby is born.

+ Is childbirth class only for people planning a natural birth?

There is a common misconception surrounding birth classes, with many individuals believing they are solely intended for those who are planning a natural birth. This assumption is, however, far from the truth. Childbirth classes are designed to provide knowledge and skills that are beneficial to all expecting parents, regardless of their choice of childbirth method.

While these classes may focus on natural childbirth techniques, they also cover essential information such as pain management options, possible medical interventions, and postpartum care, which are relevant regardless of the type of delivery. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize that childbirth classes are a valuable learning resource for all expectant parents, regardless of their birthing plans, and should be widely encouraged to ensure that individuals are adequately prepared to enter parenthood with confidence and knowledge.

+ What should be covered in a childbirth class?

Perinatal education (education before birth) should cover most of what will happen from the end of your third trimester well through your postpartum period.

• Common third trimester testing
• How to know if you’re in labor
• What to expect at the hospital
• Stages of Labor
• How to create a birth plan (or birth preferences)
• Pain medication options
• Natural pain management techniques
• What happens at birth
• Cesarean birth
• What happens after birth
• What to expect after baby is born and you go home

Other optional topics include infant safety, prenatal nutrition, breastfeeding, support groups, postpartum depression and assistance, infant CPR, infant comfort technique, basics of baby care, prenatal yoga, provider communication, baby sleep and relaxation techniques.

Honestly, there is SO much information out there. Beyond the basics, you may have to pick and choose what’s most important for you and your family.

+ Are birth classes the same as Lamaze Classes

When your mom was having a baby she likely took Lamaze classes, as it was a company that taught most classes back then. Birth classes have expanded since then and cover more things than Lamaze classes, although both are able to prepare you for birth (Lamaze being more breathing techniques than routines and what birth will be like).

+ Where to find a prenatal class?

You may want to ask your health care provider what they recommend, and your local hospital may have a class. However, couples are finding that a virtual birth class fits more of their needs (and they’ve been learning online before so it’s not a big deal to get their perinatal education that way as well).

+ Are Online Birth Classes OK?

Online classes allow you to learn the information at your leisure and even go back and review topics that you forgot about or want more training on. Most people find that an online course is better as it is easier to get your support person involved in the class rather than trying to mesh schedules with an in person class. I recommend this one.

To Summarize, Are Childbirth Classes Covered By Insurance?

Sometimes, but you need to check your insurance plan’s coverage and requirements before planning on them doing so.

There are a lot of options of reasonably priced birth classes “out there” though, I’d encourage you to check out your options and what will best get you prepared for birth in the way you’re hoping for rather than just what is covered by your insurance (especially if the price is a point you can afford).

The Online Prenatal Class for Couples is a childbirth education class created for couples to prepare for birth together, in just a few hours, at price points that fit your budget. I hope you’ll come join me. And, if your insurance covers it — let’s get it submitted for reimbursement!

Or, if you’d like to see if we’re a good fit first (which I think is smart), check out my free prenatal class. It includes your first steps towards getting prepared for birth!