Hi...

I haven't finished this preg, so i guess it could change but this is what we have been charged:

* $50 each visit to the obs (went like every 6 weeks until like 28 weeks, then every 3 weeks until 36 weeks, and then once a week until delivery - also i think i have one post natal check up 6 weeks after birth). I got like $25 of this back from medicare each time, and we just crossed the safety net, so now we pay like $5.35 per visit out of pocket. (oh, i think the first appointment was more expensive, but i also had an ultrasound juyst to confirm my dates)

* Ultrasound at 19 weeks - i think it was like $190 and i think i got around $120 back from medicare, but can't remember exactly

* various blood tests throughout pregnancy, but these barely cost anything (i think we were like $10 or $20 out of pocket)

* 30 week fee of $730 (would have been $1230 without insurance). I have to go to medicare and claim this, but was told i would get 80% back, so i will be about $150 out of pocket

* hospital bed costs are covered by my insurance, but if you don't have this and want to go into a public hospital with your own dr you would have to pay the $1230 (see above) and bed costs (which i believe you can't claim from medicare.. public hospital bed costs are like $300 a day)...

All this being said, we went private because we could (well, e hope, if i'm too early we might have a problem, but fingers crossed), i think if i had more time to think it out and do research, i probably would have gone public, although probably with a shared care option (see a private obs during the pregnancy and then go to a public hospital and have whoever is on duty deliever)..

Remember, when going private, you are NOT guaranteed of a private room (its subject to avaliability, both my father and FIL had operations recently with private insurance and had to share rooms cos there weren't any single's avaliable), and you are NOT guaranteed your obs will deliever you anyway (could be rostered off, or just not make it is time for the birth)

Seeing as they are the 2 most common reasons why people want to go private, i often wonder if it is worth having private health insurance at all...


Anyway, my obs is suppose to be one of the cheapest i believe (only charging around $1200 for delivery... but $4000 seems quite a lot... I suggest calling around for prices and getting recomendations from friends etc, but do think carefully about it as its a big expense and you want to be happy with your choice.

Good luck!