C-section Deliveries in Hong Kong: Information for Expectant Mothers

Cesareans, also known as C-sections, are becoming more and more popular around the world. While debate continues as to what an appropriate and healthy rate of C-section births is, as an expecting mother, it is best to keep all your options on the table.

In this Pacific Prime Hong Kong article, we go through all you need to know about C-sections as an expecting mother from the cost of the procedure, to the risks and benefits.

Reasons for Choosing a C-section?

There are many reasons to choose a C-section over natural vaginal birth, as some mothers may fear birth and labor pains, doctors may err on the side of caution to avoid medical litigation, and some mothers might be encouraged to deliver on a specific date for cultural reasons.

While it’s generally common for a doctor to order a cesarean delivery when they deem it to be medically necessary, according to the WHO, more and more mothers are still electing to have the procedure over a vaginal birth. Medically necessary deliveries may be for where:

• A mother’s pelvis is too small for the baby to pass through
• The mother cannot physically go through the labor process (i.e. if there is a risk of heart attack)
• A mother has previously had a delivery by C-section
• There are multiple babies (twins, triplets, etc.)
• The newborn passing through the vaginal area may be put at risk (i.e. the mother has a disease that might be contracted)
• A newborn is ill or in distress
• Umbilical cord issues are present
• Placenta previa is present (when the placenta covers the cervix)

C-sections in Hong Kong and the Customer-patient Line

In 2017, the rate of cesarean births in Hong Kong is 41%, the second highest in Asia. While all of the medically necessary and elective reasons hold true in the SAR as they do the rest of the world, Hong Kong also experiences a C-section boost during particular Lunar New Year periods.

The SCMP noted that private hospitals stood to gain from Chinese cultural beliefs based on the fact that C-sections are both more expensive and convenient for doctors. Cesarean procedures are scheduled and performed at an appointed hour and charged up to triple the cost of a natural birth.

While it’s true that many of these mothers may be opting for an elective C-section, there is a concern that medical practitioners and their facilities may be playing too close to the “what the customer wants, the customer gets” line despite the fact that their customers are also medical patients. When money is a factor, there is sure to be an element of doctor self-interest being considered when it comes to the care of a mother and her child.

In a British Medical Journal (BMJ) article, publishers examined whether private, for-profit providers were performing more C-sections than their non-profit counterparts. They found that the monetary incentive at for-profit facilities directly contributed to the higher rate of cesareans performed.

The Cost of C-section Packages in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the entire world, but one that is also of high quality. If you’re expecting, you’ll be in good hands whether you’re going through the public or private sectors of the health system.

Vaginal deliveries are generally cheaper than C-sections, but if you’re having a cesarean birth then you can expect to pay the following:

Please note that the above packages are for 4 to 5-night stays following elective cesarean births. Other fees may or may not be included for things such as meals, anesthetics during birth, certain newborn tests and procedures such as circumcisions, collection of cord blood, or placenta collection.

It is also important to understand that doctor fees are also not included in these costs and will vary from hospital to hospital

Will Insurance Cover Elective C-sections?

As a general rule, insurance companies won’t usually cover elective surgery, meaning you will have to pay the cost of a C-section out of your own pocket.

However, as the BMJ article points out, “health insurers can also encourage overprovision of C-sections as they tend to reimburse hospitals and physicians better” than they would for a vaginal delivery.

Maternity insurance is a great way to help cover the costs of a pregnancy in other areas. However, if you’re worried your plan won’t cover elective cesareans – so read your policy document!

If you’re planning to be pregnant in the near future, be sure to start looking for a plan now as many maternity plans require a waiting period of at least 12 months before coverage becomes eligible.

If you’re in need of a plan, Pacific Prime Hong Kong can help you! With over 20 years in the industry, our experts can easily help you find the right plan for you based on your needs and budget as well as help you manage the complexities of securing an insurance plan.

For a free quote or friendly advice, contact the team at Pacific Prime today.

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Vista Nip

Content Creator at Pacific Prime

Vista is a content creator at Pacific Prime. With over 8 years of writing experience for online platforms on various topics such as luxury lifestyle and digital entertainment. He enjoys diving into complex and otherwise confusing topics, and creating easy-to-understand content for the readers to help them navigate through the topic - something that’s perfectly aligned with Pacific Prime’s motto of ‘simplifying insurance’.

Born and raised in the cultural melting pot that is Hong Kong, and having studied at an international school, Vista has developed a multicultural perspective that he uses in his writingand strives to connect to people of different backgrounds.

In his free time, Vista enjoys immersing himself in different worlds, from video games to light novels and movies. His hobbies help him expand his writing style by putting himself in the point-of-view of different people and characters.

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