Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
#16
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
All in all, the public system we experienced in Melbourne (Southern Health being the provider) was excellent. The only costs were a blood test and most scans, though we got some back from Medicare for those and one scan for the first pregnancy was done at the hospital with no cost to us.
#17
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Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Back in Melbourne
Posts: 312
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
Wow, thanks all! We're going to Melbourne so this is particularly useful. A friend has already told me about the Women's hospital there too and I just had an email back from them saying I was covered. We would rather go public as can't afford private, but couldn't quite understand if the Medicare agreement covered pregnancy and not sure how long it takes for it to kick in - can I apply from here already to get it underway perhaps? I have a consultant here due to previous history, so a lot to weigh up, but so far all looks good this time! Feel a bit more confident about it all thank you, just got to revisit the new rule re exporting cats and the rabies jab now!! Thanks again!
#18
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Frenchs Forest, Sydney
Posts: 218
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
In Sydney, the RPA hospital completely rocks. Hardly any waiting, only once when there was a emergency. I would like to think that if I had a emergency, they would also let a couple of healthy women wait a bit to see to my baby struggling to make it out into the world. The facilities are amazing, staff super competent and friendly, heck even the food was great. After two kids there I have only ever been out of pocket for parking my car. Priceless.
#19
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
I gave birth in the Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide....all Public. Brilliant, brilliant professional care(shared care), no costs (maybe for one of the scans??) I ended up having a caesarian too. Nothing to worry about
Oh and you get the baby bonus too
Oh and you get the baby bonus too
#20
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
I planned to go fully through the public system, but when it came to contacting the hospital at 14 weeks to arrange my care, they told me they could not see me as I was 'high risk' after a previous c-section. I now have to go to a private obstetrician (no bulk billing ones where I live) and seemingly there are none in the hospital. That was an unexpected cost, but guess it's just one of those things. As far as I'm aware giving birth will and my time in hospital will be free - fingers crossed!!
#21
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Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 2,237
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
I planned to go fully through the public system, but when it came to contacting the hospital at 14 weeks to arrange my care, they told me they could not see me as I was 'high risk' after a previous c-section. I now have to go to a private obstetrician (no bulk billing ones where I live) and seemingly there are none in the hospital. That was an unexpected cost, but guess it's just one of those things. As far as I'm aware giving birth will and my time in hospital will be free - fingers crossed!!
#23
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Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 2,237
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
That's interesting, as their position seems to be saying that they don't do any elective C-sections if you've had one previously, nor would they let you do a trial of labour after C-section if you wanted that.
On Peel's website, it says "The Campus is not a ‘tertiary’ hospital and has no intensive care facility. Patients in need of specialised care are transferred to a metropolitan tertiary centre such as Fremantle Hospital or King Edward Memorial Hospital". Meanwhile, over on Fremantle's website, their maternity services are at Kaleeya in East Fremantle http://www.fhhs.health.wa.gov.au/ser...ID=34&v=905124.
I don't see why you would have to pay for a private obstetrician when you're a public patient, if you don't want to. If you have to pay to see an obstetrician during pregnancy, who ends up delivering your baby in a public hospital? Perhaps your GP needs to give you a referral to Fremantle/Kaleeya Hospital. Bit of a hike, though, for appointments, or if you suddenly go into labour.
On Peel's website, it says "The Campus is not a ‘tertiary’ hospital and has no intensive care facility. Patients in need of specialised care are transferred to a metropolitan tertiary centre such as Fremantle Hospital or King Edward Memorial Hospital". Meanwhile, over on Fremantle's website, their maternity services are at Kaleeya in East Fremantle http://www.fhhs.health.wa.gov.au/ser...ID=34&v=905124.
I don't see why you would have to pay for a private obstetrician when you're a public patient, if you don't want to. If you have to pay to see an obstetrician during pregnancy, who ends up delivering your baby in a public hospital? Perhaps your GP needs to give you a referral to Fremantle/Kaleeya Hospital. Bit of a hike, though, for appointments, or if you suddenly go into labour.
#24
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
That's interesting, as their position seems to be saying that they don't do any elective C-sections if you've had one previously, nor would they let you do a trial of labour after C-section if you wanted that.
On Peel's website, it says "The Campus is not a ‘tertiary’ hospital and has no intensive care facility. Patients in need of specialised care are transferred to a metropolitan tertiary centre such as Fremantle Hospital or King Edward Memorial Hospital". Meanwhile, over on Fremantle's website, their maternity services are at Kaleeya in East Fremantle http://www.fhhs.health.wa.gov.au/ser...ID=34&v=905124.
