[simba2013]

I have private health insurance that covers for pregnancy but I heard you still need to pay $4-5000 out of pocket expenses?? I don't want to pay that much!

Has anyone had their baby at North Shore Private, and how much did you have to pay out of pocket?

Also I'm considering going to Royal North Shore (Public) as a private patient (not sure it they will let me though), in that case how much would I have to pay extra?

[zingy]

My experience and knowledge of this is;

The out of pocket expenses you mention are normally for the OB cost, not the hospital.

I delivered my first bub at the Royal North Shore Public as a private patient, not by choice but because I went into labour before 32 weeks. It was completely fine and they have done massive renovations since then too. The benefit of delivering at Royal Northshore Public is that they have the NICU facilities if you need them. They do not have high end NICU at private hospitals, just the Special Care Nursery.

It is your private OB cost that you need to limit if you don't want the big out of pockets.

You only get about $440 back from medicare for your OB. Some charge $2000, some charge up to $10,000.

You may as well deliver at Northshore Private as your OB out of pockets will be the same either way.

Just to be safe though, phone your private health provider and double check that you are completely covered for the private hospital costs.

The other thing to consider is that some private OB's don't deliver at public hospitals.

[simba2013]

Thanks for your advice Zingy

I'm not 100% clear on what it means to be a private patient in a public hospital, it's so confusing!

Does that mean:
-you get a private room (if available)
-you can choose the doctor (but have to pay extra)
-you have to pay excess on the hospital stay
-All of the above?

Why do some people choose to go to a public hospital as a private patient (instead of just going to private), do they save costs this way? If the only out of pocket is for the obstetrician, then wouldn't you have to pay the same amount regardless of whether you're in public or private?

Also, is it possible to transfer to a private hospital after you have the baby?

My experience and knowledge of this is;

The out of pocket expenses you mention are normally for the OB cost, not the hospital.

I delivered my first bub at the Royal North Shore Public as a private patient, not by choice but because I went into labour before 32 weeks. It was completely fine and they have done massive renovations since then too. The benefit of delivering at Royal Northshore Public is that they have the NICU facilities if you need them. They do not have high end NICU at private hospitals, just the Special Care Nursery.

It is your private OB cost that you need to limit if you don't want the big out of pockets.

You only get about $440 back from medicare for your OB. Some charge $2000, some charge up to $10,000.

You may as well deliver at Northshore Private as your OB out of pockets will be the same either way.

Just to be safe though, phone your private health provider and double check that you are completely covered for the private hospital costs.

The other thing to consider is that some private OB's don't deliver at public hospitals.

[elmo_mum]

some people choose to be a private patient at a public hospital, cos that is their closest hospi....but want the choice of their dr who they see at every appointment!!!

you MAy get a private room - if available! some public hospitals only have 1 or 2 private rooms

you should also be able to claim the cost of the tv...

with private hospitals, you have to pay a "deposit" to secure your place at the hospital (they too have number limits) - but you get that back when you deliver there. i dont think that you have to pay an excess in a public hospital

[w-emma]

You are guaranteed a private room at North Shore Private- this was an important consideration for me.

[BronR]

I have delivered one baby at a private hospital and one as a private patient in a public hospital.

Basically it will cost you the same either way. You will be paying your Ob for prenatal visits and pregnancy management. You will pay your excess unless, for example, your fund has an arrangement at the hospital, you will pay gaps for any other health professionals, eg anaesthetist, paediatrician (not 100% sure about this one in the public system as my baby was in SCN so a different case) regardless if you are a private patient in a private hospital or a private patient in a public hospital. Obviously if you are a public patient all this is free but you won't have an ongoing relationship with an Ob.

I in fact paid no excess when I went to the private hospital as my fund had an agreement with that hospital but I did have to pay the excess at the public hospital. As a private patient you still have to pay any other gap fees (eg anesthetiser if used etc) whereas if you are a public patient this would be free.

I went to the public hospital second time around because I delivered at 32 weeks so could not deliver at the private.

If I was going private I would go to the private hospital unless I was high risk. My second pregnancy became high risk so I transferred my booking from the private to the public hospital (and received my deposit back from the private hospital). I was then basically treated in the public system but still had my own Ob who delivered at both the public and private on the same campus. All other stuff to do with being high risk (weekly ultrasounds and other tests) were done publicly through Medicare.

[Mozzie1]

Why do some people choose to go to a public hospital as a private patient (instead of just going to private), do they save costs this way? If the only out of pocket is for the obstetrician, then wouldn't you have to pay the same amount regardless of whether you're in public or private?

Also, is it possible to transfer to a private hospital after you have the baby?

I am having my baby in a public hospital, but using my private health insurance for my stay afterwards. I see the obstetricians in the public hospital (just whoever is available, but a private room will be covered after the birth.