Private OB's and out of pocket costs with Medicare

[Elocin]

I see a private Ob and his Pregnancy Management Fee was $1500 of which I got $479 back from Medicare, nothing from PHI. Each appt costs me $40 (which includes a scan), of which I get about $39 back through Medicare even though I haven't hit the threshold.

As Glenny said above, the amount of $500ish back from the the Ob fee seems to be standard no matter how much you pay.

After we did IVF last year, we hit the threshold and we were getting 80% back from GP appts etc through Medicare.

You're right though, PHI doesn't impact on the fact that you are seeing a private Ob... it seems to only help with the hospital fees (usually paying the excess only of admittance). Mine didn't help a great deal with the anaethetist fees when I had my laparoscopy. From memory, I paid about $700 up front and got about $200 back from Medicare and about $50 back from PHI... I shouldn't complain, because at least I got something back!

[LuluHB]

What Glenny says - unfortunately. My OB's management fee is $2,700 and he charges about $160 per appointment, but only charges for some appointments (initial few before the management fee kicks in) so even with the threshold I'll be out of pocket heaps. He does have no gap coverage with the PHI I have once we actually get to birth and hospital though so I guess that's something.

I have noticed this pregnancy that Medicare has capped a lot more scans and procedures than when I had my DDs a few years ago.

[Miss E]

Short answer is not much.

- I pay $80 a visit and get about $40 back (I had hit the safety net last year though so was getting more, but now with the new year I'm back to the $40).
- 20 week management fee was $3800 - got back $480 from medicare.
- get the schedule fee back on scans and bloods etc (regardless of where we are on safety net) which has been about 50%

I'm 31 weeks and ATM am up to about $4200 in out of pocket expenses. By the time bubs arrives I'm expecting to be well and truly over $5000 (but I am having a CS so will have anaesthetist and pediatrician in there as well).

But come tax time, I understand that I can expect to get about 20% of medical expenses back when I do my tax return.

So at the end of the day we expect to finish up somewhere between $4000 and $4500 out of pocket. Lucky we're not planning on having 10 children!