Costs of having a baby

[bubhub]

There seems to be a lot of confusion about the costs of having a baby and I'd like to put an article together for our newsletter and for general info on the Bub Hub site to help other viewers. I know that some people have already had discussions about various costs, but I'd really like to put it all in one place.

I'd be really grateful if members could give me info about the full costs that they incurred having a baby - from initial consultations right through to postnatal care and indicate what rebates you got (approx figures are fine, doesn't need to be down to that last cent).

Also, please let me know what health path you followed - eg private with health insurance, private without health insurance, public with gp share care, public, private midwife and what year the costs relate to (eg 2004, 2005, etc)

If you are not happy putting this info on the public forum, please feel free to email me at hilary@bubhub.com.au

Your assistance wil be much appreciated by me and future users!

Many thanks
Hilary

[Supermum]

Hi there

No secrets here ... hopefully I've remembered it all correctly!

2003 Bub No. 1: Private Obstetrician in Private Hospital
Private Health Insurance
GP Consult and referral - $55: $25 rebate = $30
One off fee to cover their indemnity - $1,500 - no refund =$1,500
11 visits to the obst @ $55 per visit = $605: $275 rebate = $330
Delivery covered in health insurance and billed directly to insurer - no surgery, no epidural
Paediatrician @ $300 - $180 rebate = $120
Private Hospital for four days = $200 excess
Home visit by community health nurse 5 days post natal = $0

TOTAL BUB NO. 1 = $2,180

2004 Bub No. 2: Private Obstetrician in Public Hospital
Private Health Insurance
GP Consult and referral - $55: $25 rebate = $30
No obstetrician fee as their indemnity is paid by the hospital
10 vists to the obst = all bulk billed
Delivery covered in health insurance and billed directly to insurer - no surgery, no epidural
Paediatrician - bulk billed
I was a private patient in a public hospital and had my own room
Own room for 24 hours = $200 excess
Home visit by community health nurse 5 days post natal = $0

TOTAL BUB NO. 2 = $230

CHEERS

[jamb]

Bub 1

public 2004/2005

GP- bulk billed
MW- public hospital birthing centre (approx 10 visits -nil cost)
OB- 12 week check- nil cost
Ultrasound- i opted to have them done at private hospital due to extended wait in public. Cost 2 x $185 with $50 medicare rebate each time.
OB- delivery nil cost (inc epidural and 2 nights hospital)

Total cost $270

[FamilyMum]

IWAN 2003/2004 - PRIVATE OBSTETRICIAN IN PRIVATE HOSPITIAL
TOP COVER PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE

GP Confirmation and Referral - $55 - $25 Rebate = $35
Initial Consultation with Obstetrician - $120 - $60.45 Rebate = $59.55
Early USS (up to 17 weeks) - $75.00 - $29.75 Rebate = $29.75
Later USS (after 17 weeks) - $75.00 - $32.30 Rebate = $42.70
(Antenatal visits -$75.00 - $25.70 Rebate = $49.30)
I had 13 Antenatal visits - $975 - $334.10 Rebate = $640.90
20 Week Booking Fee, to cover thier indemnity - $1000 - $0 Rebate = $1000
Delivery and Hospitial stay (4 Days for me, 3 Days my Husband, He stayed with me.) - $3395.40 - $3369.00 Rebate = $26.40
(Specialist Anaesthestist - $1064 -Discount of $654.00 if paid within 2 months)
Specialist Anaesthetist for Epidural - $ 410 - $239.25 Rebate from Medicare, $79.70 Rebate from Nib = $91.75
QML Blood tests ordered in hospital by Obstetrician - $39.45 - $25.85 Rebate = $13.60
QML Blood tests ordered in hospital by Pediatrician - $25.45 - $16.65 Rebate = $8.80

Total out of pocket costs = $1948.45

I hope this helps you out.

Obviously there are alot more costs if you include everything that needs to be brought, antental aqua classes e.t.c. But this is basically the care that was advised. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at sdonaghue@bigpond.com.

Kind Regards
Theresia, mother of
Iwan 20months

[Maxs_MumMy]

Hi,

I only had Max 4 1/2 months ago, i went private and didnt encounter this many costs....which i now feel lucky.

