Having a baby and starting your own family can be an exciting adventure. However, the uncertainties of childbirth can cause anxiety for some expectant mothers. As a result, many pregnant women prefer the comfort of a private doctor and hospital room. If you’re a resident of Australia, care for pregnant women in a public hospital or birthing center is covered by the Medicare health plan. While you won’t have to pay for any of your maternity care, however, you won’t be able to have those luxuries.
If you want to go to a private hospital for the birth of your baby, you will either have to pay for it out of pocket or seek coverage with a private health insurance plan. Doctor visits, ultrasounds, and other aspects of maternity care can be expensive without financial help. Health insurance companies all over Australia offer cover that includes pregnancy and birth-related services or pregnancy insurance. There are a few things that you should consider to help you make the most informed decisions for your needs and those of your infant. Let’s take a look at health coverage for pregnant women.
Do You Need a Health Plan For Maternity Care?
With over 300,00 births in Australia each year, maternity care is a big issue for women across the country. Both public and private hospitals in Australia provide excellent prenatal care for women during pregnancy and birth. However, when considering private health insurance, you can choose your own obstetrician to handle your maternity care and delivery. Hospital cover that includes pregnancy and birth-related services, also known as obstetrics cover, will give you that choice. Medicare covers prenatal care and delivery in a public hospital. However, if you want a more private setting with your own doctor, you need a private health plan. You will need to decide what is best for your needs.
What Kind Of Health Insurance Coverage Do You Need?
Before you decide on a private insurance plan, you should research what you need and what you will get from your plan. It’s a good idea to check with your chosen hospital and doctor to ensure that you will be covered and discuss any costs that you might have to pay. Additionally, check into varying plans to see what they offer. As discussed, you’ll need to find a health plan that covers pregnancy and birth-related services.
Some policies don’t cover obstetric care or midwife services. Additionally, many lower-cost plans offered by insurance companies will only pay benefits that cover you as a private patient in a public hospital. You’ll want to make sure that your prenatal care is covered and that you can deliver in a private hospital if that is what you want to do. If you’re looking to start a family, check to see that your policy covers these areas and that your newborn will be also be covered. You might need to switch to a family plan to ensure that your newborn coverage.
In considering insurance plans that cover pregnancy, you’ll also want to check into the limitations and restrictions of the plan. Most insurance companies will require a 12 month waiting period before pregnancy-related benefits begin. Once your benefits begin, however, some insurance funds might help with the extra costs associated with things such as prenatal classes or breast pumps. Like other insurance plans, do some research to figure out exactly what you need and what things might be covered.
The biggest thing to consider when looking for pregnancy coverage is the waiting period. With the cost of childbirth increasing today, you’ll want to make sure that you plan this life event around the time that you must wait before getting private health insurance benefits. Additionally, look around for plans that provide coverages for the services that and your child might need. With some research and planning, you can decide what kind of health plan you need and when you should enroll.