Is private hospital worth the money? Anyone with Latrobe or Medibank?

[Queenluxury]

Hi Ladies... all the mommy to be

I just want to know your experience with Private Hospital.
-How much Gap you have to pay?
-Is Medibank fully covered?
-Is it better to be Private patient at Public hospital? ( some people reckon you can get private room if you have private insurance)
-Is it true that you pay more gap when you with Latrobe?

I live in WA. The public hospitals near my house wasn't a plesant place to stay esp shared the room with others.
also heard they will try to kick you out within 48 hours. is that true?

Thanks in advance

[LuluHB]

I'm with medibank and have their top cover. Both my girls were born at SJOG in Subi and I paid nothing at all for either the hospital or my OB (private health cover doesn't cover OB visits up to birth though). FOr DD1 I stayed in 5 days. For DD2 I stayed in a few hours only, but that was my choice not theirs. They were all stunned I was choosing to go home. DH stayed with me the whole time after DD1 was born and there was a small out of pocket cost for his meals.

I have a friend who birthed at KEMH as a private patient and she was in for a few days, albeit after a c-section. She did have a private room but was told that they couldn't guarantee the private room.

SJOG is all private rooms in maternity so you would never have to share. I think Mercy is the same. Not sure of anywhere else.

Where are you considering? Also bear in mind that some OBs only deliver at one hospital, so you would have to choose which is more important if your OB of choice doesn't deliver at your hospital of choice IYKWIM. This baby will also be born at SJOG. I would rather have birthed at Glengarry (closer to our new home and its a lovely small private hospital), but I want to stay with my OB and he only delivers at SJOG.

[Queenluxury]

I'm with medibank and have their top cover. Both my girls were born at SJOG in Subi and I paid nothing at all for either the hospital or my OB (private health cover doesn't cover OB visits up to birth though). FOr DD1 I stayed in 5 days. For DD2 I stayed in a few hours only, but that was my choice not theirs. They were all stunned I was choosing to go home. DH stayed with me the whole time after DD1 was born and there was a small out of pocket cost for his meals.

I have a friend who birthed at KEMH as a private patient and she was in for a few days, albeit after a c-section. She did have a private room but was told that they couldn't guarantee the private room.

SJOG is all private rooms in maternity so you would never have to share. I think Mercy is the same. Not sure of anywhere else.

Where are you considering? Also bear in mind that some OBs only deliver at one hospital, so you would have to choose which is more important if your OB of choice doesn't deliver at your hospital of choice IYKWIM. This baby will also be born at SJOG. I would rather have birthed at Glengarry (closer to our new home and its a lovely small private hospital), but I want to stay with my OB and he only delivers at SJOG.

Thanks LuluHB!! I was thinking to go SJOG Subiaco also. May I ask the name of your OB?
Is every OB at SJOG "no gap doctor"?
I still deciding between Dr Adam gubbay at SJOG or Dr. Bruce at Mercy

[LuluHB]

My OB is Simon Turner. I have personal reasons for not wanting Dr Gubbay but have heard he is a good OB. Haven't heard of Dr Bruce.

I think you will find some OBs charge more than others. There is one I can think of that I won't name that charges waaaay more than other WA OBs and I'm sure that no matter what your health insurance, you end up with a gap to pay. Their fees are their personal choice and nothing to do with the hospital, so I would suggest you ask for fee details and gap details when you make enquiries for appointments.

Also, don't leave it too long before making your appointment - even if you have an initial appt with two or even three to decide who you like best. The better ones seem to get booked up very early.

[Queenluxury]

My OB is Simon Turner. I have personal reasons for not wanting Dr Gubbay but have heard he is a good OB. Haven't heard of Dr Bruce.

I think you will find some OBs charge more than others. There is one I can think of that I won't name that charges waaaay more than other WA OBs and I'm sure that no matter what your health insurance, you end up with a gap to pay. Their fees are their personal choice and nothing to do with the hospital, so I would suggest you ask for fee details and gap details when you make enquiries for appointments.

Also, don't leave it too long before making your appointment - even if you have an initial appt with two or even three to decide who you like best. The better ones seem to get booked up very early.

Thanks for that.
I was thinking to change my insurance from Medibank to Latrobe due to waiting period. I'm scared If my baby born premature 2 weeks i wont be cover and ended up pay lots of bills due.
Do you know If I can change to go public at the last minute If thats happen??

[LuluHB]

I'm pretty sure if you just front up in labour at KEMH then you'll be fine. Good thing about public hospitals is they have to take you, no matter what.

