C-Section Cost in Houston, TX

A cesarean section (C-section) is a surgical procedure for delivering a baby through incisions made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. The procedure involves making a horizontal or vertical incision through the abdominal wall, opening the uterus, and surgically removing the baby and placenta. The facility fee for code 59510 (Cesarean Delivery) covers the hospital's charges for the operating room, surgical equipment, nursing staff, recovery room, and post-operative care during the hospital stay. These prices come from CMS-mandated hospital transparency files that hospitals must publish annually. The billing code 59510 represents the comprehensive facility charge for the cesarean delivery procedure itself, encompassing all hospital resources used during the surgical birth process.

Data last updated: 2026-02-28

Cesarean Delivery (HCPCS 59510)

Hospital	Gross Charge	Cash Price	Low Insured	High Insured
Baylor St Luke's Medical	$0	$0	$140.12	$5,529.48	Schedule →
HCA Clear Lake	$0	$0	$4,690	$4,690	Schedule →
HCA Conroe	$0	$0	$3,390	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA Kingwood	$0	$0	$948	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA Mainland	$0	$0	$3,390	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA Medical Center	$0	$0	$948	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA North Cypress	$0	$0	$948	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA Northwest	$0	$0	$948	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA Pearland	$0	$0	$5,841	$5,841	Schedule →
HCA Southeast	$0	$0	$948	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA Tomball	$0	$0	$948	$28,395.93	Schedule →
HCA West	$0	$0	$3,390	$28,395.93	Schedule →
Houston Methodist	$0	$0	$5,770.94	$7,542	Schedule →
St Luke's Brazosport	$0	$0	$2,559.5	$4,129	Schedule →
St Luke's Lakeside	$0	$0	$1,810.97	$4,636.07	Schedule →
St Luke's Patients Medica	$0	$0	$1,810.97	$4,636.07	Schedule →
St Luke's Springwoods Vil	$0	$0	$1,810.97	$4,636.07	Schedule →
St Luke's Sugar Land	$0	$0	$1,810.97	$4,636.07	Schedule →
St Luke's The Vintage	$0	$0	$1,810.97	$4,636.07	Schedule →
St Luke's The Woodlands	$0	$0	$1,810.97	$4,636.07	Schedule →

What These Prices Mean

Understanding the price columns: The gross charge represents each hospital's list price before any discounts. However, the cash price and gross charge data appears incomplete for Houston area hospitals, with many showing $0 amounts. This incomplete pricing data makes it difficult to calculate meaningful discount percentages. Patients with high-deductible insurance plans who have not yet met their deductible will owe the negotiated rate their insurer has with the hospital, which falls within the insured range shown for each facility. What the code covers: Code 59510 encompasses the complete facility component of cesarean delivery, including pre-operative preparation, surgical suite usage, medical equipment and supplies, nursing care during surgery, immediate post-operative monitoring, and standard hospital room charges during the maternity stay. This comprehensive code covers all hospital facility services from the time of surgical preparation through discharge, but does not include physician fees for the obstetrician, anesthesiologist, or pediatrician, which are billed separately by those medical professionals.

Why C-Section Prices Vary

Hospital pricing structures: The insured rate ranges show significant variation across Houston hospitals. Baylor St Luke's Medical Center shows rates from $140.12 to $5,529.48, while several HCA facilities show much broader ranges from $948 to $28,395.93. HCA Clear Lake maintains a consistent rate of $4,690, and HCA Pearland shows $5,841 across all insurers. This variation reflects different negotiated contracts between hospitals and insurance companies, with some facilities maintaining more consistent pricing while others show dramatic rate differences based on the specific insurance plan. Facility type and alternatives: The pricing data includes major hospital systems like Houston Methodist, HCA Healthcare facilities, and St Luke's network hospitals. Academic medical centers and community hospitals may have different cost structures due to teaching programs, specialized equipment, and varying overhead costs. Birthing centers and other alternative delivery locations are not included in this hospital pricing data but may offer different pricing structures. The wide variation in insured rates, from $140.12 to $28,395.93, demonstrates how significantly costs can differ based on facility choice and insurance plan.

Paying cash? Health insurance could lower your C-Section cost.

Published cash prices on this page range from $0 to $0. Insurers on this page have negotiated rates starting from $948, many times lower than cash prices at the same hospitals. If you are uninsured, a marketplace health plan could reduce your out-of-pocket cost for this procedure.

Compare Health Insurance Plans → Get Free Plan Estimate →

Links go to Healthcare.gov, the official federal health insurance marketplace. We are not affiliated with Healthcare.gov or any insurance provider. This is not a recommendation for any specific plan.

What Insurers Actually Pay

Published negotiated rates for Cesarean Delivery (HCPCS 59510) at HCA Clear Lake, outpatient facility fee:

Cesarean Delivery (59510), HCA Clear Lake Payer Rates

Insurance Payer	Plan Type	Negotiated Rate
Superior Health Plan	CHIP	$948
Superior Health Plan	CHPFC	$948
Superior Health Plan	STAR	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARKids	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARPLUS	$948
Superior Health Plan	CHIP	$948
Superior Health Plan	CHPFC	$948
Superior Health Plan	STAR	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARKids	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARPLUS	$948
Superior Health Plan	CHIP	$948
Superior Health Plan	CHPFC	$948
Superior Health Plan	STAR	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARKids	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARPLUS	$948
Superior Health Plan	CHIP	$948
Superior Health Plan	CHPFC	$948
Superior Health Plan	STAR	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARKids	$948
Superior Health Plan	STARPLUS	$948
Fidelis SecureCare of TX	MGMCR	$2,115
Fidelis SecureCare of TX	MGMCR	$2,115
Fidelis SecureCare of TX	MGMCR	$2,115
Fidelis SecureCare of TX	MGMCR	$2,115
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Oscar	HIX	$3,390
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Kelsey Care (Boon-Chapman)	COMM	$4,255
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Humana	HMO	$4,690
Humana	PPO	$4,690
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
Healthcare Highways	NarrowNetwork	$5,841
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$22,142.07
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$22,142.07
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$22,142.07
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$22,142.07
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$22,142.07
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$22,142.07
BCBS	MyBlueHealth	$22,142.07
BCBS	BAV	$24,387.66
BCBS	BAV	$24,387.66
BCBS	BAV	$24,387.66
BCBS	BAV	$24,387.66
BCBS	BAV	$24,387.66
BCBS	BAV	$24,387.66
BCBS	BAV	$24,387.66
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	PPO	$27,623.25
BCBS	EPOSOA	$28,009.59
BCBS	EPOSOA	$28,009.59
BCBS	EPOSOA	$28,009.59
BCBS	EPOSOA	$28,009.59
BCBS	EPOSOA	$28,009.59
BCBS	EPOSOA	$28,009.59
BCBS	EPOSOA	$28,009.59
BCBS	HMO	$28,395.93
BCBS	HMO	$28,395.93
BCBS	HMO	$28,395.93
BCBS	HMO	$28,395.93
BCBS	HMO	$28,395.93
BCBS	HMO	$28,395.93
BCBS	HMO	$28,395.93

Key finding: BCBS plans show the most dramatic rate variation, from $140.12 for a transplant plan at Baylor St Luke's to $28,395.93 for HMO plans at HCA facilities.

How to Use This Information

✓ These are facility fees only. The physician's fee is billed separately.
✓ Contact your insurer or the hospital billing department for your specific out-of-pocket cost.
✓ Many hospitals offer financial assistance programs for patients who qualify.

Our methodology · Medical Disclaimer

What Patients Ask About C-Section Costs

How much does a c-section cost without insurance in Houston?

The cash price data for C-sections appears incomplete across Houston hospitals, with facilities reporting $0 amounts. This suggests the pricing data may not be fully updated or complete. For context, the insured rate ranges provide a better indication of actual costs: rates vary from $140.12 to $28,395.93 depending on the hospital and insurance plan. Houston Methodist shows insured rates of $5,770.94 to $7,542, while HCA facilities range from $948 to $28,395.93. St Luke's facilities generally show rates between $1,810.97 and $4,636.07. These facility fees are separate from physician and professional fees for the obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and pediatrician, which are billed separately. Without insurance, Patients may contact hospitals directly for current cash pricing, as the published transparency data appears incomplete.

Why is the gross charge so much higher than the cash price?

The gross charge data appears incomplete for C-section procedures in Houston, with hospitals reporting $0 amounts in their transparency files. Typically, gross charges represent the hospital's full list price or chargemaster rate before any discounts are applied. These published rates serve as starting points for negotiations with insurance companies, but almost no patients pay these full amounts. Insurance companies negotiate significant discounts from gross charges, and hospitals often provide substantial discounts for uninsured patients paying cash. The wide variation in negotiated rates, from $140.12 to $28,395.93, demonstrates that actual payments are typically much lower than gross charges. When complete data is available, cash prices usually represent 10-40% of the gross charge, reflecting the substantial markups built into hospital list pricing that get reduced through various discount programs.

Does insurance cover a c-section?

Insurance coverage for C-sections typically depends on whether the procedure is medically necessary or planned. Most insurance plans cover medically necessary cesarean deliveries, though coverage specifics vary by plan. The negotiated rates in Houston range from $140.12 to $28,395.93, showing significant variation based on the insurance company and specific plan type. For non-emergency planned C-sections, insurance companies may require prior authorization to confirm medical necessity. Patients with high-deductible health plans who have not yet met their annual deductible will be responsible for paying the negotiated rate their insurance company has with the hospital, not the gross charge. After meeting the deductible, patients typically pay a percentage of the negotiated rate as coinsurance. The specific coverage details, including deductible amounts and coinsurance percentages, depend on the individual insurance plan terms and should be verified directly with the insurance provider.

Are there additional fees beyond the c-section facility charge?

The facility charge covers only the hospital's services and does not include physician fees, which are billed separately. For C-section deliveries, expect separate bills from the obstetrician performing the surgery, the anesthesiologist providing anesthesia during the procedure, and potentially a pediatrician or neonatologist who examines the baby after delivery. If complications arise requiring additional specialists, those physicians will also bill separately. Hospital-employed physicians may appear on the same bill as facility charges, but their professional fees remain distinct line items. If the C-section is performed as an emergency procedure through the emergency department, additional ER facility fees will apply separate from the surgical facility charges. Post-operative follow-up visits with the obstetrician, routine newborn care, and any additional procedures or extended hospital stays beyond the standard maternity length will generate additional separate charges not included in the basic C-section facility fee.

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Data Sources

Baylor St Luke's Medical Center

File updated: 2026-02-28 · Accessed by us: 2026-04-13

We are not affiliated with Baylor St Luke's Medical Center. Published prices may not reflect your actual cost. Disclaimer