Cost of a C-Section Visit
in District of Columbia
Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC
District of Columbia maintains one of the nation's highest physician-to-patient ratios, yet C-Section costs remain approximately 20% above national averages due to the region's concentrated healthcare market. Patients typically pay between $2,100 and $5,187 for C-Section services, with a median negotiated rate of $3,765. With 317 active C-Section providers serving the DC metropolitan area, patients can browse all available providers to find the most cost-effective option for their specific insurance plan.
Average
$3,684
Median
$3,765
Lowest
$2,100
Highest
$5,187
Providers
317
2% below national average
Compare Similar Procedures
How does c-section compare to related procedures in District of Columbia?
| Procedure | CPT | Low | Median | High | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaginal Delivery Routine obstetric care including vaginal delivery | 59400 | $1,530 | $3,412 | $4,330 | 331 |
Important: These are cost estimates only — not a quote and not medical advice.
The prices on this page are self-pay rates, drawn from federal Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files (CPT 59510 — Routine obstetric care including cesarean delivery). They represent what a patient might pay without insurance.
Your actual cost depends on: your specific insurance plan, your remaining deductible, your coinsurance percentage, whether you have met your out-of-pocket maximum, whether the facility and provider are both in-network, and any separate anesthesia or implant fees billed independently.
This page does not constitute medical advice. Whether you need this procedure, and which approach is right for you, is a decision to make with a licensed healthcare provider.
Where this data comes from & what CPT 59510 covers
Data source: Cost figures are derived from UnitedHealthcare Transparency in Coverage machine-readable files for CPT code 59510 (Routine obstetric care including cesarean delivery), as mandated by the CMS Price Transparency Rule.
What CPT 59510 covers: the provider's professional fee for c-section. It does not include facility/hospital fees, anesthesia, pre-operative imaging, post-operative care, or any add-on codes billed separately.
How to read this data
Negotiated Rate
The discounted price an insurer has agreed to pay a specific provider. Most insured patients' bills are calculated from this number, not the higher list price hospitals publish separately.
P5, Median, P95
P5 is the rate at the 5th percentile (low end), Median is the middle value, and P95 is the 95th percentile (high end). This range shows how much the same visit can vary between providers.
What this does not tell you
These rates do not tell you what you personally will pay out of pocket. That depends on your specific plan, how much of your deductible you have already met, your coinsurance rate, and whether the provider is in your network. Call your insurer's member line to get your exact estimate.
Why C-Section Visit Costs Vary Across District of Columbia
District of Columbia's healthcare costs run approximately 20% above national averages, driven by the region's high cost of living and concentrated provider market. The District's unique status as a federal enclave creates regulatory complexities that influence healthcare pricing structures.
Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability
As an entirely urban jurisdiction, District of Columbia offers concentrated access to obstetric specialists, though this density comes with premium pricing. The lack of rural alternatives means patients seeking lower-cost options often travel to suburban Maryland or Virginia providers.
Facility Type and Overhead Costs
Hospital-based obstetric practices in District of Columbia typically charge 30-50% more than independent birthing centers due to higher facility fees and administrative overhead. Major health systems like MedStar and GWU Hospital drive much of the market pricing, with their hospital-employed physicians generally commanding higher rates.
Insurance Market Competition in District of Columbia
The dominance of CareFirst BCBS, UHC, and Aetna creates limited competitive pressure on negotiated rates in District of Columbia. This concentrated insurer market contributes to higher healthcare costs, as fewer payers have less leverage to negotiate aggressive rate reductions with large health systems.
Physician Supply and Demand in District of Columbia
With 317 active C-Section providers serving a relatively small population, District of Columbia has excellent physician supply ratios. However, this abundance hasn't translated to lower costs due to high demand from surrounding metropolitan areas and the premium associated with practicing in the nation's capital.
Jayant Panwar
CEO, Momentary Labs · San Francisco, CA
Jayant has analyzed healthcare pricing data from CMS Transparency in Coverage files since 2022, covering more than 50 million negotiated rate records across all 50 states. His work focuses on making insurer machine-readable files accessible to patients and researchers.
The cost figures on this page reflect his ongoing work to make this data accessible to patients.
Frequently Asked Questions — C-Section Costs in District of Columbia
What is the average cost of a C-Section visit in District of Columbia without insurance?