GP Confirmation and Referral - $40 - Rebate = $20
Initial Consultation with Obstetrician - $120 Rebate = $120
Early USS (up to 17 weeks) - 150 - Rebate = 140
Later USS (after 17 weeks) - $150- Rebate = $140
(Antenatal visits -$0 Rebate = (Bulk billed via Medicare on post natal visit
Delivery and Hospitial stay (6Days for me) - $4,998 Rebate = $4,000
Blood tests ordered in hospital by Obstetrician - $108.30 Rebate = $100
Anenatel Classes for 4 weeks-$ 100 Rebate=$100
Pedatrition before being discharged $345, Rebate=$300

[vmills]

PUBLIC (Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide)

Initial appt with GP to confirm pregnancy, organise blood tests etc:
$52 less Medicare rebate of $25.50 = $26.50

All other appointments, ultrasounds, delivery, hospital stay, baby in special care nursery for 3 days, home visits by midwife - FREE

TOTAL COST $26.50!!

We received excellent care - I was completely happy using the public system.

[pinkandblue]

Hi

PUBLIC 2003 (through midwives clinic)

GP to confirm pregnancy - bulk billed
Midwives clinic - free
2 ultrasounds - free
Delivery and hospital stay - free
Home visit by early discharge nurse for 3 days - free

Total = Free (and I was very happy with the care I recieved)

Natalie

[jembelina]

Hi,

2005- public

- initial GP visit (bulk billed)
- ante natal check ups with OB
- ultrasounds - 12 &18wk plus weekly towards the end
- fetal monitoring weekly towards the end
- all blood & other tests
- ceasarean delivery
- 4 day post natal hospital stay (ended up with private room!)
- midwife homevisit

TOTAL - nil!!! and extremely happy with level of care, would def go public again

[Refresh]

Public Birth Centre:

I didnt see a GP to confirm my pregnancy becasue I knew I was pregnant so saw no point so = FREE
First hospital visit = FREE
All ultrasounds and pathology = FREE
All Care = FREE
Birth and stay in a motel like room = FREE

Lol!! total = $$Nothing :D I will definately be going public everytime...both experiences have been wonderful! We could afford private but I dont see the point when there are places like the Birth Centre available :)

[maybe1more]

PUBLIC-PATIENT


King Edward Memorial Hospital -w.a subiaco

*gp visit to confirm pregnancy-bulk billed
*blood tests- bulk billed
*4 weekly check up done by gp-bulk billed
*Ultrasound- paid for two of them due to a long waiting list at the hospital, $185.00 each will $50.00 back on medicare
*enduction and epidural- Free
*3 day hospital and baby in incubator free

Total cost $270.00

I found the public system great.

[Shae]

Joondalup Health Campus, Perth, Public Patient

All of my:
Gp appointments (4)
Blood test (2)
Ultrasounds (4)
Ante natal check ups with OB (8)
Ante natal classes (4)
Delivery and hospital stay for 3 days. I also had my own room because maternity was full so I was in surgical (also ment i wasnt pestered by nurses, I think they forgot about me)
Home visit by early discharge nurse (2)

All FREE :)

My only cost was $3 for the hire of the tv in hospital for 3 days.

I have friend who spent over $3000 on the costs of having a baby. I had private health cover but the cost of all the gaps when totaled would of been huge. I was very happy with the care I recieved going public and will do it again for the next one.

Shae

[jaydensmum]

Hi bub hub. Well I dont think its costs us a lot of money so far to have our DS.

During pregnancy

-vitamins=$200
- maternity clothes=gifts
- 2 ultrasounds=$240
-pre- natal care = nil (was in public care)
-delivery=nil (was in public care)

Post natal

- private health cover MBF = $139mth
-immunisations=nil
-Doctors=nil (bulk billed)
-Baby clothes = gifts
- Nappies = $15mth
- wipes= $8mth
- formula = $15wk (started bottle feeding at 3months)
- other baby accessories ie blankets, sheets etc = gifts
-cot & bassinett=gifts
-pram=gift
-car seat=$180

I cant think of anything else at the moment, but our most expensive is formula. We were lucky that alot of people bought us things for our DS.
I hope this information helps you a little bit.

jaydensmum :)

[our little treasures]

dd PUBLIC 2004
Initial obs 35.00 rebate 28.00
First obs $180.00 - rebate $90.00
obs check ups $50. a visit =$715.00 - rebate $357.00
20 wk u/s $185.00 - rebate $90.00
All hospital care free
special care nursery free
post natal went to gp bulk billed
Retained products scan $180.00 - rebate $90.00


$1295 - rebat $640.00 = $655.00

ONLY 9MNTHS BETWEEN PREGNANCIES

DS PUBLIC 2005
Initial gp appointment = 40.00 rebate $33.00
First obs = $180.00 - rebate $90.00
obs antenatal checkups $55 a visit = $495.00 - rebate $247.5
20 wk ultra sound = $185.00 - rebate $90.00
All in hospital care nothing even delivery of baby by midwives
baby stayed in special care no costs
post natal obs check up = bulk billed
retained products scan = $180.00 - rebate $90.00

TOTAL = $1080 - rebate $530.00 = $550.00


How did all the other public people get it for free please tell me as we want 4-6 and didnt relise how much we payed...

