I am wondering if some mums will share their experiences with me!
My husband are planning on trying to conceive within the next 12 months, we both currently have private health insurance (Extras only) and love it. We are wondering if we should upgrade to have hospital for pregnancy however after a doing a few quotes online, looks like it will be around $3,500 a year for us (currently only $1,500 for both of us to have top extras which we easily make back from savings on optical, dental and physio each year).
Is this worth it? Having never been pregnant before I am really unsure how all of the pre-birth appointments work - are they covered by medicare? Do you need to pay for ultrasounds and blood tests etc? If you have private health can you chose to use the public system? If so, would you? Is public better than private? What is the out of pocket expense having a baby through private hospital? Is there an expense having a baby in public? Is the money for this insurance better spent elsewhere? I have also never been a patient in any hospital before in case that is relevant (ie. no experiences with either system).
Alternatively, if there is a magical website with information regarding the costs of pregnancy and child birth that anyone knows about please let me know!
I am located in Cairns if that helps with responses and experiences. Thanks so much.
6 Replies
I will give my story of going through the public system. I never saw the same doctor or midwife in my appointments so while everything was free it was stressful. There was no continuity of care and every medical professional had a different opinion on my due date!
The labour was actually really good. After care I found awful because I was put in a room with three other single mothers, which was awful. I was 21 and very grown up for my age, they were very immature and behaved like 13 year olds on school camp!
My sister went private and it was heaven. Private rooms, private bathroom, not awful food. Partner can stay in overnight. Her own doctor who knew her history etc.
If you can afford it go private. Well worth the investment.
I'm not in Cairns so might be different, but thought my story would provide some insight.
I did GP shared care for my first pregnancy (with the public hospital midwives) and only paid a bit out of pocket for the 12 and 20 week ultrasounds. My GP bulk-billed all of my antenatal appointments and the two visits with the MW at the hospital were covered by Medicare. I ended up having a c-section and was in hospital for 3 nights. I didn't pay a cent out of pocket for that.
I have investigated private care for my next pregnancy as we don't like the public hospital where we live now: the hospital cover ONLY covers the birth and there is a gap to pay (depends on the insurer as to how much). Your OB care is then out of your pocket (I think some is covered by Medicare). You must be under the care of an OB to be admitted to the private hospital.
I went private for my two kids.. loved it it was like being at a hotel private is what you pay for .. care was standard but at least doctor was aware of my pregnancy history whole time .we had no outa pockedt expenses other than the upfront excess and anesthesiologist fee which was 500 I think well worth it yes yes and if I had another child again yes I would go private ??
Not sure what Cairns hospitals are like but I had both of mine in the public system - at Mater Mothers in Brisbane. Both times excellent care from the midwives - saw mostly the same people. Had my own room with my first too. Second time in there were a few annoying things: I did have to share a room some of the time with a girl who at barely 18 had to have most of her family and friends in the room all the time! I'm all for visitors but it was not ideal having 10 visitors crammed in the room all day.
Other than that, I would recommend doing a tour of your local hospital and check out their facilities for both public and private.
I've been public for all 3 of my kids (due to have #4 in public too). I did share care with my GP so I'm seeing him for all my appoints except 3 that the hospital make u do. I did my scans privately and paid the gap for those. The public hospital doesn't make u pay for anything so u can get scans done there.
I shared rooms with other new mums which didn't bother me. My sister whet public aswel at a dif hospital and she got her own room due to having a c-section. I found the food good, midwifes lovely. Only thing that's not so great is the visiting hrs, my hospital is very strict, 8pm and all visitors must leave inc partners and no visitors b4 8am. The only time they are leanient is if you've just had bub. I had my last at 2.30am and they let my mum and hubby stay in birth suite until visiting hrs started as to not wake the other mums in their rooms.
I have heard of a few more c-section deliveries in private, but that's only from ppl I know.
Look into the hospital facilities. I am in Townsville and the private hospital doesn't have a neonatal unit. . . Decision made. I went with the hospital that could help if my baby was born sick. Also look into the "type" of birth you would like and what your opinion are. If you want a c section you will have to go private, of you want to try for a water birthday check the hospital you want has baths.
It is very personal and depends on your priorities - I had a horrible birth better food and a private room wouldn't have fixed that, I would save your money - go on a babymoon or get a weekly pregnancy massage.