AHRQ Stats

Of the 3.6 million hospital stays involving childbirth in 2011, cesarean section deliveries were 11 percent more likely among women who were covered by private insurance than among those covered by Medicaid. (Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Statistical Brief #173:Complicating Conditions Associated With Childbirth, by Delivery Method and Payer, 2011.)

Highlights

Among the 3.6 million hospital stays involving childbirth in 2011, cesarean section deliveries were 11 percent more likely among women who were covered by private insurance than among women covered by Medicaid. Mean length of stay and mean hospital costs were similar by payer type.

Among women who delivered by cesarean section and were covered by Medicaid, 94.6 percent of discharges included a complicating condition.

Overall, for discharges among women with vaginal deliveries covered by private insurance, the rate of cases with complications increased with age (75.5 per 100 for adolescents younger than 15 years versus 83.3 per 100 for women aged 40-44 years).

For vaginal deliveries, second-degree perineal laceration rates were higher among women with private insurance than Medicaid.

Compared with women covered by Medicaid, women with private insurance were more likely to have a cesarean section delivery when complicating conditions that may impede vaginal delivery were present.