Public Private Blend?

[mmbryce]

Hi Everyone, I have been reading many threads in the forum that are very related but haven't been able to find the answer to my question.

First, I am Canadian so am new to the private system. In Canada Public is the only option and it's free! The system in Australia is quite confusing and I am not sure where to start.

I do have private insurance which covers 100% of the hospital visit. I thought this was great but after visiting a recommended OB at the Mater today I was shocked to see almost $6000 worth of fees outside of the hospital stay! The visit to day alone cost $220. Since I have that cover it seems a shame to deliver in a public hospital and have to share a room and all that.

So my question is; can I go through the public system during my pregnancy but then deliver in a private hospital?

Thanks for any advice, this is all very daunting!

Cheers,
Marlena

[ohdear]

quick answer no

you will need a private ob its the obs fees that you need to pay for which is not covered by health insurance

health insurance covers hospital components only and sometimes does have a gap payment

most obs have a management fee which varies between ops and is set by the ob some of which medicare covers

[Opinionated]

Confusing isn't it? Sorry, no. When we found out how much the system had changed since having our first kids in a private hospital, we decided to get rid of the obstetric part of our private cover and go public. We were out of pocket around $2k for each of our previous births, but the rebates have changed so much.

My advice would be to go public. The care is just as good, it's just the hospital stay that is shorter and not in a private room.

[bellalika]

You can have a private ob but deliver in a public hospital. However you can't have the reverse, which is what you were asking.

I went private. I had a brilliant ob who bulk bills most appointments and I got a lot of my management fee back from Medicare. If DS2 had been conceived 6 weeks later than he was I would have fallen into the new system and been out of pocket for more than double what I was.

Have a good look around at OBs. Many have a huge price discrepancy. Mine was $1700. My friends was $6000. Both were equal distances from our houses (same suburb) but in opposite directions. Or go public.

[RmumR]

you can deliver in public hospital with midwives and public ob then transfer to a private hospital for post natal stay.

just call local private hospitals and ask if they have this option