so far (and i know i'm not really too far into the EPU/transfer side of things) i've not paid a thing for the in-patient side of IVF. our helth fund covers everything when it's an inpatient service at a participating hospital (so no excess) - and given that all of my procedures will be at the local hospital, i don't know that i'll ever have to pay. having said that, i think my health fund has a limit on the number of times we can claim on my particular plan - i used to be with another fund that was taken over/bought out, so i'm on an obsolete plan. if it comes to the point where i've used my limit, i will transfer to one of their current plans that covers unlimited ART.

we just got our letter about the rate increase - it's gone up $1.13 per fortnight - to about $90 - we have max hospital and most extra's. the excess is $50 in a non-participating private hosp, nothing in a linked one. in the 06/07 fin year, we paid about $2200 for PHI - and claimed over $13000 for hospital and extras, so well worth it for us. we pay an extra amount as DH was an old coot before he claimed PHI too - if not for that, it would be about $80 a fortnight at the moment...

FWIW - i'm with Latrobe - they also do general insurance - and on a quote i just got from them, to increase the insurance from what i have at the moment, it will ost me about 20% less than my current insurer... me thinks when my insurance is up for renewal in june we might do some reshuffling!