I don't see why you would have to pay for a private obstetrician when you're a public patient, if you don't want to. If you have to pay to see an obstetrician during pregnancy, who ends up delivering your baby in a public hospital? Perhaps your GP needs to give you a referral to Fremantle/Kaleeya Hospital. Bit of a hike, though, for appointments, or if you suddenly go into labour.
On Peel's website, it says "The Campus is not a ‘tertiary’ hospital and has no intensive care facility. Patients in need of specialised care are transferred to a metropolitan tertiary centre such as Fremantle Hospital or King Edward Memorial Hospital". Meanwhile, over on Fremantle's website, their maternity services are at Kaleeya in East Fremantle http://www.fhhs.health.wa.gov.au/ser...ID=34&v=905124.
I don't see why you would have to pay for a private obstetrician when you're a public patient, if you don't want to. If you have to pay to see an obstetrician during pregnancy, who ends up delivering your baby in a public hospital? Perhaps your GP needs to give you a referral to Fremantle/Kaleeya Hospital. Bit of a hike, though, for appointments, or if you suddenly go into labour.
I am under the impression that MY obstetrician will not present at the birth, unless I choose an elective section, then he would perform it, but because I am still a public patient in the hospital, I would not pay. If I go naturally (which) is my plan, then I will have the midwives deliver, and AN Obstetrician will only be called if there is a problem.
I have my official booking in appointment at Peel next Wednesday, so we'll see what they say then!
#25
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Joined: Oct 2009
Location: Perth
Posts: 2,237
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
Give Community Midwives a call - they're not just there to do home deliveries, and they are a good source of information, support and workshops, including VBAC. Look under events and CMWA workshops on their website http://www.cmwa.net.au/.
Apart from talking to CMWA, it can also be useful trawling through the various mums & babies websites to get info on obstetricians. I can't offer any recommendations (but heard the names of a couple I'd avoid). There are also GPs who deliver, but I don't think that they would do a C-section and would hand over to a surgeon obstetrician.
Good luck with the appointment.
Apart from talking to CMWA, it can also be useful trawling through the various mums & babies websites to get info on obstetricians. I can't offer any recommendations (but heard the names of a couple I'd avoid). There are also GPs who deliver, but I don't think that they would do a C-section and would hand over to a surgeon obstetrician.
Good luck with the appointment.
#26
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
Give Community Midwives a call - they're not just there to do home deliveries, and they are a good source of information, support and workshops, including VBAC. Look under events and CMWA workshops on their website http://www.cmwa.net.au/.
Apart from talking to CMWA, it can also be useful trawling through the various mums & babies websites to get info on obstetricians. I can't offer any recommendations (but heard the names of a couple I'd avoid). There are also GPs who deliver, but I don't think that they would do a C-section and would hand over to a surgeon obstetrician.
Good luck with the appointment.
Apart from talking to CMWA, it can also be useful trawling through the various mums & babies websites to get info on obstetricians. I can't offer any recommendations (but heard the names of a couple I'd avoid). There are also GPs who deliver, but I don't think that they would do a C-section and would hand over to a surgeon obstetrician.
Good luck with the appointment.
#27
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
You are probably better off with a private obs for the reassurance factor if you have a known risk factor. I was told I was high risk for the second & have had to go to a different public hospital an hour away compared to one 15mins away & have only seen the obs once for about 4 min. I have seen a private obs/gynae at my own cost before & had appointments that seemed to be unrestricted on time & every little thing was covered (which it should have been for the price!). It depends on the individual hospital/dr of course.
#29
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 80
Re: Cost of giving birth in Oz?!
Hi, you'll love Melbourne. We lived there for 13 years and had 2 kids there. I can fully understand your confusion over the fees. Private ob fees vary HUGELY and its got worse since the baby bonus came in. The ob I had for my 2nd was fantastic and much cheaper than most - let me know if you want names. The decision to go public or private only you can make - and I admit that without private insurance we would have gone public, especially with no. 2, but you will find that public will kick you out a lot earlier - you'll be lucky to get 2 nights in hospital unless you have a caesar or other complications - that might be fine with you and if so, great. Frankly, hospital food is hospital food - I don't think its much better either way. The Women's does have a good rep and its fairly new - they moved just after I had no.2 so that would be about 3 years ago. If you have any other q's feel free to PM me. And congratulations on the visa and the baby! Best of luck.