R.I.: 18th best state to have a baby

RHODE ISLAND is the 18th best state to have a baby, according to the latest study by WalletHub, a financial services website. / COURTESY WALLETHUB
RHODE ISLAND is the 18th best state to have a baby, according to the latest study by WalletHub, a financial services website. / COURTESY WALLETHUB

PROVIDENCE – The Ocean State ranks the lowest in New England in a listing of the best and worst states to have a baby, but still ranks among the top 20 best states in the nation.
The latest listing by WalletHub, released Monday, said Rhode Island ranks 18th best in the nation, while Vermont, Maine and Connecticut take the top three spots; New Hampshire, fifth; and Massachusetts, eighth.
Mississippi was last on the list, which looked at 17 factors including hospital Caesarean-delivery charges, annual average infant-care costs, number of pediatricians per capita, cost of living and average health insurance premiums.
A positive is that Rhode Island ranked fifth highest for lowest infant mortality rate, behind California, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
But it ranked as one of the more expensive states to have a baby, placing among the top five for highest hospital conventional delivery charges and highest average annual infant care costs.
The financial services website said it conducted its analysis because August is one of the more popular birth months, and it wanted to give expectant parents an idea of the delivery costs, health care accessibility and baby-friendliness of each state.
“According to the International Federation of Health Plans, Americans already pay the highest birthing costs in the world, with the price tag of conventional delivery averaging $10,002. Add another $5,238 to that tab for a C-section,” WalletHub said.

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