How much does it really cost to give birth in Australia?

Back to top

What’s the overall cost of having a baby in Australia?

A breakdown of childbirth costs in Australia

What childbirth costs are covered by Medicare?

What doesn’t Medicare cover when it comes to giving birth?

Can the Medicare safety net help with certain child birth costs?

What are other costs to consider around pregnancy and birth?

What does private health insurance typically cover?

Public vs private hospital birth: what’s the difference?

How can I reduce the cost of pregnancy care as a private patient?

Is private health insurance for pregnancy worth it?

Long story short

Going public can help your wallet breathe a little easier

Medicare generally foots the bill for public births.

Going private could give you more control over how you welcome your child

You could choose your own doctor and enjoy the newborn bubble in the comforts of your own hospital room, although at a cost.

You’ll need to plan ahead for private health insurance waiting periods

Insurers enforce a 12-month wait for pregnancy insurance, so you’ll need hospital cover sorted well before a positive pregnancy test.

What’s the overall cost of having a baby in Australia?

If you choose to birth your baby as a public patient, your total out-of-pocket costs will generally be $0. But if you decide to give birth in a private hospital, the costs increases dramatically – with typical specialists’ fees costing around $3,000 and an additional cost for the hospital stay – potentially from around $6,000 to $9,000, sometimes even more. However, a good portion of these costs could be covered by Medicare and your private health insurance policy – if you have one.

In the public system, the expenses you face mostly come from outpatient services months before you give birth – say genetic screening tests like the non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). But labour and birth? Most – if not all – is subsidised by Medicare.

If you go private, the total costs depend on your location, your obstetrician, and your hospital of choice. However, for many families, what you pay for private care is worth the investment – especially when it comes to the level of comfort, choice, and familiarity with the people involved in the birth.

All that said, there’s no single answer to this question. The cost of having a baby in Australia ultimately depends on the healthcare system and the level of obstetric care you and your partner choose.

A breakdown of childbirth costs in Australia

An insured private patient will still have costs if they want to deliver in a private hospital. For instance, in 2023-24 a vaginal delivery with no complications typically cost around $3,000, while a non-complex C-section might cost $3,700. Private health funds generally cover a portion of those costs – around $1,800 for vaginal delivery and $2,100 for a C-section. That means, even with both Medicare and private health insurance, private patients would typically end up shouldering out-of-pocket fees amounting to $420 and $500, respectively.¹Medical Costs Finder – Vaginal delivery (no complications), Caesarean section (no complications)

Then there are the obstetrician (OB) pregnancy management fees, which are usually a non-refundable amount you’ll typically need to pay to the OB (and their team of midwives) for specialist consultations and being on call – and of course, for being there during the birth and post-natal care. In some cases, this could also cover a mental health assessment should you choose to take it.

By the way, these are just the specialists’ fees – what you pay for the medical professionals involved in the delivery of your baby like the obstetrician, assistant surgeon, and anaesthetist. Things like the costs of hospital stay aren’t included yet. They’re typically $6,300 for a straightforward vaginal delivery and $8,600 for an uncomplicated C-section, though private health insurance could cover part or all of these costs.²Medical Costs Finder – Vaginal delivery (no complications), Caesarean section (no complications)

Whether you’ve chosen the public or private system, here’s what some of the costs around a typical low-risk childbirth look like.

Typical out-of-pocket cost as an insured private patient in a private hospital

Note: These figures reflect indicative medical costs for vaginal delivery, caesarean section and obstetrician pregnancy management fees in Australia, based on Medical Costs Finder and rounded where appropriate. Actual costs may vary depending on individual circumstances. Data from 2023-24 and retrieved March 2026.

What childbirth costs are covered by Medicare?

If you’re choosing the public route, you can thank Medicare for covering the full cost of your inpatient hospital care and delivery. And if you go private, Medicare could still subsidise a portion of the costs – say of your specialist fees. But you should expect to shoulder some out-of-pocket costs that aren’t covered by Medicare (or your private health fund).

It’s also worth noting that Medicare partially subsidises services while trying to conceive, as well as antenatal (when you’re pregnant) and postnatal (when you finally have bub in your arms) care.

What doesn’t Medicare cover when it comes to giving birth?

Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of your hospital stay if you’re a private patient – whether in a private or public hospital. It also doesn’t help with gap fees – the difference between what Medicare or your private health fund covers and the dollar figure that your healthcare provider puts on the bill. And if you’re planning to hire a private midwife to be present at your home birth, you’ll have to budget for that, too.