[Sharlee]

Hi
I love to help and wish I could but my circumstances maybe an except to the rule as it cost well over $30k to conceived DS (IVF) before we even started on the usual stuff :rolleyes:
Sorry I can't be much help.

[Caitlin's Mum]

Royal Womens Hospital Brisbane

No private health cover

GP - bulk billed
2 ultrasounds - free
share care at hospital - free
c-section - free
5 days in hospital - free
visit from midwife after I returned home - free

Extremely happy with the care I received.

[Angel_baby_1982]

I went public and had a c/s, the u/s were the only thing I had to pay for, had 4 of them, $125 ea and got a medicare rebate of $85 ea so all up cost me $160

[Jo@bloomingood]

here are the costs for the actual health system also. When discussing costs we as a society have to be aware that there is a great deal of costs that we dont factor in as most of us dont know about them:

November 2004, charges for Non-medicare inpatients, public hospitals, SA:
Vaginal birth without complicating diagnosis: $3,140
Vaginal birth WITH multiple complicating diagnosis: $5,486
Caesarean birth without complicating diagnosis: $5,900
Caesarean birth WITH multiple complicating diagnosis: $10,523.


Also, in the current federal governement's infanite wisdom they have decided to cover the gap payment for private OB's through medicare also. wasnt long before the OBs started to increase their fees...to cover insurance apparently despite the fact the governement subsidise the OBs insurance at tax payers expense also.

So as a tax payer, we subsidise 30% rebate for private insured people + we as tax payers also pay for the gap payment for OBs -which has in some instances jumped from a $700 out of pocket expense to a $2000 expense- and we as tax payers also pay for the increased expenses of the alarmingly high cs rates in both public and private hospitals.

Having insurance and thinking that it is okay to elect a cs because you are paying for it is in fact far from the truth. The costs of our current medical managed maternity system is costing our society a great deal of money and resources.

food for thought!

Jo

[Angel_baby_1982]

I don't know ANYONE who would elect a c/s! Mine was only because of a placenta previa!

[our little treasures]

my sil and her sil booked c/s as they said natural was far too painful and 2 they knew when it would come!!!

not for me rather have natural any day

[sugar n spice]

gees this was awhile ago for #1 i went public. 2001

Monthly checkup, then fnt and then wky approx 11 @$50 - rebate $25 = $25 = $275
U/s 3 bulk billed
Blood test - bulk billed
transfer by RFDS to king edward memorial hospital $0
Ambulance twice $0
Epidural and Vacume delivery $0
1 day SCN - $0
Hire t.v for a month as i was hosptialized at the end. approx $50
Total out of pocket public ( $325 )

Baby #2 Private in Public hospital 2005 HBF

Checkups approx 11 @ $50 - rebate $25 = $25 = $275
U/s 4 bulk billed medicare
3 day hospital stay private rm albany hospital excee $375
Blood test approx $100 worth after medicare and HBF rebates
Epidural $0
Emergacy c-section aprox $1500 - HBF fully covered = $0
7 night stay in hospital in private room - fully covered = $0
Pharmacy - $0
SCN 1 day $120 - HBF does not cover a newborn as they are not a member (KEMH waived the excess) = $0
Flying drs 1 way + 2 ambulance trips trasfers = $0
Return airfare PATS (patient air transfer service) excess $50

Total out of pocket $425 :)

The cost is worth it in the end for the peace of mind of a healthy baby

[Kamaikia]

I went public 2004

GP - bulk billed
3 ultrasounds with photos - free
3 blood tests - free
all antenatal appointments - free
3 day hospital stay in private room - free
4 days of home visits by midwife - free
oh and my tv was free :)

You wouldn't get me paying thousands even if I could afford it.

[mum2four]

From what I''m reading the indemnity fee has no rebate? My dr's receptionist said I would get some back, hope she was right as I was hoping for this to count towards my medicare safety net! Being high risk I will have more than the average OB visits and my private health doesn't cover actual visits only the hospital side :(

[littlepickle]

The receptionist at my obs said the same thing, that I would get a rebate on the $1000 20 week fee, the amount of course will depend on how close I am to the safery net. I am only at 500 dollars now and so I dont know how much I will get beck. Either way, I am told that there is a medicare rebate:thumbsup:

[twins+another]

Twins born in public Hospital 2005

Over 12 ultrasounds, three times weekly visits with midwives, obstetritions and kidney specialist (pregnancy complication), private room for 4 days after birth, 2 babies in special care nursery for 12 days, 2 home visits from baby health nurse


Total cost $ 0

And the best care my babies and I could have ever hoped for

[FourAngelKisses]

I went public 2004

GP - $8 each time after medicare rebate.

