Public vs Private Birth in WA

Hi,

I have just discovered that I am 5 weeks pregnant and need to consider whether to go public or private for the birth. This is my first baby and this is all very new and scary to me. I do have private health cover with Medibank and have been informed by them that my costs for a private hospital will be covered (I have a $250 excess) but I am unsure whether they meant that is just for the room or whether that actually covers the cost of giving birth, for example, the theatre costs if they were necessary - does anyone have any experience of going private while using Medibank?

My second question is about the private obstetrician. I have been in contact with one who was recommend by my GP, he works out of Glengarry Private Hospital, and today I have received his cost structure. I have calculated that after the Medicare rebates it would cost approximately $3000 which includes his consultation fee, all of the ultrasound scans, the OB's planning and management fee (aprx $2400 lump sum payable at 20 weeks) and post-natal visit 6 weeks after delivery. However, it does not state what costs might be incurred for an anaesthetist or paediatrician, if they were required, and wondered if anyone can answer this for me? The OB does state that all inpatient fees generated by him will be directly billed to my health fund (Medibank) so I am wondering if this is what he means? Or if he means that is the cost of staying in the hospital, plus theatre costs etc?

Can anyone give me a rough guide as to the total cost I am likely to incur by going private?

Any help, guidance, shared experiences would be gratefully appreciated.

Many thanks
Gillian

I am not with Medibank but the costs may be similar to what I paid which was: $500 straight to the OB for the emergency caeser and over a thousand I'm pretty sure for the epidural. Personally I will never go private again. The out of pocket costs were way too much. Plus I would also wait at least an hour for my OB appointments.

I can only comment on private hospitals but I had both my DD's at Glengarry. I'm with HBF so it might be different but all my OB's fees for the birth were fully covered as were my anaesthetists (sp?) fees. I had an epidural both times but have been told that it depends on who is on call as to whether they are fully covered or not. I had to go to theatre for repair of a 3rd degree tear and this was also fully covered.(The physio after isn't covered.) The only things I had to pay for were the paediatricians fees (only a gap payment) and any medication prescribed. I also had a doctor see me for another issue but that was fully covered. There was also the excess and a small payment for the nights my husband stayed.

I can only comment on private hospitals but I had both my DD's at Glengarry. I'm with HBF so it might be different but all my OB's fees for the birth were fully covered as were my anaesthetists (sp?) fees. I had an epidural both times but have been told that it depends on who is on call as to whether they are fully covered or not. I had to go to theatre for repair of a 3rd degree tear and this was also fully covered.(The physio after isn't covered.) The only things I had to pay for were the paediatricians fees (only a gap payment) and any medication prescribed. I also had a doctor see me for another issue but that was fully covered. There was also the excess and a small payment for the nights my husband stayed.

I have to agree with Zaras mum I also had my dd at Glengarry and was fully covered as my Ob had gap cover I am also with Medibank with top cover. The only I was out of pocket for was for some blood tests on my baby (all up $100) and a hearing test for my baby $70 and the excess $200 but was able to claim the excess with medibank and got It back ( depends on your cover). I am 28 weeks pregnant and going to Glengarry to have my baby in July.
I hear public is good but you have to share a room which can be annoying if you want to get some sleep and the person you share with has visitors. At Glengarry you get your own room.

Thanks very much for your responses.

Nursery girl, your fees seem considerably lower than what Medibank have quoted me. May I ask what obstetrician you went to? I have been recommended a Dr Busch who practises at Glengarry. I wonder if it's just that my cover with Medibank does not cover OB's charges.

During my lunch break today I made some phone calls to the OB, anaesthetist, paediatrician and Medibank to try and get some kind of ball part figure of the total cost. I've discovered that the OB will be about $4500, which includes first consult, all ultrasounds, a planning and management fee at 20 weeks ($2400 eek!) and post natal visit 6 weeks after delivery. All the OB's inpatient fees will be directly billed to Medibank. Out of the $4500, Medicare pay aprox $1500 so we would be out of pocket by approx $3,000 for the OB.

The anaesthetist charges by the hour and they suggested allowing between $1000-1250 for a c-section but Medibank and Medicare help towards it and I could receive 60% or more back, they are unsure of exact figures. If I did not need a c-section (hopefully I won't) then the charges would be considerably lower. I guess worst case scenario would be around $400-600 out of pocket for a c-section.

