no private health insurance

[LeslieSmith]

hi all,

does anyone know how much extra you pay to see an obs without private health insurance?
I went and saw my gp and he said that I didn't have to have a obs as no complications.

I live in the langwarrin/frankston area - does anyone know of a good obs or any thoughts on frankston hospital as a public patient?

[BeautifulMadness]

depends on the hospital u plan on having ur bubbs, like my hospital to have a baby there u need an OB.

[Pandora]

Your GP is right, you dont need to see an obstitrician if you have a low risk pregnancy.
Im on the other side of town so cant comment on that hospital, but there are obs. you can see if you want to have one, that work out of public hospitals where you can still see the same OB throughout your pg. Any rebates for appts, fees etc would come under medicare not PHI.

Do you specifically want an OB? If not I think frankston hospital has a midwifery model of care running out of the hospital or next door?

[Mumma2three]

If low risk I so highly recommend midwife care over OB. Im on baby number three and went OB first time (he missed the birth cost a FORTUNE) and then midwife team second time (awesome) and this time started with an OB just because of the hospital rules, and then felt so uncomfortable I changed hospitals back to midwife care.
Each OB charges different prices, but you'd be looking at at least a couple of thousand.

[BeautifulMadness]

my OB is through medicare i usually end paying like $31 which is half. i thought if u had PHI it more was covered or does it depend on who ur with?

[LeslieSmith]

hi,
thanks for your responses. I am undecided as to whether or not I want an obs. everyone I know who has had babies has had one, so it seems like what I should do. does anyone know the adv of having one?
Its good to know that I can still have one and give birth at a public hospital too.

[~Kim~]

Leslie,
I am a high risk pregnancy and this time around through location only I went through the midwife care at the local base hossy. We are in the country nad if I had wanted and Ob like with my first preg I would have had to travel 400km round trip each time and then to the hospital.
I have found this time much better care and much more relaxed. I can ask more questions without being herded through. They chat, they only run late if they're busy not cos they've over booked and you meet the midwives before you are actually in labour.
My frind who has no PHI is paying $100 per visit (with the 400km round trip each time) and $3000 for the private hospital....just don't understand why.

[childondaway]

I am going to the Royal Womens (Public Hospital - Not Frances Perry) and I have an OB. She delivers at both the Royal Womens and Frances Perry. My decision for choosing an OB was b/c I wanted the consistency of care, and I liked the idea of the one on one with an OB. However, choosing to go to a public hospital also meant I would not be out o pocket as much as going to a private hospital.

There are plenty of OB's that deliver at public hospitals, you just need to call around if that is the option you wish to take.

Good Luck with your decision.