5 ultrasounds with photos - $100 each after medicare rebate.

blood tests anmd glucose test - free


All up = too damned expensive.

[juliek]

We had our dd in 2005 through shared care.

16 GP visits. Total out of pocket - $237
1 Ultrasound. Out of pocket - $35
6 Midwife appts at hosp. - FREE
Antenatal classes (at hospital) - FREE
All Blood tests(4 while preg, at least 30 after delivery) - FREE
Stay in hospital (10 days for me, 23 days for dd) - FREE

The most exspensive part of having a baby was the car parking at RBWH
12 visits to the hospital @ $14 each while preg and 5 x 5 day pass at $52 each after delivery....
Grand total of car parking $428 :eek:

[missymoo9]

went public cost me nothing, at womens and childrens hospital adelaide.
i had a high risk pregnancy so saw a specialist every two weeks from 5 weeks gest. had ultrasounds and internal scans every two weeks and was hospitalised a couple of times.stayed 4 days in hospital after the birth. i must say they are amazing.

[Rocker1]

Hi

I'm planning on having a baby but don't have health care. Is there anyone that can recommend a way I can find out about the private system and the cost involved in NSW. Also if anyone can recommend any helpful books/magazines to read to help me get ready for the whole experience would be great.

Thanks

[1+1=5]

Public hospital 2003

GP to confirm pregnancy : bulk billed
midwife care throughout: free
one OB appointment: free
4 ultrasounds and pathology: free
epidural, pethadine: free
OB delivered bub: free

Public hospital 2007 - family birthing centre within the hospital

GP to confirm pregnancy: bulk billed
Midwife and OB care throughout: free
2 ultrasounds and pathology: free
midwife and OB assisted delivery: free
I had a private room with ensuite, baby bathing facilities and kitchenette all to mydelf: free

cost of both babies: NIL
I wouldn't hesitate going public again.

[mum2one99]

This is my cost summary for a private hospital birth (SJOG subi in Perth) with an obs management fee of $3000 and health insurance with HBF in 2010. It was a 4 day uncomplicated stay in hospital for a vaginal delivery.
In total i was $2826 out of pocket from my initial GP appt to leaving hospital after tax refunds etc.
This is with the new medicare rebate on obs management fees being capped at $463.

Excuse the formatting, i cant seem to get it to stay in semi-table format

Medical Costs - Total charge // Medicare Ref //HBF ref //Out of Pocket
Initial GP - 64 //34.3//0// 29.7
10 wk bloods - 74.1 //39.1// 0// 35
12 wk scan - 175 //59.5// 0// 115.5
Initial obs appt - 140// 68.75//0// 71.25
19 week scan - 185// 85// 0 // 100
20 week m'ment fee - 3000// 463.4// 0// 2536.66
antenatal visits - 227.4 //227.40// 0//0 ($37.90 ea)
epidural - 655.15 // 349.3 // 392.60//0
obs delivery - 1987.6 //491.9 //1495.70//0
physio in hosp - 15 //0//0//15

hospital stay
paed (attendingbirth) - 243.55// 219.1//0// 24.45(sched fee 142.65)
paed (visit within 24hrs of birth) - 89.3// 83.6//0// 5.7(sched fee 71.35)
paed (visit on last day) - 109.3// 99.6//0// 9.7(sched fee 71.35)
labs in hosp - 26.35// 21.8// 6.55//0
Hospital Stay & Delivery - 5487//0// 5387// 100
Private Room supp - 252//0// 207// 45
Hospital Pharmcy - 57.25//0//0// 57.25
PBS pharmcy - 13.65//0//0// 13.65
hospital boarder - 368.02//0// 368.02// 0
Total 13169.67 2222.75 7856.87 3158.8(expect $331 back at tax time if all expenses in the same tax year)

[rlz]

The rebates from the medicare safety net have changed recently. Many people are not aware of this. They no longer rebate 80% of the gap between the scheduled fee and what the doctor charges, they only rebate the medicare-determined schedule.

My friend recently had a baby privately, her ob charged $6000 and she only got $400 back!

Before writing any articles on the cost of having a baby, you should look into these changes as a lot of the rebates that people are quoting won't be relevant today.