How Much Does an Epidural Cost?

No doubt, having to go to the hospital is one of the scariest experiences you might encounter. You can just imagine just how much stress pregnant women are put under. To put it simply, an epidural is a shot that is given to a woman in labor. This shot is usually given around the lower back and it gives the sensation of numbness from the belly button down to the upper legs. And why is an epidural administered to a woman in labor? This is so the woman is well alert during the labor. With an epidural, the pains felt from labor contractions are blocked and this enables the woman to efficiently push out her baby.

Now on to the main point. To be honest, having a baby in the United States of America may hurt your pockets a little. Receiving an epidural is just one of the many procedures that come with giving birth. Not to talk of if the woman is to undergo an operation to deliver the baby. In the United States, if you would prefer to get an epidural, which you would probably will as labor pains are unbearable, you should be prepared to cover the cost. Excluding the other costs of the delivery process, receiving an epidural might cost you about 1,000 dollars to 2,000 dollars on average. However, this cost depends on your location and whether the hospital is a public or private one. In the United States of America, C-Section costs 3,382 dollars on average in the United States, plus 1,646 dollars for an epidural. If you intend to have your baby in a surgery center, then getting an epidural in this kind of facility will cost you anything from 600 dollars to 800 dollars

             Does Medical Insurance Cover Epidurals?

                 This is one of the most important things you need to be sorted out before you are greeted with the sight of your water breaking. In usual circumstances, your insurance should be able to cover the cost of you receiving an epidural. However, you should make sure to talk to your insurance company to make sure this is so. Anesthesiologists are quite infamous for not being part of the network and because of this, epidurals might not be covered by insurance. So, it is best to have this sorted out with both your insurance company and the facility to intend to have your baby.

 Are Epidural Injections Only Given to Women in Labor?

            Although Epidural injections are given mostly to women in labor, there are other situations whereby this might be needed. Remember that epidural is a kind of anesthesia. So, a medical provider might prescribe it for a patient to prevent the patient from receiving pain signals especially if the patient needs to be awake during the surgery.

What Other Medical Conditions Might Require the Need for an Epidural Injection?

Apart from labor, of course, there are other procedures in which the patients can greatly benefit from receiving an epidural shot. A patient may be receiving an epidural shot if:

• They are feeling a mass amount of pain from a pinched nerve

• They are suffering from pain that radiates from their spine

• If they are suffering from spinal narrowing or stenosis

• If they have a herniated disc

All of these conditions are known to be very painful. So, not only women in labor benefit from receiving epidurals. These patients can benefit from it as well.

 What Is the Process of Receiving an Epidural Injection?

First off, to make one thing clear. An epidural shot is not given on the bum, thigh, or hand. It is given around the lower back region. But depending on the surgeon and on the procedure to be carried out, it can be given at any level of the spine. First off, you will be placed on a drip and you will be asked to either sit and lean forwards or lie on your side and hug your knees. It is important here that you carefully follow the doctor’s instructions and you do not move. You will then be given local anesthesia to numb the area you will be receiving the epidural. After that, the epidural will then be administered. You might feel a little uncomfortable but it will pass around 20 to 30 minutes as this is the time the epidural takes effect. 

              In conclusion, in the United States of America, having a baby is generally very expensive. The same goes for receiving an epidural. In America, receiving an epidural injection might cost more than a thousand dollars on average. but this is greatly dependent on your location and the type of facility you chose to have your baby in. This was explained at length in the course of this article. The burden of the cost might also be reduced if you have medical insurance but it is advised you sort this out before you are due. There are also other medical procedures apart from labor that might need the patients to receive an epidural. This fact was also talked about in this article. 

FAQs:

-        How long does it take for the effect of an epidural to wear off?

Usually, the effect wears off after 2 hours of the procedure.

-        Is it painful receiving an epidural?

Yes, but the pain is very minimal

-        Are there any side effects of getting an epidural?

Some of the side effects are a drop in blood pressure, headache, soreness, etc.