Does District of Columbia Medicaid cover C-Section visits?
How do I find an affordable C-Section near me in District of Columbia?
What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?
Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a C-Section visit in District of Columbia?
How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a C-Section in District of Columbia?
Click a state to compare costs
Average Visit Cost
Office visit (CPT 59510)
Compare With Other States
| Rank | State | Average↓ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky Range: $2,043 – $19,329 | $13,567 |
| 2 | West Virginia Range: $2,199 – $19,329 | $8,244 |
| 3 | Wisconsin Range: $73 – $18,189 | $7,236 |
| 4 | Iowa Range: $85 – $12,254 | $5,786 |
| 5 | Minnesota Range: $90 – $12,428 | $5,136 |
| 6 | Alaska Range: $98 – $11,867 | $5,001 |
| 7 | Nebraska Range: $2,560 – $6,114 | $4,565 |
| 8 | New York Range: $2,228 – $7,603 | $4,543 |
| 9 | Massachusetts Range: $2,111 – $7,609 | $4,495 |
| 10 | Georgia Range: $1,846 – $7,945 | $4,411 |
| 11 | Wyoming Range: $2,474 – $6,748 | $4,393 |
| 12 | Maine Range: $2,875 – $5,140 | $4,261 |
| 13 | New Hampshire Range: $2,156 – $5,919 | $4,190 |
| 14 | Washington Range: $2,480 – $6,440 | $4,088 |
| 15 | Rhode Island Range: $1,996 – $5,919 | $3,929 |
| 16 | Connecticut Range: $2,007 – $6,163 | $3,864 |
| 17 | South Dakota Range: $1,979 – $6,114 | $3,710 |
| 18 | California Range: $1,979 – $5,068 | $3,697 |
| 19 | District of Columbia Range: $2,100 – $5,187 | $3,684 |
| 20 | New Mexico Range: $2,093 – $5,520 | $3,679 |
| 21 | Vermont Range: $2,280 – $5,532 | $3,612 |
| 22 | Colorado Range: $1,979 – $5,427 | $3,602 |
| 23 | Hawaii Range: $2,156 – $5,068 | $3,508 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania Range: $1,743 – $5,806 | $3,501 |
| 25 | New Jersey Range: $1,847 – $5,806 | $3,468 |
| 26 | Idaho Range: $1,979 – $5,262 | $3,443 |
| 27 | Utah Range: $1,250 – $4,802 | $3,232 |
| 28 | Oregon Range: $95 – $6,223 | $3,220 |
| 29 | Delaware Range: $1,985 – $4,794 | $3,163 |
| 30 | North Carolina Range: $1,753 – $4,945 | $3,138 |
| 31 | Indiana Range: $81 – $6,574 | $3,122 |
| 32 | North Dakota Range: $92 – $6,114 | $3,120 |
| 33 | Montana Range: $96 – $6,114 | $3,054 |
| 34 | Maryland Range: $2,100 – $4,565 | $2,988 |
| 35 | Illinois Range: $80 – $6,052 | $2,938 |
| 36 | Arkansas Range: $1,601 – $4,386 | $2,929 |
| 37 | Michigan Range: $1,926 – $4,497 | $2,921 |
| 38 | South Carolina Range: $1,652 – $4,450 | $2,855 |
| 39 | Tennessee Range: $1,874 – $3,931 | $2,787 |
| 40 | Virginia Range: $1,695 – $4,355 | $2,783 |
| 41 | Ohio Range: $1,401 – $4,305 | $2,685 |
| 42 | Louisiana Range: $1,666 – $3,854 | $2,683 |
| 43 | Missouri Range: $1,970 – $3,300 | $2,644 |
| 44 | Arizona Range: $1,875 – $3,966 | $2,607 |
| 45 | Kansas Range: $1,970 – $3,374 | $2,595 |
| 46 | Oklahoma Range: $1,795 – $3,423 | $2,498 |
| 47 | Alabama Range: $1,632 – $3,518 | $2,468 |
| 48 | Texas Range: $90 – $4,541 | $2,460 |
| 49 | Nevada Range: $1,400 – $3,868 | $2,415 |
| 50 | Mississippi Range: $1,789 – $3,249 | $2,402 |
| 51 | Florida Range: $35 – $3,675 | $1,255 |