Charges for a cesarean section: United States, 1990

Based on MetLife experience during 1990, close to 30 percent of all births to group policyholders' employees and dependents were by cesarean section costing, on average, $8,530. Cesarean costs in Washington, D.C. and Connecticut were the highest--each more than 30 percent above the U.S. average. Among states with at least 50 C-sections, Ohio, Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma had the lowest charges--at least 22 percent lower than the norm. Physician fees made up 38 percent of the total charges, and varied from a high of $5,090 in New York to lows of $1,810 and $1,900 in Arkansas and South Carolina, respectively. Ancillary fees averaged 60 percent of the hospital charges with substantial variation by state.