Compare Pregnancy Cover Through Health Insurance^*

Firstly, something to keep in mind is that pregnancy is already covered by the public health system.  It’s not uncommon for expecting mothers or couples considering conceiving to ask ‘is private pregnancy cover worth it?’

And this is really a personal question depending on your situation, needs and expectations. It typically provides flexibility and choice for the expecting couple, and the potential of further continuity of care.

For many, this is a crucial benefit of pregnancy cover. Being able to choose your own obstetrician and have them provide ongoing support throughout your entire pregnancy is a significant comfort factor for many.

Within the public system, it is not uncommon to see whichever obstetrician is available at the time of your appointment, which may well be a different doctor each and every time. In many cases you see a midwife not a doctor through the pregnancy, and potentially a different one for each check up. Many parents who go private also like the ability to have a quick ultrasound scan of their little bub when they go for an obstetrician consultation.

These little touches can be very reassuring for parents to be to see their little person growing. In the public system, aside from a 12 week and 20 week scan, you may not get these regular scans as part of routine unless there is an issue.

The quality of doctors in the public system isn’t in question, it’s more around the comfort factor of having the same healthcare providers with you throughout your journey. If this is something you deem important, then private health insurance may be a worthy investment.

The environment you give birth in is something to genuinely consider. For some, it might not be a major issue, but for many this can make or break their decision. Private health offers the opportunity to access the hospital facilities that are important to you, ranging from choosing a hospital that has high special care nursery, so you aren’t separated if complications arise, to more of the comfort features, such as having your own private room all the way through to the quality of food.

In the public system, you may be required to share wards with others, which generally means your partner cannot stay overnight with you. So it’s something to keep in mind if you value privacy during what is ultimately a very intimate experience. With pregnancy cover, you’ve got flexibility, you can be a private patient in a private hospital or even a private patient in a public hospital.

Depending on circumstance, private cover can offer hotel accommodation (if medically approved) which allows your partner and even your other children to stay with you with a midwife around to support you. So, again, choice and flexibility is really the major benefit for each and every individual who has pregnancy cover. Not only in planning your experience, but for when those plans change, which as we all know isn’t uncommon.

Down the road you can also use your cover to access sleep school privately, which is good to know as often the public services have long waiting lists for these types of admissions.