[Queenluxury]

I'm pretty sure if you just front up in labour at KEMH then you'll be fine. Good thing about public hospitals is they have to take you, no matter what.

Thank you LuluHB xoxo

[Cass72]

I went to SJOG Murdoch - didn't have to pay any extra (we are with Navy Health). My OB was Dr Molloy - loved him - but also saw Dr Mincham a couple of times (also great). Dr Molloy is one of those that charges a little more.

[Cranky Kitten]

Be aware though, while you won't normally pay anything depending on your PHI and which Dr for in hospital services, you do pay for both appts (check-ups with the Ob and u/sounds) and the majority of obs have a planning and management fee which is usually somewhere around $1500-2500 out of pocket. You get about $500 of this back from Medicare.

Some public hospitals like to send you home relatively early but arrange home-visits from a midwife for you, others will allow you to stay a bit longer. I had DD at Bentley and pretty well begged to go home on day 3 while they would've preferred I stay longer as I was outside the home visit catchment area - and this was a relatively uncomplicated delivery.

[Queenluxury]

Be aware though, while you won't normally pay anything depending on your PHI and which Dr for in hospital services, you do pay for both appts (check-ups with the Ob and u/sounds) and the majority of obs have a planning and management fee which is usually somewhere around $1500-2500 out of pocket. You get about $500 of this back from Medicare.

Some public hospitals like to send you home relatively early but arrange home-visits from a midwife for you, others will allow you to stay a bit longer. I had DD at Bentley and pretty well begged to go home on day 3 while they would've preferred I stay longer as I was outside the home visit catchment area - and this was a relatively uncomplicated delivery.

Dear Cranky Kitten,

I live around the corner from Bentley hospital. Do you got private room?
If I have to go public I prefer to go king edward but My friend told methey wouldn't accept anyone with low risk.

[Cranky Kitten]

When I had DD I was in a shared room that could accomodate 4 but had it all to myself - is really just the luck of the draw. Unless it's been renovated in the last nearly 10 years though, the rooms and facilities are quite old and I probably wouldn't recommend it if you like your creature comforts. The staff and everyone were lovely though.

Having a Baby in WA has a lot of info on both public and private hospital options, you will generally find it's difficult to guarantee a private room in a public hospital unless you're being treated as a private patient and even that could be hit and miss. But then, same goes for private hospitals if they're having an extremely busy period - it's just the chances are higher and they make every effort to get you one.

FWIW, I'm booked in at SJOG Murdoch with Dr Mincham for this one - so far he's been completely awesome.

[Bengal]

We have been paying top hospital cover for years in preparation of a delivery

You wouldnt believe it - I am actually not going private now ! When we did the sums and spoke to a friend this is what we come up with - mind you, this is all financially related, not hospital related. It is true, public patients can be sent home in 48 hours after a vaginal delivery

Excess to Health Fund $500
OB fee $4500 - I get around $500 back from Medicare
DH meals - if he stays and eats with me $80 per day !

If I need a ceaser .....

Cesarean - anaethetic fee $1200
Fee for a weekend cesarean by anaesthetist (unknown, but it is charged )
Peadiatrian Fee to see baby $ ??
Private Ultrasounds

If you can offord it, it would be great, however I just could not justify all that money, when I know a reputable hospital will look after me, I figure Im smart enough to take an active role in making sure I am getting properly looked after

[Queenluxury]

We have been paying top hospital cover for years in preparation of a delivery

You wouldnt believe it - I am actually not going private now ! When we did the sums and spoke to a friend this is what we come up with - mind you, this is all financially related, not hospital related. It is true, public patients can be sent home in 48 hours after a vaginal delivery

Excess to Health Fund $500
OB fee $4500 - I get around $500 back from Medicare
DH meals - if he stays and eats with me $80 per day !

If I need a ceaser .....

Cesarean - anaethetic fee $1200
Fee for a weekend cesarean by anaesthetist (unknown, but it is charged )
Peadiatrian Fee to see baby $ ??
Private Ultrasounds

If you can offord it, it would be great, however I just could not justify all that money, when I know a reputable hospital will look after me, I figure Im smart enough to take an active role in making sure I am getting properly looked after

Serious? Omgggggg
If it will cost that much OOP , I might consider go to public as well.
I rather than spend all those money on my LO than the comfort of myself for few days.