Outside labour and birth, optional antenatal tests like NIPT and out-of-pocket private hospital costs (think medicines) also aren’t covered.

If you’ve got private health insurance, it could help take care of some of these costs!

Can the Medicare safety net help with certain child birth costs?

Yes, the Medicare Safety Nets could help lower out-of-pocket costs for child birth – including pregnancy. It’s worth enrolling your family as it could help you get higher Medicare rebates upon reaching the annual threshold for out-of-pocket expenses. If, in a calendar year, you spend a total of $594.40 to $2,699.10 on out-of-hospital services for your family, such as private obstetric care, ultrasounds, blood tests, and specialist fees, you may be eligible for at least 80% of the total cost of any subsequent appointments.³Services Australia – What are the thresholds?

And even if you have private health insurance, you can still tap into Medicare Safety Nets, not to mention Medicare rebates, especially if you use medical services like pathology tests and ultrasound scans.

What are other costs to consider around pregnancy and birth?

Your pregnancy journey will likely involve other out-of-pocket costs, especially if you’re going private. So things like gap fees, antenatal care and postpartum services, ultrasounds and insurance-related costs like hospital excess and co-payments. Let’s break it all down.

• Hospital excess: If you’re using private health insurance, you’ll need to budget for your hospital excess, which is typically between $250 and $750.
• Co-payments: This is what you need to pay for everyday of your hospital stay.
• Gap payments: The ‘gap’ is the difference between what Medicare or your private health fund covers and what your specialist charges. For example, you might pay a gap for an anaesthetist doing your epidural, or a private paediatrician doing all the baby checks just before going home.
• Ultrasounds: Throughout this special journey, you’ll get to see bub – right from when they’re the size of a raspberry to a few weeks before you get to hold them in your arms. In 2023-24n ultrasound scan cost from around $200 to almost $400, with Medicare rebates available (sometimes, you can get bulk-billed for these, too).
• Birthing classes: Some hospitals (especially public ones) offer these antenatal classes for free. But others charge as much as $500 for private classes. You might want to check your private health insurance, as some policies offer rebates for this.
• Postpartum care and services: Services like lactation consultants, women’s health physiotherapy and mental health support may not always be fully covered, so it’s worth checking whether your extras cover could take care of these.

What does private health insurance typically cover?

Your private pregnancy cover steps in to pay for a portion of your private room, the delivery suite, theatre fees if you need a caesarean section, and your midwife care while on the ward. It also contributes 25% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee for your doctor’s services during the birth. You’ll generally need a gold-tier hospital policy, though keep in mind the 12-month waiting period. You’ll likely still have some out-of-pocket costs.

Helpful tip

If you’re considering private care, it’s a good idea to ask your hospital or healthcare provider for a detailed breakdown of costs. Specifically ask for an ‘informed financial consent’ document that outlines expected costs – including doctor fees, hospital charges, and potential out-of-pocket gaps. This is a great way to know any potential costs, like epidurals or paediatric visits!

Andres Gutierrez

General Manager – Health

Public vs private hospital birth: what’s the difference?

The difference between public and private hospital birth boils down to cost and comfort. Going public is often free, but you might not see the same medical professionals at each visit – and during childbirth, you’ll be attended by whichever midwife or obstetrician is working at the time. Choosing the private route gives you more control over your choice of doctor and you can often enjoy the comfort of your own room, but it usually comes with significant out-of-pocket costs.

How can I reduce the cost of pregnancy care as a private patient?

If you want to bring down the cost of pregnancy care as a private patient, you have options. It’s worth looking into no-gap providers and making the most of your extras cover. Because you want the private experience, but you still want to protect your savings – totally fair!

Is private health insurance for pregnancy worth it?

Going private allows you to choose a specialist who aligns with your birth plan. It provides you with a private sanctuary to recover in comfort, allowing your partner to stay overnight and share those crucial first few days of parenthood together. For many families, that level of comfort, control, and privacy is well worth the investment of out-of-pocket fees and insurance premiums.

The public system will safely deliver your baby at almost no cost. But if you value continuity of care – knowing exactly who will be in the room with you when you are at your most vulnerable – private health insurance is a way to achieve it.

That said, the answer to this question is a deeply personal decision, and it requires weighing the financial cost against the value of peace of mind.