Elective C-Section In Private Hospital

[Pinkzy]

Hi everyone :)

I am only 4 weeks pregnant and not due until March next year but I called my private health insurer (Westfund) to get as much info as possible now.

Because I am on top cover, there will be no excess fee and the elective c-section birth and hospital stay are automatically covered, so I am told.

I was told that the cost of the antenatal appointments are not covered however I may get money back from Medicare for this. I was also told that there will be an anesthesia fee (which is somewhat covered but not 100%) and also a possible delivery fee. Apparently I won't know how much these costs are until I've seen my obstetrician but I'm very curious NOW lol :rolleyes:

Has anyone here had an elective c-section in a private hospital? If so, what were your out of pocket expenses when it came to appointments, anesthesia and the delivery fee? Any answers and advice will be most appreciated :)

[nicw]

My gap payment with the ob was $1500 nothing back and $3000 80% back. With the new safety net from Jan 1 2010 benefits will be less. This fee was regardless of what type of delivery i had. My elective CS was totally covered by my health fund.
I did have to pay $100 for the assisting ob and my anaesthetist only charged my health fund the schedule fee so i paid nothing. My previous CS i paid $200 for the anaesthetist and nil for the assisting ob. Everyone is different with their charges. I paid a few hundred for the paed first time (but DD was a prem)... and covered fully by my fund for DS.
I also had to pay for my own blood tests, u/s a separate initial consultation fee and post natal fee. All my antenatal appointments were covered under medicare. I guess having a CS only increased the costs by around $500 cause i would have been up for those costs anyway having a VB in a private hospital.
I would make sure you pay and claim as many bills possible (like your major ob bills) before jan 1 as the benefits will be alot less. All the best.

[garfield13]

Depends on exactly what your ob charges - you can call them to ask what the charges are now though.
I also had top cover so there was not excess etc, but if I had a c-sec I also would have been out of pocket for the anes and was advised i would have been out of pocket aprx $600 for it, you also have to have a pediatrician at a csec and there is also some out of pocket for that - depending on the time of day & how much the pedi did, this out of pocket amount would vary.
But if you have a vaginal labourand had an epi, you will still have some out of pocket for the anest
For my ob he charged as follows for the pg care, pg manangement & delivery etc (this is a set amount and doesn't matter what you have - viginal, csec etc) None of this is claimable from private health insurance as its outpatient treatment
Total fee of $3157 broken up into 2 payments
20wks $2100 - got about $1500 back from medicare
30wks $1057 - got nothing back - we got about $200 back when we did our tax, your accct can help with this

there was also about another $400-500 we spent for scans, bt etc, in which we got 80%back from medicare as we were over the threshold.

Another thing is that as of 1st jan 2010, its all changing and you'll be able to claim very little back from medicare

[sharonnscotty]

Ok fees, in Qld going private cost me the Health Fund Excess apx $250. Then the ob cost $100 per visit which you get back 65% of ($65) from Medicare. Her delivery fee is $1200 but some are up to 3k if you are in Vic etc. There is some outta pocket for the anthestist - we pay about $250 gap. So go forth and check it out. The only reason I have private health was for falling preggers and birth options. Hope this helps :D

[Pinkzy]

Thanks so much for the responses ladies :) I am currently looking at obs in Brisbane and really, really liking what I'm learning and reading about them.

sharonnscotty - I'm assuming you're in QLD. I am half way between the Gold Coast & Brisbane, if you're in the same areas can you please give me some more info about your OB, not just the costs but what they are like? Only if you don't mind of course :) $1200 delivery fee & the anesthesia fee (gap) sound very reasonable to me.

I will also say this to anyone thinking of turning this into a debate of some sort. This is a thread relating to Private Health Insurance & Elective C-Sections - nothing else. There are other threads in more appropriate sections of these forums to voice your opinion on the different methods of child birth. I am not interested in justifying my decision in this thread, I am interested in hearing from other women who have been or are in the same boat as me. Thanks :cool:

[Rach08]

Hey

Have sent you a PM.

[joshnchloesmummy]

Hey there

I had a c section back in 2007 with dd, first visit was $200 got half back from medicare, management fee @20 weeks was $1850 which i got $1000 back after bubs was born from the safety net, anaethetist gap was $800 but thats cos it turned into a emergency csection when i went into labour and it was also a public hol. This was a couple of years ago so i'm sure fees have increased since then.

Look into Dr Ross Turner in brissie, he looked after me earlier this year when i had my ectopic, he was absolutely fantastic, he operates out of the wesley.

Good luck and congrats!

[Pinkzy]

Hi again everyone :D

Thank you so much for the responses, you ladies have been extremely helpful and I appreciate it so much.

[sharonnscotty]

Thanks so much for the responses ladies :) I am currently looking at obs in Brisbane and really, really liking what I'm learning and reading about them.

sharonnscotty - I'm assuming you're in QLD. I am half way between the Gold Coast & Brisbane, if you're in the same areas can you please give me some more info about your OB, not just the costs but what they are like? Only if you don't mind of course :) $1200 delivery fee & the anesthesia fee (gap) sound very reasonable to me.

I will also say this to anyone thinking of turning this into a debate of some sort. This is a thread relating to Private Health Insurance & Elective C-Sections - nothing else. There are other threads in more appropriate sections of these forums to voice your opinion on the different methods of child birth. I am not interested in justifying my decision in this thread, I am interested in hearing from other women who have been or are in the same boat as me. Thanks :cool:


Hi there, Im back, yep I will give you a run down (as I understand it)....

Once you spend over $1000 out of pockets (this inlcudes all the gap fees from blood tests, initial Obstatrician appoints etc) you get back 80% from Medicare.

So we just paid $1200 for our Ob (that is her delivery fee and anything that might arise after 20weeks pregnancy - so you go straight there to see them) we got back $600 from medicare as that put us over the $1000 limit.

Ok then we pay $100 per visit and get back $80.

Then we paid my NIB hospital gap $250.

I am awaiting the anthestist fee (but I had a tubal operation in Jan this year and the out of pocket was $150.) I am awaiting my elective C-sect anthestist fee next week.

You do have some 'surprise' fees i just found out..... the hospital wanted our credit card details for out-of-pockets... like my fiance's meals while there, if we wanted a bigger room extra $55, meals $10 etc. There will be a peadeatric docter check bub and prob send me a bill for that (it is proceedure).

So keep another $250 for hospital expenses. But saying this, I am really really HAPPY i went private and have complete piece of mind. We are going Nambour Private, I have heard Redlands Private is really good. Where r u heading?

Let me know how you get on :wave:

Sharon

[sharonnscotty]

I am an idiot, just looked at your last response, my very good friend had her cs at sunnybank private late last year and was really really happy with the care & service. Good luck and keep me posted.

[Pinkzy]

Thanks so much Sharonnscotty :D

Are you able to let me know what your anesthesia fee is when you get it next week? I will ask my OB more about this when I see him in 4 weeks time.