How much were you out-of-pocket?

[loveshack]

I've been ringing a few obstetricians(even though not pregnant yet) ,and asking about my out-of-pocket costs.They vary from 1000-3000$ .:eek:How much was yours?I'm starting to think I should go public for the next bub.......:confused:

[talia11]

I found out today mine (who was my IVF doc) will cost $3000 but will get about half back from Medicare and maybe some from private health insurance.

[maisymum]

Hello....:wave:.....Our OB has a $1500 service fee that is to be paid at the 20 week mark and medicare will give back 80% once we have reached the threashold ( which we have ) then all the OB appointments are the same we get back 80%.........As for the Hospital, delivery and theatre costs thats covered by our Private health insurance so really it's not that much that we have to pay!...MM xx

[cmd'smum]

With DD2 we were appx $2000 out of pocket (this is having top private cover mind you) in saying that though, that includes all Ob costs, anestheasetist (sp?) fees, hosp excess and pediatrician & pathology costs for DD's treatment for jaundice.

[zenifa]

After all the medicare and private health rebates we were $1000 out of pocket with DD1 and $1500 out of pocket with DD2, 2yrs later.
This of course doesn't count the cost of our premiums, just all the Ob fees, scans, hospital excess etc.
For us it was worth it, as we got to choose our OB, hospital and had an excellent experience both times!!

[lovelymum]

hi I don't know what area of melbourne you are in but I am in Frankston. My ob Brett Mashall (who may I add is brilliant!!) charges $2500. The first $1700 you can claim throught medicare & one you reach the threshold you get 80% back. The final $800 payment is non claimable but this fee covered us for everything, all antenatal appointments, delivery and post delivery hospital visits (he comes in every day, even weekends if necessary). The hospital I had my bubs at was Peninsula Private and they are wonderful to maternity patients. We have a $50 a day excess on our health insurance but they do not charge this to maternity patients so I did not have to pay anything more once in hospital

[Skittles]

hey. we have top health insurance and we were out of pocket bout 3500 for each baby.

[Sheer Bliss]

I can't remember to be honest, money wasn't the main consideration, the level of care was. Our local public hospy has a shocking reputation so I wanted to steer clear.

I think I was out of pocket about $30 per appt, then of the $1500 mgt fee, we got back about $800 from medicare (reached our threshold). But then I had ultasounds and CTG and blood tests and wee tests weekly towards the end (PE) so we lost count! I know it was well over the $1500 to claim back in your tax.

This time I am sure it will be lots as well, twin pregnancy, hyperemesis and after PE in the past 2 pregnancies it's a possibility this time too. But on the other hand, my OB has the CTG and ultrasound in his office, so any concerns are looked at immediately, I don't have to wait to book in somewhere else and have the worry etc. I am a bit of a control freak :o and NEED to know things ASAP, so it's the best option for me.

[biscotti]

I can't remember to be honest, money wasn't the main consideration, the level of care was.

:iagree: absolutely.

I don't think we were much out of pocket anyways, MBF + Medicare covered nearly everything, we had reached the threshold so I got back most of the OB managment fee, most of the visits etc But I would have paid double/triple to have the birth that we had so the amount we were out of pocket was irrelevant to us :flowerz:

[Thermolicious]

Including scans (4D, NT & ones OB did in his office), all OB appointments, delivery, 3 day hospital stay (for myself and partner & his meals), everything!

About $500 plus I got a "baby bonus" from our PHI of $250.

[little bean]

Mine was 1200. From what I can remember, I didn't pay for much else - just the consultations each month leading up to delivery (which were partially refunded by medicare). I had the option of doing some of those consultations at the gp but since I knew I'd eventually get to the medicare limit, I just went to the ob instead.

I didn't use an aneasthetist but that would have cost extra.

[pkbub]

I had DS in 2007, in Perth and was out of pocket $1460 after all our OB fees and scans and hospital fees and 4 nights with DH staying in our room too.

I was looking into doing things differently 2nd time around for the cost but think it was well worth it for my first time...I wanted DH to be there for all of it, for the first few days and nights and in the public system I would have been lucky to have my own room.

