Having a baby in Australia.
Sep 8th 2009, 9:49 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 56
Having a baby in Australia.
Hi there,
We have been living in Brisbane for 6 months now and my wife is 5 weeks pregnant. We're worried about the costs as we're going the public system at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
How much would it actually cost? She has already had one Doctors appointment $100 - 63 (Medicare) = $37.
She has been told she needs to see the Doctors at least every month until she gives birth ~$37 X 9 = $333
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
Appears to be a nightmare to me. And the sneeky Medicare only have their Safenet set at $1111.
What roughly would be the total?
All I get of medicare, is "well it depends on the hospital"
We have been living in Brisbane for 6 months now and my wife is 5 weeks pregnant. We're worried about the costs as we're going the public system at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
How much would it actually cost? She has already had one Doctors appointment $100 - 63 (Medicare) = $37.
She has been told she needs to see the Doctors at least every month until she gives birth ~$37 X 9 = $333
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
Appears to be a nightmare to me. And the sneeky Medicare only have their Safenet set at $1111.
What roughly would be the total?
All I get of medicare, is "well it depends on the hospital"
Sep 8th 2009, 10:05 am
#2
In melbourne
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 263
Re: Having a baby in Australia.
We went through the public system (despite having private cover for it) and it was fantastic in most all cases. From memory (so it may be a bit off)
~$37 X 9 = $333 -> Almost all Dr's appointments were at hospital and bulked billed apart from the first couple so more like $66 (we didnt use shared care as we don't know the GP)
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
Paid GP can't remember how much
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
Voluntary in Vic and paid $200.
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
We did this privately at about $200 with $85 back from Medicare.
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
We didn't have any pain relief and no charges to stay. Did buy the mid wife a nice box of chocies tho..
Check out bub hub for more advice tho. Its an internet forum can be found through google..
Congrats and Good luck....
~$37 X 9 = $333 -> Almost all Dr's appointments were at hospital and bulked billed apart from the first couple so more like $66 (we didnt use shared care as we don't know the GP)
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
Paid GP can't remember how much
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
Voluntary in Vic and paid $200.
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
We did this privately at about $200 with $85 back from Medicare.
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
We didn't have any pain relief and no charges to stay. Did buy the mid wife a nice box of chocies tho..
Check out bub hub for more advice tho. Its an internet forum can be found through google..
Congrats and Good luck....
Last edited by silver; Sep 8th 2009 at 10:07 am. Reason: bub hub details..
Sep 8th 2009, 10:50 am
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2008
Location: Brisvegas
Posts: 5,461
Re: Having a baby in Australia.
Ask the Receptionist at your wife's next Obstetrics appointment to give you an information sheet containing costs etc. If you go public, most things are bulk billed as silver has said - the most expensive thing seems to be if you need an aneathetist - they usually have a large gap fee. But if all goes well with no need for epidural or surgery, you should be okay I think.
Sep 8th 2009, 11:47 am
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,039
Re: Having a baby in Australia.
Hi there,
We have been living in Brisbane for 6 months now and my wife is 5 weeks pregnant. We're worried about the costs as we're going the public system at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
How much would it actually cost? She has already had one Doctors appointment $100 - 63 (Medicare) = $37.
She has been told she needs to see the Doctors at least every month until she gives birth ~$37 X 9 = $333
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
Appears to be a nightmare to me. And the sneeky Medicare only have their Safenet set at $1111.
What roughly would be the total?
All I get of medicare, is "well it depends on the hospital"
We have been living in Brisbane for 6 months now and my wife is 5 weeks pregnant. We're worried about the costs as we're going the public system at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
How much would it actually cost? She has already had one Doctors appointment $100 - 63 (Medicare) = $37.
She has been told she needs to see the Doctors at least every month until she gives birth ~$37 X 9 = $333
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
Appears to be a nightmare to me. And the sneeky Medicare only have their Safenet set at $1111.
What roughly would be the total?
All I get of medicare, is "well it depends on the hospital"
When you go into a public hospital it is all free as far as I know.
So your only costs would be:
- gap fee for GP visits - or use free GP or free public hospital if not overly attached to your GP and want it free.
- few scans
We'll wait to see actual costs from people who have used public system I guess...
Sep 8th 2009, 11:47 am
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 6,039
Re: Having a baby in Australia.
Ask the Receptionist at your wife's next Obstetrics appointment to give you an information sheet containing costs etc. If you go public, most things are bulk billed as silver has said - the most expensive thing seems to be if you need an aneathetist - they usually have a large gap fee. But if all goes well with no need for epidural or surgery, you should be okay I think.
Sep 8th 2009, 11:49 am
#6
A rather curious boy
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 5,917
Re: Having a baby in Australia.
Hi there,
We have been living in Brisbane for 6 months now and my wife is 5 weeks pregnant. We're worried about the costs as we're going the public system at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
How much would it actually cost? She has already had one Doctors appointment $100 - 63 (Medicare) = $37.
She has been told she needs to see the Doctors at least every month until she gives birth ~$37 X 9 = $333
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
Appears to be a nightmare to me. And the sneeky Medicare only have their Safenet set at $1111.
What roughly would be the total?
All I get of medicare, is "well it depends on the hospital"
We have been living in Brisbane for 6 months now and my wife is 5 weeks pregnant. We're worried about the costs as we're going the public system at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
How much would it actually cost? She has already had one Doctors appointment $100 - 63 (Medicare) = $37.
She has been told she needs to see the Doctors at least every month until she gives birth ~$37 X 9 = $333
1. Then a blood test. $ ?
2. Then 1st scan $ ?
3. Then 2nd which is private $ ?
4. Then giving birth, gas and air $ ?
5. Then could be epidural $?
6. Being admitted, staying for 1-3 days ? $ ?
7. Anything else $?
Appears to be a nightmare to me. And the sneeky Medicare only have their Safenet set at $1111.
What roughly would be the total?
All I get of medicare, is "well it depends on the hospital"
Sep 8th 2009, 12:27 pm
#7
Account Closed
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 546
Re: Having a baby in Australia.
My partner went through the public system 3 times in Canberra ... everything on match day is free.
