No health insurance birthing in private hospital - how much???

[MummaBear79]

This may sound like a really silly question, but I am wondering how much out of pocket expense I would likely have as a person with no health insurance, birthing in a private hospital? Or is this even possible?

We really really want a vba3c and the only hospital around here where I would have a chance at having one is a private hospital. Someone mentioned to me about just going there anyway and paying the expenses. Does anyone know roughly how much out of pocket this would be?? $5000, $10000, $30000? I have NO idea...

[Melbournemumma]

I have private health insurance and I saw the bill for my hospital stay, that was $10000 alone, plus Ob was $3000, Anethitists $1500, Paed $800 so about $16000 all up I think.

Contact the hospital and ask them to talk you through the costs.

Hope that helps.

[black_rose]

And if bubs goes to the nicu or scn it is even higher, ds was $3000 for three days, but dd1's bill was over $30,000 for three weeks.

[~Kim~]

When I was haveing DD (so 4.5 years ago) there was a 'glitch' in our PHI and it was possible that we might have been paying our own way if we wanted to birth at the private. It was going to cost at least $4500 just for the hospital and $6000 if theatre was involved plus extra for anaesthetists etc. That cost did not include OB/scans/bloodtests. Don't forget you have to have an Ob if you want to birth in a private hossy too.

If you ring the finance department of the hospital they should provide you with a breakdown of costs.

[marknjo]

If you ring the hospital they will be able to send you pricing.

I just looked up my file from when I had DD and the charge for me was $4920 but my DD was prem and was in the SCN for 4 weeks and the charge for her was $16305! I am thankful that we had private health insurance as all we paid was an excess of $200 each for myself and my DD. I had a spinal block for a MROP which was a further $383.85 charge covered by PHI plus there was pathology claimable from Medicare

There were no theatre fees involved so you need to be aware that if it turns out that they can't go ahead with the VBAC then you would be up for fees for a caesar as well.

I hope this helps.

[Arimeh]

I think Inanna mentioned in another thread that selangor is around $3000? Is it that one you are talking about?

[AJC]

I have private cover so I had no out of pocket expense, but I did see the bill that went to my insurer from the hospital and it was over $24k (me and DS). I was in hospital for 2 weeks prior to birth, had c/s so theatre fees too, then 7 days post birth with DS in SCN. Hopefully everything will go smoothly for you but perhaps look into other costs too, what if you have time in hospital before birth? What if bub needs SCN?

[Taurean]

Just checked my bill and it was $5750 for my delivery and stay (vaginal delivery with vacuum and 5 nights in a private room). The paediatrician bill was $550.

While I was pregnant my OB charged $500 for my initial consult at 10 weeks, $100 for each standard consult and an admin charge of $1400 around 20 weeks. Some of this we got back from Medicare but not a great deal. A girl form my mum's group is pregnant with her second now and she said the private OB rates have almost doubled, ouch! But apparently the rebates are quite signifcant now.

We were out of pocket just over $200 for the delivery and hospital stay and most of that was for DH's meals as he roomed in with us for the entire stay.

AJC made a good point, definitely consider worst case scenarios. PE, high blood pressure in general and GD can all see you in hospital early not to mention CS deliveries and time in the SCN - it can really add up.