[poppie]

In 2005 we were out of pocket around $4000. We had top cover. None of our ante-natal visits were covered by either medicare or our health fund and at $150 per visit plus ultrasounds, they add up. The anaesthetist was another $1500 on top too. Yes, we had the 'top' OB in the 'top' hospital but he didn't make the birth and I had a far better experience with DD2 when I decided to go public. I had the best of care and had many complications and I had the best specialists too. Also, if anything went really wrong in the private hospital I would have been sent to the public! Public with #3:yes:

[sandy119120]

In 2005 we were out of pocket around $4000. We had top cover. None of our ante-natal visits were covered by either medicare or our health fund and at $150 per visit plus ultrasounds, they add up. The anaesthetist was another $1500 on top too. Yes, we had the 'top' OB in the 'top' hospital but he didn't make the birth and I had a far better experience with DD2 when I decided to go public. I had the best of care and had many complications and I had the best specialists too. Also, if anything went really wrong in the private hospital I would have been sent to the public! Public with #3:yes:

:iagree: In had my first private, second public and this one public if everything goes well!!

[Pices_79]

OMG I cannot believe how much you are out of pocket - its incredible!

My Ob fees were $1600 and I got back $1051 - due to going over the medicare safety net....

Besides this I think we paid a couple of hundred dollars for scans and a $200 excess for the hospital....

I would pay this over again as I have loved my care for my 1st pregnancy and well as this pregnancy!

[adorableangel]

What do you mean reached your medicare threshold? How do you reach it? I paid $2000 for my ob and only got $850 back from medicare.. Do I get more back at tax time?

[Stargazer Lily]

adorableangel - phone Medicare and check that you are registered for the Safety Net - you need to register for it and it applies for the calendar year - also there are different limits for different people eg if you qualify for Family Tax Benefit then the threshold is lower

then on top of this you may be able to claim back excess out of pocket medical costs in your tax - check with the ATO for this info

hope that helps :)

[adorableangel]

Thank you stargazer... I will definately make some calls :thumbsup:

[Phezza]

:iagree: In had my first private, second public and this one public if everything goes well!!

I agree with you both. I didn't have a choice with bubs. We HAD private health cover, but cancelled it as I had not used it in years, and the premiums were better spent on other bills. Then after a little morning sickness two months later, I found out that if i had of "suspended" my health cover, I could have resumed it at any time within four years and gone straight onto full cover. Grr!!

Anyways, It was totally Public for us. Cost us a massive $30 all up for a parking ticket my partner received when I was in labour. I could not have asked for better care. The only thing we weren't happy with, is that they sent me home 3 days after an emergency c-section.. however, they were packed to the rafters.

Something else I noticed amongst a group of friends who all had theirs around the same time as me.. Those that went private - their babies all got infections (all different private hospitals!), those that went public - babies were fine. just weird i guess..

[gymmummy]

Hey,

i think we were around $5000 in total for the year as we reached the gap:laughing:- we didnt only have to pay for the OB but also the Scans and we we're assigned a PED which we didn't know would happen when he was born and they are $$ as we had to see him a few times within the 6months.

Second time round we are going public as the first wasnt high risk and everything went very very well, i only went private the first time as i was a bit scared not being there before and wanted the best.
The OB didnt even make it to the birth and the Midwifes are Fantastic so i'm going to do a Midwifery Program.

[cloudgirl]

we have top cover PH insurance but i dont see the point of hiring a private OB when i feel safer with midwifery led care in a public hospital.
So going public - the only cost we have had was the 12wk NT scan which was $200 i think and we got $110 back? Everything else is covered - inc any emergencies that may arise towards the end of the pregnancy or birth.

Hiring an independant midwife for a homebirth would of cost us about $3000 which includes all prenatal care, homebirth, etc and 6 weeks after care in my home but most PH insurance companies dont cover this at all and we wouldnt of got much back from medicare either.

[livgoesagain]

Hi, I'm in Melbourne and had DD this past september. I chose a whiz bang ob at FPH (very high risk with DS and knew I was high risk again this time) and he alone cost me out of pocket $2600. His fees including all appointments etc came to $6500 so much of that was covered by medicare.

I still had to pay for about 3 ultrasounds, the other ob fee at the c/section, which cost me about $150, the paed about $400 for my prem baby care and the anaesthetist about $80 out of pocket.

