Giving birth in the United States is often seen as a dream for many families. However, influencer Risper Faith has revealed that the reality comes with a heavy financial burden and strict medical requirements.
Months after going through the gruelling experience, she shared her story to help other expectant mothers prepare for the journey.
Risper travelled to the United States to join his husband to give birth. While she describes the experience of bringing a child into the world in America as beautiful, she cautions that the post-delivery hospital invoices can be overwhelming.
Strict Medical Red Tape
The financial cost is only one part of the challenge. Navigating the American medical system requires careful and timely planning. Risper advised mothers to travel early, recommending that they arrive by 36 weeks of pregnancy. She personally arrived in the US at around 32 weeks.
“Anyway guys, kuzaa, kama unapanga kuja kuzaa America, wewe jua tu jipange na kama five million. Na before ukuje, unakuja mapema kama 36 weeks. Na kama umekuwa unaenda prenatal visit, uko na daktari wako huko Kenya, ukuje na barua kutoka huko,” she said.
Without a letter detailing prior treatment, hospitals will not admit patients. They want to ensure they are not held responsible for any clinical errors made by doctors elsewhere.
A Hefty Price Tag
Even with the benefit of health insurance, which she has because she holds a Green Card and her husband works, the final hospital invoices were substantial.
Delivering via a Caesarean section (C-section) at a hospital, Risper was faced with two separate bills.
The medical costs for her newborn baby came to $3,464. Calculated at her mentioned exchange rate of KSh 130 per dollar, this is approximately KSh 500,000. Meanwhile, Risper's personal hospital bill reached $7,077, amounting to KSh 1 million.
In total, her brief hospital stay from Monday to Thursday cost KSh 1.5 million. Crucially, this sum only covered the delivery period and did not include prior prenatal clinic visits to check on the baby's progress.
For those planning to travel to America to give birth, Risper offered a candid warning. She advised that expectant mothers must prepare a budget of around KSh 5 million.
Sacrificing for the Future
Despite the steep bills and administrative hurdles, Risper believes the sacrifice is entirely worth it. The immediate benefits for her newborn daughter were clear.
The baby has already received her US passport and Social Security number, integrating her directly into the American system. This opens up a world of opportunities for her future, including the ability to study and enjoy full citizenship rights.
"Looking on the brighter side on the positive side katoto niamerikaeshapata passporteshapata social has kashaingizwa kwa system..."
