Health Insurance for Pregnancy
If you’re planning to start a family in the near future, you may be wondering what your options are as far as private health insurance goes. You don’t need to compare private health insurance for pregnancy if you’re happy to go through the public health care system courtesy of Medicare, but some women prefer to take the private route. If you’re one of these, here are some tips when you’re looking to compare private health insurance for pregnancy benefits.
Image by Katina Rogers
Where do you want to give birth?
You can choose to be treated as either a public or private patient depending on your preferences and needs:
Public health care and pregnancy
If you’re eligible for Medicare, you can receive treatment in a public hospital at no cost but you won’t have much option for choosing which doctor or midwife will treat you. Accommodation and treatment will usually be free but you may need to pay for surgical costs and medicines (if applicable).
You can expect the birth to take place in a labour ward or birthing centre (if the hospital has one) and to be looked after by doctors and midwives during the birth. A midwife will also visit you at home once you’ve been discharged. If there are any complications during or after the birth, you’ll be treated in a post-natal ward.
Private health care and pregnancy
If you’re treated as a private patient, you can be treated in either a public or private hospital. The main benefit compared to being a public patient is the ability to choose who will treat you. If you want to be treated by an obstetrician, your GP can refer you to one or you can find out which obstetricians are authorized to deliver at your preferred hospital and pick one of these. Your health fund may have agreements in place with some specialists to minimize your costs.
Visits to your obstetrician are treated much the same as visits to your GP and you can claim on Medicare for these. During the birth, a midwife (from the hospital) will take care of you but your doctor will also be on hand throughout and will also be involved in post-natal care.
What about other expenses?
Depending on your private health insurance policy, you may be covered for some or all of your pregnancy-related expenses, but there may be a ‘gap’ regarding the obstetrician fees, which should be made clear to you early on. In some cases, there may also be a ‘gap’ between hospital costs and what is covered by your health fund. If you choose to go down the private route, be sure to confirm exactly what you’re covered for so there are no surprises. With a new baby to think about, unexpected financial expenses are the last thing you’ll want!
Not all cover options include pregnancy benefits as a matter of course, and you may need to upgrade your existing private health insurance to ensure that you are covered if you do become pregnant. Be aware that many health funds require you to have had the relevant policy for a minimum time period (up to 12 months) before you become eligible for benefits. Because of these type of restrictions, you’re best placed if you can take out or upgrade your private health insurance before you become pregnant.
Can I get private health insurance if I’m already pregnant?
As many private health funds have a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy and maternity benefits, it’s worth arranging pregnancy cover before you get pregnant to make sure that you’re definitely going to be covered at the crucial time.
When you’re looking to compare health insurance for pregnancy, don’t forget to spend some time looking at the various options. A more basic level of private health insurance may have only minor pregnancy benefits, or none at all, so you may want to think about taking out a more comprehensive level or upgrading an existing policy to ensure that you’re covered adequately for what you need. With some private health funds imposing long month waiting periods for pregnancy and maternity benefits, it’s advisable to make the effort to compare health insurance options sooner rather than later.
Related posts: