This is JMO but I think it is worth every cent and more when you have kids.
I had DD public because we were still serving our waiting period which was fine, but the health insurance really came into its own after she was born so I'd recommend you get it if you can.
When she was 18 months old she came down with a really horrid virus and after about 8 days of trying to treat her at home she got very dehydrated and it was decided to put her in hospital. She was seen and admitted in a matter of an hour or so which was the first nice surprise.
She had her own room with private bathroom, telephone etc and a bed and a cot in the room. One of us could stay with her at all times, and overnight. Because she wasn't sharing a room getting her to sleep was no problem, and we could also order meals at the hospital so we didn't have to leave her to eat. She was visited twice a day by her own ped. Let me tell you when you're trying to keep an 18 month old attached to a drip under control for three days this was all a godsend. It would have been so much more stressful in a public hospital without the facilities or services we had access to privately and not being able to stay with her - I can't imagine having to leave her overnight in the care of overworked nurses at the age she was then
Before this DH and I were considering getting rid of it because we weren't using it enough but after that experience we're keeping it forever LOL.

I think public is fine for adults but when it comes to your kids the thought of having to wait for treatment that other people determine not to be "urgent enough" is really tough. When you kid is sick you want them better...now.
Again JMO.