The paediatrician charges $250 to examine the baby after birth and $150 to discharge you. If they need to see the baby more than twice, further visits are $100. However you'll receive so much back from Medicare, I think they said it's 75% . They said that normally you only see them the 2 times so if you get 75% back on the $400 that's only $100 your out of pocket. If the baby, god forbid, was very unwell then Medibank pay for everything like intensive care etc.

Medibank also cover me to stay in hospital.

All in all, I reckon we would be out of pocket about $4000 and that's me being over cautious and factoring in a c-section. That does sound quite a lot doesn't it?

I still really do not know if it is worth it when I could receive care from a public hospital. It feels as though private's advantages are mainly for the continuity of seeing the same OB and having the baby in luxury in your own room and a private hospital.

Zaras mum and nursery girl, would you recommend Glengarry for it's facilities, staff etc?

I was very happy with Glengarry and liked the fact that it was a smaller hosiptal. The midwives were very helpful with breastfeeding, (I'm sure nearly every one of them checked the attachment for me!)even in the middle of the night they were available in the nursery.
I developed a Bells Palsy with DD1 and this was picked up by one of the midwives early on and arranged for a doctor to see me that afternoon. The attention wasn't as good for my second DD but if I rang the buzzer they did come and see me. I think they focus more on first time mothers.
I went private as I wanted my own room and wanted to see the same OB all the time. I had Dr Busch with both DDs and would recommend him. Just be aware that if you do go into labour on the weekend and your OB isn't on call then a different OB will be called to deliver your baby- one who you may have never met. (I was lucky to go into labour on a Monday both times!)
It really depends on whether you think the money is worth it. The cost is spread out over your pregnancy- except for the management fee and then was very minimal for the actual labour.

I'm not sure about your financial questions but here's my perpective.

Unless you're giving birth in a large hospital or have specific ideas on how you want your pregnancy and labour handled it may not be worht the money.

I live eight hours from Perth in a town with a population of roughly 25-30 thousand people and the only difference between public and private patients is that if your private you will definately have the doctor who has been following your pregnancy deliver your baby and you will be in your own room after birth. In a town where there are only three doctors who deliver babies and you aren't guarenteed your own room because if someone else is already in it you get bumped to the shared room, it isn't worth the extra money. You also get to know ALL the midwives through your antenatal classes.

So, if I was you I'd ask your doctor what the major differences will be between the two possible methods. Think about what are the most important aspects to you and how you would feel if you could/couldn't have your birth managed by or how you pictutre it.

Another option is to go public with your doctor and hospital but employ a doula or midwife to assist with your pregnancy and labour. That way you have someone who knows your history that you can call for medical advise, who can inform you of different birthing techniques and can accompany you to the hospital to make sure the staff are aware of and adhere to your birth plan. You can shop around for a doula or midwife to make sure you get one that you connect with and understands your ideas.

Good luck with everything.

Thanks very much for your responses.

Nursery girl, your fees seem considerably lower than what Medibank have quoted me. May I ask what obstetrician you went to? I have been recommended a Dr Busch who practises at Glengarry. I wonder if it's just that my cover with Medibank does not cover OB's charges.

During my lunch break today I made some phone calls to the OB, anaesthetist, paediatrician and Medibank to try and get some kind of ball part figure of the total cost. I've discovered that the OB will be about $4500, which includes first consult, all ultrasounds, a planning and management fee at 20 weeks ($2400 eek!) and post natal visit 6 weeks after delivery. All the OB's inpatient fees will be directly billed to Medibank. Out of the $4500, Medicare pay aprox $1500 so we would be out of pocket by approx $3,000 for the OB.

The anaesthetist charges by the hour and they suggested allowing between $1000-1250 for a c-section but Medibank and Medicare help towards it and I could receive 60% or more back, they are unsure of exact figures. If I did not need a c-section (hopefully I won't) then the charges would be considerably lower. I guess worst case scenario would be around $400-600 out of pocket for a c-section.

The paediatrician charges $250 to examine the baby after birth and $150 to discharge you. If they need to see the baby more than twice, further visits are $100. However you'll receive so much back from Medicare, I think they said it's 75% . They said that normally you only see them the 2 times so if you get 75% back on the $400 that's only $100 your out of pocket. If the baby, god forbid, was very unwell then Medibank pay for everything like intensive care etc.

Medibank also cover me to stay in hospital.

