Having a baby at a hospital can cost $18, 865--that includes postpartum care etc...but if one has health insurance I'm sure there is a sizable discount--but what if one's insurance isn't so good or they have none at all? I totally agree with your assessment of the news these days. It is all outrageous and is done with fund raising in mind. When I glanced at the headlines this morning every single one was about the Republican side of the debt limit fiasco. Not one headline with democrats push back or what this negotiation crap is really about...it's all theater now.