Public Hospital Costs

[Novella]

12 weeek scan was over $100 as I wasnt classed as high risk so arranged it privately through my gp

20 week morphology scans were done through the public hospital at no cost

antenatal classes were free through the hospital but we only went to two as I found they didnt hold much value to me and I educated myself online and through books/docos

Midwife came to me most appointments so didnt even have transport/carparking costs

[Mum2SweetCs]

Went private with dd1 but public with dd2 and only paid for my NT scan.

I had a few growth scans and diabetes education classes due to gd and everything was free.

I did not do the antenatal class though

[BrightSparkles]

Public - paid for all scans, antenatal course (Only with first)

[~clover~]

I find it hugely depends on your area. Hugely!

I had all my girls on the Mid North Coast. First 2 in Coffs Harbour. I saw my regular GP & an Ob. Ob was private, so I paid the gap as a public patient (no other option in the area). I think back then scans were bulk billed at the only locals x-ray place (7 & 10 years ago).

I had DS in the Central West. Wasn't exactly cheaper, because I had to travel 2 hours to the nearest birthing hospital (Dubbo), but it's a lower socio economic area & everything was free. Antenatal clinic with ob's for high risk & m/w's for general patients. Scans at the hospital or medical centre before 12 weeks.

I had DD3 back on the MN Coast, in a smaller hospital, MW run labour ward. By then things had changed. At the same place I had DD1&2's scans, I think I had to pay a gap, & it got more the further you are along. I think $80 for 12 weeks & $130 for 20 weeks.

Everything else was free for me though. Bloods etc were always bulk billed.

In the last 10 years on the MN Coast, its gone from gp's mostly bulk billing, to you having to ask the gp & them being able to say no (one actually did say no to me, I couldn't stand him). Where as in Dubbo they've opened up a huge medical centre with x-ray's, dentist, bloods, gp's all bulk billed, walk in basis, then the clinic at the hospital. In Coffs I think they've just started a clinic in the last few years.

I didn't do any ante natal classes.

[~Kim~]

I agree with Clover about the area.
I had DD1 in Sydney, private, paid for everything.
DS in Southern/Central NSW, private in a public hospital as no private GPs. Paid for no bloods but all scans until the end when someone suggested (like one of the m/ws) I ask for a hospital u/s (was having lots after some probs) and that I should have done that all along and not paid for anything.
DD2 in Central Australia. There is no private care here. I didn't pay for anything.