All in all, I reckon we would be out of pocket about $4000 and that's me being over cautious and factoring in a c-section. That does sound quite a lot doesn't it?

I still really do not know if it is worth it when I could receive care from a public hospital. It feels as though private's advantages are mainly for the continuity of seeing the same OB and having the baby in luxury in your own room and a private hospital.

Zaras mum and nursery girl, would you recommend Glengarry for it's facilities, staff etc?

Originally I was with Dr Busch for the whole pregnancy, he went on leave when my baby was due, Iwent into labour and Dr Neppe took excellent care of me unfortunately my baby was in distress and I had other issues due to a very long labour I had to have an emergency c section .
After I had my dd I was waiting for all these big bills, they never came so I rang Dr neppes office and they said they did gap cover. I just remember not being out of pocket as much as your are saying.
With regards to GLenarry its a small hospital nothing flash but I liked it and had some very nice midwives. Thats why I am going back again.

Its up to you if you go public you won't be out of pocket, if you go private expect to pay for the care you receive. Hope this helps wink

Thanks ever so much to everyone who replied; your help and shared experiences are very much appreciated. I have decided to go with Glengarry and will be sure to share my experience for others, now just hoping that everything goes to plan with baby, it's certainly all very daunting for us first timers but extremely exciting at the same time!

Thanks again smile

Hi

This is what i was told about it all. I am also a first timer so I haven't yet had first hand experience and as hubby and I were not exactly planning this one I hadnt done any research into it prior, i was really lucky that my work pays our health care and that maternity was included. I am with BUPA top cover and when i phoned to speak to them they actually sent out a bunch of information for me to read including questions to ask my doctor to ensure that all my inpatient fees were covered. It might be worth seeing if your cover can do the same for you. From what i undesrtand it depends on your cover and if the hospital you choose is listed by your cover.


What isnt covered are costs prior to birth, so all my scans, the lump sum to my OB paid at 20 weeks and consultations however i have had some money back on all of these so far from medicare. Eg, At 20 weeks i had to pay a lump sum of $1950, and i got back $500 from medicare. This covers the fees for my chosen doctor.

For me the biggest thing was knowing that i would have the same doctor all the way through (although there is a chance at the birth i might have somoene else there i know it will be my doc or the fellow he works with), having a private room as i have no idea how my birth will go and i want to make sure that i have as much privacy following the birth as i can.

Not sure if that helps

Hi,

I have just discovered that I am 5 weeks pregnant and need to consider whether to go public or private for the birth. This is my first baby and this is all very new and scary to me. I do have private health cover with Medibank and have been informed by them that my costs for a private hospital will be covered (I have a $250 excess) but I am unsure whether they meant that is just for the room or whether that actually covers the cost of giving birth, for example, the theatre costs if they were necessary - does anyone have any experience of going private while using Medibank?

My second question is about the private obstetrician. I have been in contact with one who was recommend by my GP, he works out of Glengarry Private Hospital, and today I have received his cost structure. I have calculated that after the Medicare rebates it would cost approximately $3000 which includes his consultation fee, all of the ultrasound scans, the OB's planning and management fee (aprx $2400 lump sum payable at 20 weeks) and post-natal visit 6 weeks after delivery. However, it does not state what costs might be incurred for an anaesthetist or paediatrician, if they were required, and wondered if anyone can answer this for me? The OB does state that all inpatient fees generated by him will be directly billed to my health fund (Medibank) so I am wondering if this is what he means? Or if he means that is the cost of staying in the hospital, plus theatre costs etc?

Can anyone give me a rough guide as to the total cost I am likely to incur by going private?

Any help, guidance, shared experiences would be gratefully appreciated.

Many thanks
Gillian

CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy!!
I had my son at Glengarry hospital. My obstetricians fee at 22wks was $3,950 and I was with GMHBA private health. We got back about $400 from medicare from that fee.It was alot of money for us to pay but totally worth it. I wanted to go private as I hadnt heard very good things about joondalup public hospital. Glengarry hospital is really good and the midwives are amazing, they really look after you.
I had an emergency c section and was sent an anesthetist bill of $1,000 after the birth.
The $250 excess you will pay for your stay at the hospital, this doesnt include any extras like if the baby comes early and requires any extra care etc.

Best of luck with whatever decision you make, you're in good hands at Glengarry smile

If you have any other questions feel free to PM me!