However, I could have had an ob close to home to deliver at the Mercy with whom I would have been a lot less out of pocket, but he just didn't have the experience. I figured if I was going to pay for an ob, reputation and experience was important.

[tayahnkai]

For DD I went private and paid $8 for each OB appointment (they claimed the rest through medicare). HI covered all OB theatre cost as she was a no gap doctor (new to the country and I guess looking for business - very good). All I then had to pay was the $250 excess for hospital stay. My DH stayed with me (5 days) but had to provide his own food. Didn't have epidural so no anaesthetist required (they have their own fees). As PP we were also assigned a Pead which ended up costing $200 plus but I'm sure we could claim some back. With DS I went with same hosp but different OB (mine was not there anymore) and again $8 for every appointment. Did not have to pay anything for US. His mgt fee was (after claiming medicare - I had reached threshold) was about $1000. Plus $250 excess. Well worth the money to have excellent care and my own room!!! Some OBs have different fees depending on HI, and like my first OB who was no gap.

[lovelymomtobe]

I was wondering is there any ladies who is covered by CIGNA health cover (GU HEALTH COVER FOR THE WIFE'S OF EXPAT'S)? If so how much did u get back after ur pregnancy when u went private?They claim that maternity is 100% covered ....but again a lot of ladies claim that if u go private u will end up paying a lot of out of pocket costs

[kiwibird27]

Nothing, I went public and loved it... excellent care.. brillant hospital (even though it had a "BAD" reputation), couldn't b happier, think an ob is only required for complicated births, otherwise I don't see the point!!! Think they rip people off.

[lilli]

we have top cover PH insurance but i dont see the point of hiring a private OB when i feel safer with midwifery led care in a public hospital.
So going public - the only cost we have had was the 12wk NT scan which was $200 i think and we got $110 back? Everything else is covered - inc any emergencies that may arise towards the end of the pregnancy or birth.



:iagree: I'm doing the same. I have top health insurance but the only incentive for having bubs in a private hospital was the room to myself, and considering I'm no where near the medicare safety net this was going to set me back nearly $3000. But for $3000 I could have a couple of weeks in a 5 star resort at a later date :p

I also feel safer at a tertiary hospital rather than a small private one. I'm having mine at Royal Brisbane and so far they have been fantastic. I can't believe the amount of support and free classes they provide.

[damiensmummy]

hello,

I gave birth to my son back in Feb 08. Whilst I was pregnant I assumed my health insurance would cover the hospital costs etc etc... I should also note i had top hospital paying over $100 per fortnight.

Since i had to have an emergency caesarean our out of pocket cost just for the anaethatist was $1500. I was in hospital for five days (normal for a c-section). Each day the paedeatirican came to visit us some days just looking at bub whilst he was asleep. Little did we know these one minute visits were costing us $90 per day. Also after a c-section a paedeatrician checks out the baby (i assume the same for natural) well this costs about $500. All these figures are after medicare and private health insurance and we had reached our medicare safety net threshold!!!

Our baby bonus went on bills from just being in the hospital. It killed us financially and I had to return to work after two months.

Next time we are going public. I have dropped our hospital cover and now just have the highest extras cover.

I don't know if people tell you this but for c-section births it is very expensive and you can't escape the costs.

[Izy]

Those out of pockets will depend on the Dr's charges too. If you have a good public hospital nearby then go for the puclic system. I agree whole heartedly (and I'm in the industry).

But the private cover is a great option if you want to choose your dr, hosp etc. I have had many members go C-section and not have out of pockets, but then others who had frightening OOP. It's all about making informed decisions before the event.

You may also like to consider basic hospital cover with a $500 excess or less if you are wanting exemption from the 1% aditional medicare levy for high income earners.

[clucky77]

I am SOOOO over health insurance. And the fact that you need a PhD to understand it.
We are with HBF and I am NOT impressed at all of the hidden things they don't cover and the gaps. We got top cover, which seems to still exclude so many things.

Really unimpresssed.

I think we'll be at least 2K out of pocket- who knows if I'll have a C sec and then be further out of pocket for anaethatist... pot luck on the day I guess.