[Lolpigs]

I'm going private, and while I'm in NSW my costs are alot lower than that

OB Fee was $2300 - I got $500 back
It is about $80 a visit to see my OB, of which I got $40 back from medicare, but now I've reached the saftey net I get $70 a visit back.
I am with GMHBA and pay $200 excess for my stay with the only out of pocket being if I need an anethatist, however there is always this out of pocket regardless of any operation I've found :S

I have a 4 days stay for normal uncompliacted delivery and 6 days for ceaser in private room. My husband can stay with me and most likley will which only costs $40 a day or something.

Hope this helps, hopefully you can get an OB that dosen't charge a large delivery fee. I know there are some in NSW that charge up to $10k or more. I couldn't justify that!

[Cranky Kitten]

Also, check your PHI - mine covers the cost of DH staying with me which is $70 per day for Murdoch, they also cover the paediatrician visit for bub as we are on a family policy already (just have to register his birth within a certain timeframe to get him added) and covers for any anaesthetists charges as well. So really, all I'm paying for is the planning fee and pre-delivery visits to the ob etc. Which yes, you do get some back from Medicare especially once you've paid the planning fee as it puts you well and truly over the safety net. So I'm paying $115 per visit but getting $70 of that back each time now.

[Jellyfish]

You'll definitely need to investigate specific hospitals, Obs and policies as it can vary a lot.

Our excess is $250 for the hospital stay, guarenteed private room. Partners can stay with or without meals, these are ~$10 per meal and you can also decide meal to meal (last pregnancy my partner had 5 meals over the course of my stay so ~$50). For a non-complicated delivery it is 4 day stay, 6 day otherwise. With my first pregnancy I left after 2 nights though and had home visits from midwifes for the remainder of the week (no additional costs). I wouldn't have had any out of pocket costs for anaethetists either as that is covered by my insurance. My Ob fees for pregnancy are $2750 (were $1900 in 2009) with $500 back from Medicare. Blood tests have been bulk billed and ultrasounds you can choose where to go varying between $70-300 out of pocket, you claim back with Medicare and could probably even find places that bulk bill. Pediatrician visits during our hospital stay did not incur any costs to us as she was added to my policy when born.

My last pregnancy we were out of pocket around $2000 and it will be slightly more this time.

The main reason I have decided Private both times is you are able to choose your Ob and see the same person throughout your entire pregnancy. Also being guarenteed (most hospitals) your own private room and bathroom with facilities for your partner to stay. I couldn't imagine staying alone in hospital (possibly in a room with strangers) and my DP missing out on the first few nights with our baby. Reducing my anxiety and making sure I felt secure and comfortable was worth the expense to us.

[Bengal]

Queen : it seems there are various charges for OB's, mine was $4500 then all visits where bulk billed, so already varied compared to the other gals. And I must admit
once I was told we have twins onboard that upped the anty for my chances of a C/S, and that in turn would incur extra charges

I'm in Melbourne, and am following the advice of a friend who had an unplanned cs on a Sunday ! She paid $6000 for her OB and would you believe he wasn't there to deliver that day, she had his collegue ! so there is no guarantee



Perhaps call your fund and see exactly what your covered for, especially with regard to an anesthesia (hopefully not needed) and check the fine print in the hospital fees

[Miss E]

Excess to Health Fund $500
OB fee $4500 - I get around $500 back from Medicare
DH meals - if he stays and eats with me $80 per day !

This is pretty much what I'm paying, I think it's pretty standard here in Melb. With my last preg I saw another OB to begin with and I was going to be $6,000 out of pocket.

I did have a CS and my additional costs were:
anaesthetic fee $750
Peadiatrician Fee to see baby $250

Also the three ultrasounds I had during the preg and blood tests ended up being another $700 - $800 out of pocket, after medicare rebates.

So all up I'm expecting to be about $6000 out of pocket. But, you can claim your out of pocket medical expenses on your tax and get 20% (I think) back, so when all is said and done I'll be about $4750 out of pocket.

It is a lot of money! If I had of had an uncomplicated labour and birth last time there is no way I would be shelling out the $$$ to go private again. But because of what happened last time and the likelihood that I will have a CS again this time it's worth the $$$ to me to have my own OB who I know and trust and also the comfort and privacy of a private hospital room to recover in afterwards for the four nights.

It's also important to me to be able to have DH stay if I have a CS. Last time DS spent the first night sleeping on my chest because DH was there with us. My friend who had a CS in a public hospital had to have her baby in the nursery the first night because she was bedridden and her DH wasn't allowed to stay. To me, having bubs with us that first night is worth a whole lot more than the money.

JMO