Pregnant women say health care providers are billing them to deliver their babies earlier than expected. Patient advocates say that's unethical.

Summary

Some women are being asked to prepay for their baby, a practice that is legal but considered unethical by patient advocacy groups.

The practice is driven by the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed in the U.S., where bundled billing has become outdated.

Critics say this exacerbates maternity care inequities, with families left to navigate unclear costs and insurance complexities amid rising healthcare expenses.