C-sections: The first cut is the deepest

It's hard to not hear about how common caesarean sections have become in the U.S.--30 percent of babies are now air-lifted out of the womb. C-sections are more expensive, and come with higher complication rates. But the price we pay for more frequent c-sections may becoming literal. Turns out some insurance companies are considering a history of caesarean delivery a "pre-existing condition," and an excuse to jack up a woman's premium...or deny her insurance altogether.

There are multiple reasons for c-sections: babies are bigger; moms are older with more complicated pregnancies. And despite stories of scads of women choosing to deliver via c-section, most of these deliveries are not planned--and many are not wanted that way. Plus, women don't always have a choice after their first c-section--many doctors won't let them try a natural delivery the next time around. So the idea of charging women more--or worse, not insuring them--for something that is not under their control has me crazed. That's the whole idea of insurance, right? To protect you, financially, when the unexpected happens to your health? Since when does childbirth fall into a special category? I think this is another way that insurance companies discriminate against women, under the guise of belt-tightening...what do you think?

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[photo credit: Getty Images]