Should I Choose Singles or Couples Cover for Pregnancy?

Hospital cover

Pregnancy and birth cover is on all gold tier hospital policies. You might find it on bronze plus or silver plus cover, but it’s at the health fund’s discretion to include it. Technically, you could even find it on a basic plus policy, but it would come with restrictions, like only having some costs covered as a private patient and only while in a public hospital.

With hospital cover, you can choose your obstetrician, and you might even have a private room.

Keep in mind that this sort of pregnancy cover doesn’t include assisted reproductive services. That falls under a different clinical category. Handily, assisted reproductive services are also a given for gold hospital policies, but it’s worth remembering that they only cover services where you’re admitted to hospital.

Extras cover

If you’re looking to get money back on antenatal classes, take a look at mid or comprehensive extras policies, like super extras.

Of course, you might find other extras services make a big difference during your pregnancy. For instance, physio or remedial massage could help with pregnancy aches and pains. What’s offered varies by extras policies, so it’s worth getting a cuppa and settling in to read the fine print. Remember, you’ll likely still have some out-of-pocket expenses, but something covered is better than nothing.

Singles cover for pregnancy could be a good option if:

You and your partner have different health needs

For instance, they might not need all the cover a gold hospital policy offers. Alternatively, you might want very different extras and having two different policies could be more cost-effective.

You’ve already served long waiting periods

If moving to couples cover would mean downgrading your private health cover, if you ever wanted to return to that that higher level of cover you might need to serve the associated waiting periods again.

Couples cover for pregnancy could be a good option if:

You and your partner have similar health needs

Higher private hospital cover might include surgeries your partner needs, like joint replacements or weight loss. More comprehensive extras cover options could help them manage any conditions they might have or otherwise generally be proactive about their health.

You’re upgrading cover together

When you upgrade your cover – or take out cover for the first time – you’ll likely have waiting periods before you can claim on some services. Once they’re served, though, that’s it, as long as you maintain the same level of cover. And baby will inherit the waiting periods you have served as long as you add them to your policy within the fund’s timeframe.