Health funds/ Private Hospital

[michelle21]

Sorry didnt know where to put this!

Was just wondering if anyone could give me some information about private heath funds/insurance and how they work etc?
Also for the general costs to have baby at a private hospital if you have the health insurance?

I had DS at the Gold Coast public hospital and after that am interested in finding out about going private for the next bub (although it will be a way down the track yet!!)

Also just wondering what the best funds were and what else you get for being in one?
Sorry dont really know anything about them or how they work!
Thanks :)

[*~alegna~*]

Hi Michelle!

I had my DS at Pindara through Dr Penny Isherwood (OB) - Lovely lady.

We are with Medibank Private. We pay roughly $160 p/month. I can't remember off the top of my head everything that is incuded but i can explain the costs associated with my birth.

I Paid - OB $400.00 - Rest was covered my MBP
Hospitial - $280.00 - Excess (its $50 p/night for share room or $80 p/n private room), I actually was in there for 6 nights & you pay no more than that $280 for Accom. Includes food etc parter staying
I had paed bills as bub was a little sick but out of like $800 (?) bill we only paid about $200, thats after Medicare & MBP rebates.
Umm, what else......I think thats about it. You need to be in the fund for 12 months before baby BORN to stand your waiting period.

You get other stuff not associated with Pg for you & fam but I can't think at mo. There is a retial Outlet @ Westfield @ helesvale, they have lots of glossies. I'm sure they can help you on different types of cover for you & fam.
:ecomcity: :laughing:

Good Luck:hugs:

[Rachael]

We had the same Obstitrician Alegna! And yeah those costs sound right to me.

I am also with medibank and you have to be in it for 12months prior to conception/birth not sure which one. But as Alegna said go to a branch and check it out, they are very helpful.

My premium for family for 2nd top cover is $206 per month I think. Quite pricey I know but in the end to me it is worth it. I prefer the private system or the public one.:D

[*~alegna~*]

We had the same Obstitrician Alegna! And yeah those costs sound right to me.

I am also with medibank and you have to be in it for 12months prior to conception/birth not sure which one. But as Alegna said go to a branch and check it out, they are very helpful.

My premium for family for 2nd top cover is $206 per month I think. Quite pricey I know but in the end to me it is worth it. I prefer the private system or the public one.:D

Love, Love, Love Penny!:D - SHe is the absolute best, delivered Ds in her Leopard skin stillettos!:laughing:

[scarlett]

We recently signed up with a health fund. I found the whole thing very confusing but found iselect (on web or you can ring them) very helpful as they can compare different funds and show you what you get for your money. Eventually, we went with Manchester Unity as recommended by very nice lady over the phone but couldn't tell you what they're like yet as haven't used it!!
If you or partner are over 30 and not in a fund you have to pay extra for every year (which I reckon is a bit cheeky ) so get in there before you are too old!
There are waiting periods for a lot of things and 12 months for baby related treatment, this is the same for all funds.
good luck with it!

[M O P]

:wave: Michelle,
I see you and I were doing the same thing on the 20th June!:laughing: Congratulations!

Anyway, I had Hugh in a private hospital in Adelaide but I think I can still help a bit.

Generally you need to be with your health fund for a minimum of 12 months before they'll pay out on obstetrics, and you need to have family cover for your bubs to be covered automatically incase they are admitted themselves to the hospital- ie they're prem or have health problems from birth.

We're with Australian Unity but like Scarlett suggested try iselect to research your best options. We pay about $1200 a year.

I paid an excess (like car insurance) of $500 and my fund paid the rest (about $4000), this was for the obs delivery fee(which was gap free for me) and 4 nights in a beautiful hospital suite. My husband stayed too- we had a double bed- and the hospital charged him $30 a night for B & B after the first night- 1st night was free. Children were not permitted to stay.
I also paid obs bill of about $1000 before I had Hugh, some of this was claimable through Medicare- but not your health fund. I also should have had gaps with my ultrasounds and blood tests but I managed to get these gap free too. I only have hospital cover but if I had extras aswell I could have claimed for my medications I had in hospital too.

I hope this helps a bit anyway, good luck with it all- it is very confusing I know!

[M O P]

Eventually, we went with Manchester Unity as recommended by very nice lady over the phone but couldn't tell you what they're like yet as haven't used it!!


I used to be with MU, only changed cause Aust Unity was cheaper for us, and I never had a problem with them in 5 years or so. They were helpful.