Logo
Illinois

Cost of a C-Section Visit
in Illinois

Reviewed by Momentary Medical Group West PC

Illinois leads the Midwest in maternal health innovation, with Chicago serving as a major medical hub for high-risk obstetric care across the region. C-Section patients typically pay between $80 and $6,052, with a median out-of-pocket cost of $2,681 based on negotiated insurance rates. Illinois has 4,750 active C-Section providers statewide, allowing patients to browse all providers and compare costs before scheduling their procedure.

Average

$2,938

Median

$2,681

Lowest

$80

Highest

$6,052

Providers

4,750

National avg: $3,776Illinois: $2,938

22% below national average

Compare Similar Procedures

How does c-section compare to related procedures in Illinois?

ProcedureCPTLowMedianHighProviders
Vaginal Delivery

Routine obstetric care including vaginal delivery

59400$80$2,398$7,2184,899

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 59510Routine 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.

Top-Rated Hospitals in Illinois

These hospitals in Illinois are top-rated for patient satisfaction. Review data sourced from HCAHPS Patient Survey.

5/5
96% would recommend133 patient surveys
5/5
91% would recommend122 patient surveys
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

CARTHAGE, IL

5/5
87% would recommend114 patient surveys
5/5
79% would recommend117 patient surveys
5/5
78% would recommend107 patient surveys

Hospital ratings are based on HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey data published by CMS.

Why C-Section Visit Costs Vary Across Illinois

Illinois C-Section costs run approximately 10% above the national average, reflecting the state's concentration of high-cost academic medical centers in Chicago and limited rural provider options. The Prairie State's healthcare landscape creates significant disparities between metropolitan and agricultural regions, where patients may travel hours to reach specialized obstetric care.

Urban vs. Rural Provider Availability

Chicago's metropolitan area contains the vast majority of Illinois's maternal-fetal medicine specialists, while rural counties often lack local C-Section capability, forcing patients to deliver in distant urban centers. This geographic concentration drives up costs in Chicago through increased demand, while rural patients face additional expenses from travel and extended hospital stays away from home.

Facility Type and Overhead Costs

Hospital-based obstetric practices in Illinois typically charge 25-40% more than independent birthing centers due to higher overhead costs and specialized equipment requirements. Major health systems like Northwestern Medicine, Advocate Aurora, and OSF HealthCare dominate the market, with their integrated delivery models often resulting in higher negotiated rates with insurers.

Insurance Market Competition in Illinois

Illinois benefits from robust insurer competition with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna maintaining substantial market share alongside regional players. This competitive environment helps moderate negotiated rates for C-Section procedures, though the dominance of large health systems still gives providers significant leverage in contract negotiations with insurance companies.

Physician Supply and Demand in Illinois

With 4,750 active C-Section providers statewide, Illinois maintains adequate physician supply in urban areas but faces shortages in rural regions where obstetric units have closed due to low delivery volumes. This geographic maldistribution creates longer wait times and higher costs in underserved areas, while Chicago-area patients benefit from abundant provider choice and competitive pricing.

JP

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.

Healthcare Data AnalyticsCMS TiC DataInsurance Price Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions — C-Section Costs in Illinois

What is the average cost of a C-Section visit in Illinois without insurance?

Without insurance, C-Section costs in Illinois typically range from $80 to $6,052, with a median cost of $2,681 based on negotiated rates between providers and insurers. These figures represent what insurance companies actually pay, so uninsured patients may face higher list prices. Many hospitals offer significant self-pay discounts that can bring costs closer to these negotiated rates, especially when payment arrangements are made in advance.

Does Illinois Medicaid cover C-Section visits?

Yes, Illinois Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage for C-Section procedures as the state expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Coverage includes prenatal care, the surgical delivery, hospital stay, and postpartum follow-up visits. Medicaid patients typically have no out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary C-Sections, though coverage requires using in-network providers and following prior authorization requirements when applicable.

How do I find an affordable C-Section near me in Illinois?

Compare costs across different facility types, as independent birthing centers often charge less than hospital-based practices for routine C-Sections. Ask about self-pay discounts if you're uninsured, and consider community health centers that offer sliding-scale fees based on income. Use your insurance company's cost estimator tools and verify that both your obstetrician and delivery hospital are in-network to avoid surprise billing.

What is the difference in cost between an initial consultation and a follow-up visit?

