When my first child was born in Medellín, Colombia, I had an emergency C-section after a long labor. My doula supported me at home, then accompanied us to the hospital, where I paid a small copay of 53,000 Colombian pesos, about $14.
On discharge day, my husband was sent to the finance desk to settle the bill. Nervous about what we might owe, we learned that almost everything had been covered. In that moment, we realized how different childbirth could be outside the US.
By comparison, the average cost of childbirth in the US was $13,393 in 2020. Even for those lucky enough to have fantastic insurance coverage, families typically pay several thousand dollars out of pocket. Those figures shock me.
I’m an American who lived in Colombia for eight years and had all three of my children there. Each time, I received excellent care from bilingual doctors, and the affordability allowed my husband and me to grow our net worth.
Colombian healthcare felt like a warm hug
In 2015, my husband and I sold everything we owned and boarded a plane. Over two years, we lived in 32 countries, and when we landed in Medellín, we instantly fell in love. The city is called the “City of Eternal Spring” because of its mild year-round weather, with highs around 80 and lows around 65. We wanted a lifestyle that was family-oriented, culturally rich, and affordable. Medellín delivered.
The city also had a thriving expat community, modern amenities, and a warmth in the local culture that made us feel at home.
Many of my American friends who lived abroad returned to the US for childbirth, wanting to be near family and familiar hospitals. We chose differently. For us, the benefits of lower financial stress, excellent medical care, and accessible support outweighed the challenges of learning a foreign system.
Staying in Colombia long-term required more than a tourist visa. We secured an investor’s visa, which gave us access to Colombia’s private healthcare system. We qualified for Sura Global private insurance, which provided worldwide coverage, including prenatal and maternity care. Premiums for me in 2024, at age 33, were $1,283 a year with a zero deductible. Newborns are covered at no cost for their first year of life.
I received personalized, top-tier prenatal care that made me feel genuinely cared for. During the pregnancy, I had monthly visits with my OB-GYN and three 3D ultrasounds, with zero copays. My doctor spoke excellent English, saw me promptly, and was only five minutes from my home. When I needed a hematologist during my high-risk third pregnancy, I was seen within two weeks.
I paid $123.06 for my most recent C-section
My most recent delivery in 2024, a planned C-section, cost me $123.06, including the private hospital room, a special IV iron infusion, and parking. Everything else — the operating room, medications, recovery room, pre- and postnatal care — was fully covered by my health insurance.
The support I had through my doula was crucial. I hired a bilingual doula for $902, which included six months of prenatal meetings, guidance during the surgery, and postpartum home visits. In the operating room, she advocated for my preferences, communicated with the anesthesiologist, and kept me calm through essential oils and coaching. That kind of personalized care turned a daunting experience into one that felt supportive and empowering.
My doula also helped me with breastfeeding, checked on my mental health, and even arranged a day & night nanny for my first baby. (That service cost $3,811 and provided 24-hour coverage six days a week for three months.)
Having children abroad is not for everyone. Many people value being close to family, and some may feel intimidated by a foreign healthcare system. But for us, the decision provided not only excellent care but also financial freedom.
Whenever I look back on those years in Medellín, I feel immense gratitude. Giving birth abroad gave us more than three healthy children. It gave us peace of mind and the chance to build the life we had always dreamed of.
Carey Bentley is the CEO of Lifehack Method and author of “Winning the Week.” Connect on LinkedIn.
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