Only catastrophic insurance here (10K high deductible).

Every thing paid including all pre-natals, followups, etc. We have had two home births and paid about $3300 a piece when all was said and done. If a woman eats healthy and is low risk, much of the cost and stress of a hospital can be avoided. If things start to truly get "scary", the midwives know and will only recommend a transfer to the hospital as needed. (calling ahead) Plus the hospitals are only 5-20 minutes away. Most emerging issues in the hospital probably take at least 20 minutes to get into surgery (c-section).

We have loved the peace, calm, and control of midwives at home. One of ours has a PhD in nursing and has worked in the NICU for 20 years. I used to be a hospital only person but after much reading, research, and discussion, find that I believe a hospital is for sick people or high risk people. Birth is a very natural process and a woman is going to give birth the best wherever she feels most comfortable. For many this is in the hospital, for some a birthing center, for some at home.

One last thing, our midwives have a breathing machine for the baby and a variety of drugs they can administer to help with problems during the birth. My wife was bleading pretty heavy after birth and they were able to give her a shot of something or another that took care of it. Total extra cost $50. If things were to start getting serious, we would have naturally been transferred to the hospital.