Planning for a baby? What you should know about health insurance options
This is what to know about health insurance and pregnancy care options if you plan on having children.
Planning a baby in Australia? Understand your health insurance options before giving birth. Last year, Tash Lay gave birth in a private hospital with an obstetrician of her choice, but the out-of-pocket costs and lack of transparency left her confused as a first-time parent. In Australia, you can receive medical care for pregnancy and birth in either the public or private system.
Hannah Dahlen, a professor of midwifery, explains that there are 11 major category models available in the public system. However, even with public coverage, there may be out-of-pocket costs for services like ultrasounds and blood tests. Private health insurance tiers vary in coverage, with hospital policies for pregnancy and birth generally costing between $135 to $600 a month.
Jodi Bird from consumer group Choice notes that private health insurance rebates can reduce costs, but waiting periods apply. Private obstetric care provides comprehensive antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care, with costs ranging from $10,000 to $20,000. Professor Dahlen also mentions private midwifery services, with costs around $6,000 before rebates.
Ms Lay's experience in the private system cost her about $11,000, including higher insurance premiums and extra fees. Before purchasing private insurance, check the availability of private hospitals and healthcare providers in your area.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
