Private health - Do any cover midwife or homebirth fees?

[Looshkin]

Hi :wave:

I'm going to be ttc soon and after researching it seems I need to have health insurance sorted well before we even get started, but I've always been more comfortable saving money in a contingency fund than giving it to a health insurance place, so I am wondering if it will really be that helpful considering most peoplpe seem to be paying for most things except the hospital stay?

What if you don't have a hospital stay? Are homebirths something you can claim back on?
What about medicare? can you claim any back from them for homebirths or a midwife in a birth centre?
Or is that what a doula does, and if so what about doula fees?

The only thing I am sure on is that I just know a natural birth will be the way to go..

I've watched too many telly shows on discovery health and I thought..well just assumed there would be a place like that 'miami birth centre' and I'm really disapointed that there doesnt seem to be many options.:confused:

Thanks
Giselle

[Izy]

So far I'm under the impression that Doulas are not claimale from medicare, but I may be wrong, and I'm not certain that medicare will offer benefits for home births either... but someone else will be more helpfull on that.

I can tell you that there are FANTASTIC ladies both on Bubhub and outside it that have been leading wonderful strong campaigns to have recognition of home birth and it's SAFE place in our society for SOME pregnancies.

As a result there are some healthfunds that do cover it to a degree.

Sadly my fund doesn't, but I can tell you that I'm considering to start to lobby the claims department from the inside about getting it payable as a health service under the new provisions set out by the government a year or two ago.

Previously funds were not permitted to pay for medical outpatient services (ie homebirth) but there are new entitlements where specific programs MAY be approved by the government for services that prevent hospitalisation.

I believe the funds that do pay a benefit for the service have it as part of a 'bonus' structure to get around that one :p

Good Luck and don't forget your waiting periods!!!!

Oh... and there is a gorgeous birth centre in the northern NSW coast... and a few 'sprinkled' around australia. They're massive overseas too.

[AM]

A few private funds used to cover homebirth, but they seem to be backing out of it lately, so it is best you approach each fund you are interested in directly to get the low down on it.

You cannot claim for doulas.

The only other way to claim back a bit for a hb is under the medical expenses threashold, I can't remember exactly what it is, perhaps $1500 or something, everything you pay out over that in one financial year, you can claim a percentage back on tax, not great, but better than a kick in the pants ;)

[Looshkin]

hmm

So sounds like I am better off continuing to save the equivalent $300/400 a month that we already do in our 'private, private health fund' :)and not bother with private insurance we won't use for anything but baby expenses..

Such a pity there is nowhere amazing in Sydney and I'm a bit weirded out you need to think about delivery 12 months before conception with the way private health system works anyway..

Well I'm going to more investigating into home births and the difference between a doula and midwife because i have no idea. Also DF was brought up in a very conservative environment and freaks at my idea of homebirth because he doesnt know any different.

I know my Aunty was my mums midwife for my own birth but she missed it because she was filling up the bath for my mum and I kinda just came out on the bedroom floor about 25 mins after my mum woke up in labour!.. (she swears by yoga and eating veggie etc.. such an old hippy:D!!) lol she will tell the story every year on my birthday and 24 years later she will re-tell the story to anyone who will listen. It's funny I am super impatient and impulsive as well.

[AM]

Congratulations on being a homebirth baby :)

The basic difference between a mw and a doula is that a mw is a medical professional who is a specialist in normal natural birth, wheras a doula is NON MEDICAL support, physical, emotional, etc...

If your partner is not into hb, a bit of education can go a long way, most people have a lot of misconceptions about it, and when specific fears are addressed, it can really open them up to the option. The other thing which can work wonders is actually meeting with independant homebirth mw's, they can inspire confidance in the most doubting person at times... :)

We generally fear what we do not understand.

Also get him educated about the whole cascade of intervention thing which is common in hospitals, how women are pretty much dictated to, and put on ridiculous timelines for dilating etc, which pretty much sets you up to have a very medically managed birth.

Henci Goer is a great author, as is Sarah Buckley.

All the best... :)