Has anyone had issues re private health cover with twins

[pippin]

Hi

I'm currently with Medibank Private and was wondering if anyone who has single cover had to change to Single Family Cover/ or Family Cover after there twins were born. I think my first twin will be under my cover (Single) but I think the 2nd twin is classed as a seperate pt therefore admitted to hospital even if this twin doesn't need special care. I


I would like to stay on Single cover with both twins if they don't require extra care eg special care, Operations or intensive care but I'm worried I will get a bill for thousands of dollars from the hospital for my 2nd twin that may not be cover under my current single cover.

Your advice is most welcome

cheers Pip

[Cherished]

HI, I am not pregnant yet... on the 2 week wait for our first baby so fingers crossed... But I looked into the private health in depth to make sure I was on the right cover to have the baby (babies hopefully... we want twin boys lol) at Selangor on the sunshine coast.

I am with AHM however Selangor told me that unless there is a complication the baby/babies will not even be classified as being admitted. I think with AHM in order to get the private hospital cover you need to be on Family or top hospital anyway which would cover more than one person/babies??? My advise is to check with your health fund way before you are due as we needed to be in the family hospital cover for 12 months before we were covered for the private hospital... Hope that helps you

OH... I was also told that if there were complications and there would be a big bill (like you are worried about) you an always opt to be transferd to a public hospital

[diva det]

Hey there
congrats on your twin preg!
I am with medibank private and YES you will have to swap over to family cover to ensure that the 2nd twin is covered. The second twin is not covered under singles cover!!!
Definately worth doing- my two were in hossy, NICU/special care for 33 days and the total bill that medibank covered- including 2 NETS ambo rides for one of my twins was over $120,000.00!!! and that was 6 years ago!!!

Dont get left short- sign up for family cover- even if it is until your twins are born and you are home!!
HTH
good luck
Odette

[ktgirl]

Definately worth doing- my two were in hossy, NICU/special care for 33 days and the total bill that medibank covered- including 2 NETS ambo rides for one of my twins was over $120,000.00!!! and that was 6 years ago!!!
Odette

That is a lot of money thank goodness you were covered.

I am with MBF and have family cover. My twins were born at 38 weeks so were not admitted to special care, they just came back to my room with me. However I had to pay an excess for my twin 2 (which I was not too happy about mind you ) I think it would be wise to have the cover in case your twins need to go to special care.

[happymel]

I had single cover and then swapped over to single parent family after the twins were born. DH is in the navy so therefore does not need private health. We werent out of pocket any money when they were born. They were private patients in a pub hosp, as was I. I only had to pay for my excess. Then i swapped them on to a family cover about three weeks after they were born.
I was in hosp for at least 15 days, and the bubs for almost 3 weeks in SCN, the bill came to thousands but i paid none.
Mel

[luua]

Hi there,

We are expecting twins as well. We decided that we'd go public with this pregnancy as it means that medicare pays for what we need.

Because you are expecting twins you will get priority. Probably your own room if you go public. Speak to the hospital they offered us great advice and put it all in perspective in terms of the most cost effective option.

Good luck

Ann

[luua]

oops posted twice

[CathieW]

Hi
I went public for my twins, Sam had to go into intensive care as he was having trouble breathing and Hana Came straight back to my room. I had My own room and the Dr I was seeing Deliverd the babies. I did'nt pay a cent

Cathie

[pippin]

Thanks for your advice

My Ob is Private so I'm having the babies in Mater Private although sometimes I think Public would have been better there are still so many out of pocket expenses even with top hospital cover

Anyway I will change my twins over to Single family cover as I want to get out of private insurance once they are here its too bloody expensive and i don't thinks its that good. No point getting family for DP and us .

cheers Pip

[**Helen**]

Hope everything goes as planned. I was on family cover with MBP and didnt have to pay a thing, they were both covered under my excess for their hospital stay, which was 3 1/2 weeks. Not sure whether it was a hospital thing or not, but even though I wasnt staying in hospital, all my meals were free while I was visiting the babies in special care unit.

I would definantly speak to your health fund and then also the hospital as to what they forward through to the health fund and what they expect you to pay out of pocket.

So exciting for you.

[kristy J]

Im with HCF and we have family cover plus which covered both babies.

some hospitals are different but, i was private but the twins were public if i wanted them to go private they would have been transfired after birth.

i had an emergancy c sect at 35+weeks my hos i was booked into only took babies from 36 weeks so i was rushed to penrith straight into public, with no choice. but after the first day i got my own room etc.
anyway, i was glad the babies were public cause the work they needed exceeded our cover as it is we still got bills from speciaists. NICU in penrith private costs about $1500 a day. not including other Dr costs. one of the other ladies there said she had her first baby in NICU in private and she paid a few thousand dollars on top of her already OB costs.

in the end i got a private room etc and the twins got the care they needed with little cost. it was win win.