While specific consultation cost data varies by provider, C-Section procedures themselves range from $80 to $6,052 in Illinois with a median of $2,681. Initial obstetric consultations typically cost more than routine prenatal follow-ups, as they involve comprehensive medical history review and physical examination. Follow-up visits focus on monitoring pregnancy progress and are generally shorter, less complex appointments with correspondingly lower fees.

Can I use an HSA or FSA to pay for a C-Section visit in Illinois?

Yes, C-Section procedures qualify as eligible medical expenses for both Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). You can use these pre-tax dollars for deductibles, copayments, and any out-of-pocket costs related to your cesarean delivery. Keep all receipts and documentation, as you may need to provide proof that the expenses were for qualified medical care when filing claims or during tax preparation.

How does telemedicine affect the cost of seeing a C-Section in Illinois?

While C-Section surgery requires in-person delivery, telemedicine can reduce costs for prenatal consultations, follow-up appointments, and postoperative care in Illinois. Virtual visits typically cost 20-30% less than in-office appointments and are widely covered by insurance plans since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many Illinois obstetric practices now offer hybrid care models combining in-person visits for essential physical exams with telehealth for routine check-ins and education sessions.

Click a state to compare costs

Average Visit Cost

$1,255
$13,567

Office visit (CPT 59510)

Compare With Other States

RankStateAverage
1Kentucky
Range: $2,043$19,329
$13,567
2West Virginia
Range: $2,199$19,329
$8,244
3Wisconsin
Range: $73$18,189
$7,236
4Iowa
Range: $85$12,254
$5,786
5Minnesota
Range: $90$12,428
$5,136
6Alaska
Range: $98$11,867
$5,001
7Nebraska
Range: $2,560$6,114
$4,565
8New York
Range: $2,228$7,603
$4,543
9Massachusetts
Range: $2,111$7,609
$4,495
10Georgia
Range: $1,846$7,945
$4,411
11Wyoming
Range: $2,474$6,748
$4,393
12Maine
Range: $2,875$5,140
$4,261
13New Hampshire
Range: $2,156$5,919
$4,190
14Washington
Range: $2,480$6,440
$4,088
15Rhode Island
Range: $1,996$5,919
$3,929
16Connecticut
Range: $2,007$6,163
$3,864
17South Dakota
Range: $1,979$6,114
$3,710
18California
Range: $1,979$5,068
$3,697
19District of Columbia
Range: $2,100$5,187
$3,684
20New Mexico
Range: $2,093$5,520
$3,679
21Vermont
Range: $2,280$5,532
$3,612
22Colorado
Range: $1,979$5,427
$3,602
23Hawaii
Range: $2,156$5,068
$3,508
24Pennsylvania
Range: $1,743$5,806
$3,501
25New Jersey
Range: $1,847$5,806
$3,468
26Idaho
Range: $1,979$5,262
$3,443
27Utah
Range: $1,250$4,802
$3,232
28Oregon
Range: $95$6,223
$3,220
29Delaware
Range: $1,985$4,794
$3,163
30North Carolina
Range: $1,753$4,945
$3,138
31Indiana
Range: $81$6,574
$3,122
32North Dakota
Range: $92$6,114
$3,120
33Montana
Range: $96$6,114
$3,054
34Maryland
Range: $2,100$4,565
$2,988
35Illinois
Range: $80$6,052
$2,938
36Arkansas
Range: $1,601$4,386
$2,929
37Michigan
Range: $1,926$4,497
$2,921
38South Carolina
Range: $1,652$4,450
$2,855
39Tennessee
Range: $1,874$3,931
$2,787
40Virginia
Range: $1,695$4,355
$2,783
41Ohio
Range: $1,401$4,305
$2,685
42Louisiana
Range: $1,666$3,854
$2,683
43Missouri
Range: $1,970$3,300
$2,644
44Arizona
Range: $1,875$3,966
$2,607
45Kansas
Range: $1,970$3,374
$2,595
46Oklahoma
Range: $1,795$3,423
$2,498
47Alabama
Range: $1,632$3,518
$2,468
48Texas
Range: $90$4,541
$2,460
49Nevada
Range: $1,400$3,868
$2,415
50Mississippi
Range: $1,789$3,249
$2,402
51Florida
Range: $35$3,675
$1,255
C-Section in Other States