Costs and insurance, the hospital stay, birth certificate, the baby’s SSN and US passport, and registering with your home country.
Having a baby here is common for newcomers. Plan early: it involves insurance, the hospital, and several papers.
Cost and insurance
A birth in a US hospital is expensive. The total charge before insurance is often more than $15,000, and much more with a C-section or a newborn intensive care stay.
Most US health plans must cover pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care.
Check your plan's deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Your share is usually limited to that maximum for the year.
If you have no insurance, contact a community health center and the hospital's financial assistance office early. Medicaid may cover pregnancy for some people, including emergency Medicaid for labor and delivery in some cases. This differs by state.
Students: check what your school plan covers. Some visitor or student plans exclude pregnancy.
Before the birth
1
Choose an in-network hospital and confirm your OB-GYN delivers there.
2
Pre-register at the hospital, usually in the last months of pregnancy.
3
Choose a pediatrician (children's doctor) in your network for the baby.
4
Buy an infant car seat. Hospitals usually check that you have one before you leave by car.
At the hospital
You fill in a birth certificate worksheet. Write names exactly as they should appear forever, matching your passports.
On the same form, choose yes to request a Social Security number for the baby. The card usually arrives by mail in a few weeks.
Add the baby to your health insurance quickly: usually within 30 days for a job plan and 60 days for a Marketplace plan.
After the birth
1
Birth certificate: order certified copies from your state's vital records office. You need them for the passport and your home country.
2
US citizenship: a baby born in the US is a US citizen, with very narrow exceptions such as children of foreign diplomats. In June 2026 the Supreme Court struck down an executive order that tried to limit this.
3
US passport: apply in person with form DS-11. Usually both parents must come with the baby. The fee is $100 for the passport book plus a $35 acceptance fee. Bring the birth certificate, your IDs and a baby photo.
4
Your home country: many countries let or require you to register the birth at their embassy or consulate, so the baby can also have your nationality. Some countries do not allow dual citizenship. Contact your embassy early; there can be deadlines.
5
Your own status: having a US citizen child does not change your visa status.
Common mistakes
Spelling the baby's name differently on different forms.
Forgetting to add the baby to insurance within the deadline.