No medicare nor Private Insurance

[rcdoms]

Hello,

My wife and I found out she's about 6 weeks pregnant. This is our first time and we're both scared since we have no clue on what to do. I want to take care of all of this so that she doesn't worry.

We're not eligible for both private and medicare insurance so we have to pay for everything out of our pocket. :no:

We haven't seen any doctors yet but our initial plan is to see a GP and hopefully he can help us out from there.

I wanted to get your suggestions on which path to take. I'm currently leaning towards shared care with a GP and then an OB in a public hospital but i don't know if that's available here at lower north shore (most likely Royal Northshore public).

We would really be greatful for any inputs (also on any good GP you can refer).

[Ashleigh<3]

Hello :wave:

I went through my pregnancy with the public health system and it was top notch for me, the area I lived in helped (Central coast, NSW), as the variety of hospitals/birthing centers were available with the public system.

When you and your wife finally see the GP, they will take care of you, they'll ask you what your preference is. Community Midwives/Obstetrician.
They pretty much take care of it all for you, as in, sign you up as soon as you give the word.
I think the first apptmnt begins around 12 weeks. :thumbsup:

Try not to stress, there really isn't much complexity involved.
Sounds like you're doing a great job already.
Wishing you both the best.

[Sammilee]

Hi rcdoms :wave:

Firstly, congrats to you and your wife on your pg!

Now you have mentioned that you are not eligible for private or medicare insurance? Does that mean you are not Australian citizens/ permanent residents? Medicare is eligible to all Australian citizens and those that have permanent visas, which therefore means you can go through the public system and are basically covered for all costs in a public hospital. If you are not eligible for Medicare does that mean you are here as an overseas student? I'd assume if you are a student then you must have some sort of OS private health cover? If so, then you'll need to approach your PHI to see if they cover obstetrics. If all else fails and you are unsure of what you are eligible for/ covered for then your GP will point you in the right direction.

Congrats again and good luck :flowerz:

[rcdoms]

Thanks Ashleigh, that info really helps keep our minds at ease. Hopefully we get to book a schedule with a GP this weekend.

You're right Sammilee, we're here on a working visa and have only been here for about 6 months. That being said, private health insurance wont be able to cover us because their OB coverage has a waiting period of 12 months. :no:

I've been wondering how much everything would cost. So far based from reading here in the forums it would be around $5000. I wouldn't mind that as long as i know my wife and baby are being taken good care of.

Sorry to say that we came from a country where public hospitals are really scary, that thought really adds a lot of fear for me. Based on all reviews here, public system is really good so i somewhat feel better. I want my wife to have (as much as possible) a smooth pregnancy. I don't want our first experience of pregnancy to be scary and stressful.

[trouble]

think we have good hospitals here, public or private, I just think it is a personal choice.

I went private, as I prefered the idea of having my own doctor and seeing him/her through out the pregnancy,

I also have many other personal reasons about why I went private, due to working in both public and private hospitals, but wont mention them as like i said it is a personal choice.

I think your own doctor and more choice are the main points of private, but go and talk to your gp, he will be able to help you.:)

[liat]

rcdoms - just wondering, are you from SA per chance? iI you are or are from somewhere where you were on a private medical fund for over 12 months (which I assume you were if there public system was scary) sometimes they will recognize that as a transfer and waiver the 12 month waiting period (depending on the fund here and the fund there). MBF did that for us when we came over from SA.

I wasn't too worried though because everything I'd heard about public here was pretty good. If they hadn't waivered it I would have gone with the brand new mater mothers public :)

[Cordelia]

$5000 would be the cost of the obstetrician but to stay at a private hospital you are looking at several thousand (at least) more. I had my first through the public system and didn't pay a cent. I didn't have any complaints.

[rcdoms]

We're actually from a different country so i guess we wouldn't be able to have that transfer of insurance. But thanks anyways for suggesting that. I may as well check with our current private insurance, worth giving it a go... who knows...:)

Cordelia - What does $5000 include? Does it include all the prenatal appointments, delivery, scans, and other tests?

[Mama2Mia]

we went through public system with our first baby last year and they were fantastic....and it didn't cost us a cent (scans, blood tests, appts, birth all included).

we're going through private this time with our 2nd baby only because we took up private hospital cover and thought it would be a waste not to use it given we've got insurance anyway...plus i wanted a private room.

going through private with no cover can cost somewhere around $13K i heard :eek:...definitely not cheap!

we've got a great public system here so i wouldn't worry at all if i were you.

[quitecontrary]

With our first we went with a private Ob in a public hospital and paid up front as we didn't have insurance (though we did have medicare). Being out of pocket meant we had peace of mind, especially as I ended up needing a caesarean- I was glad I knew who was going to do the job.

This time we have private health insurance, are going to the same Ob and to the same public hospital. I was talking to an Ob (female) the other day who said she would never give birth in a private hospital as there aren't the resources you have in a public one.
So, I have faith in the public system (for sure) just for me I'm glad I have my own Doc.
Go and talk to a GP (see if you can get a recommendation for a good one in your area) and get the low down from them.

[sam's mum]

we went through public system with our first baby last year and they were fantastic....and it didn't cost us a cent (scans, blood tests, appts, birth all included).

we're going through private this time with our 2nd baby only because we took up private hospital cover and thought it would be a waste not to use it given we've got insurance anyway...plus i wanted a private room.

going through private with no cover can cost somewhere around $13K i heard :eek:...definitely not cheap!

we've got a great public system here so i wouldn't worry at all if i were you.


the public system is only free if you are covered by medicare which this couple isn't.

If I were you I would get a quote from your local hospitals, public and private, so that you can do a comparison of costs. find out what happens if you need to have an extended stay as well, so that you can include that in your calculations.

[rcdoms]

Thanks Sam's mum, right now that's what we're trying to do. :)

quitecontrary appreciate you sharing your experience. Would you mind giving an estimate on how much you spent when you had your CS?

I'd like to thank all of you for replying and helping us out. The info we're getting is a big relief. :)

[kiwibird27]

Public health is brillant here, but u will have to pay a fortune (if u don't have medicare) and if all doesn't go as well as expected your child won't get medicare either. It will cost u thousands, even if all is good. Do u have regular medical insurance or just no pregnancy cover??? Would ring your local hospital and ask, they deal with this stuff all the time!!

Some countries do have agreements with Australia so u may get reciprocal rights, check the medicare website.

[quitecontrary]

I think you should get some sort of reciprocal health cover in the public system if you have a work visa - let us know what you find out!
I will pm you a list of upfront costs for my Ob, I got the list again just the other week. Some specialists charge more, its worth asking if you do want to go private. We chose our doc as he was recommended by the midwives at the hospital we were already booked into.
So exciting, I am sure you and your wife will be experts in the Australian health system very soon.
Private message to come tomorrow - you will get a notification to your usual email address, and to read it here click on the "Private messages" under your "welcome rcdoms" on the right hand side of Bubhub.

[rcdoms]

Thank you so much, i'll wait for the PM. I already checked and we don't have any reciprocal coverage but i will still triple check by calling the hospital. :)

By the way, my wife was able to book at RNSH. All we have to do now is comply to all the prerequisites like the the scans and other tests. Atleast we have something going on.

We'll post all the infos as we go along, hopefully it helps other moms and dads "to be" with the same situation. :)

[Izy]

Sadly not that many countries have reciprocal health, and if you have been over 2-3months without insurance from your previous country that you probably won't get conty (WP's waived).

Sounds like you are on the right track with your quotes. You may like to get quotes from a few different doctors and a few different hospitals... you will find that they can vary dramatically.

Good Luck!!!