Obstetrics

If you want to be covered for obstetrics (pregnancy and birth related services) in a private hospital and with a private obstetrician, you need to take out private hospital cover or upgrade your existing policy well before you're pregnant.

Take care when choosing which health insurance policy to buy — many of the lower cost policies don't cover obstetrics, or pay restricted benefits that will only cover you as a private patient in a public hospital. All health funds have a 12 month waiting period for obstetric services.

If you want to have your baby in a private hospital, you will need to have a policy that covers you for this otherwise, you could incur large out-of-pocket costs if you don't have adequate cover.

In order to cover your baby from birth, without waiting periods, you must check that your hospital policy will cover dependent children as well as yourself. A single hospital policy covers you — but it won't cover your baby.

For more information, consult the obstetrics factsheet available at the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman or call 1800 640 695.

IVF and Assisted Reproductive Services

In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment is a process to treat infertility. IVF and other assisted reproductive services aren't automatically covered on policies that cover natural births and obstetrics. Even on policies which include IVF, the treatment has several steps and only the component which involves an admission to hospital can be covered under private hospital insurance.

Check with your fund before proceeding with IVF or similar treatments to confirm what services you will be required to pay for and that you have completed any required waiting periods. The standard waiting period of IVF treatment is 12 months but some policies also restrict benefits for up to three years.

Check with your doctor and IVF clinic for more information and quotes and for more information, consult the Assisted Reproductive Services factsheet available at the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman or call 1800 640 695.