Fees vary from doctor to doctor in Bermuda but no one charges $1,000 a visit. In the July 17th edition of Body & Soul reference was made that a local ob/gyn charges in the region of $1,000 per visit for patients that do not have her as their primary caregiver.

Office visits run in the region of $95 – $120 each while a delivery charge in the region of $1,500 is typical for a vaginal birth. Caesarean sections are surgery and would incur higher costs.

Dr. Dale Wilmot, Acting Chief of Obstetrics at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital issued a clarifying statement.

"If an individual is insured by one of the private insurers, the only out-of-pocket medical expense is the initial obstetric visit which may vary slightly from office to office but is no where near $1,000."

He said women on the Hospital Insurance Plan are not covered for office visits. "The total cost for antenatal services will vary depending on the number of visits during the pregnancy. However, the total cost of office visits and delivery combined may well exceed a $1,600 if an individual is uninsured," he said.