Cost of Giving Birth

jengrata · July 2013

Ah tlga may "extra" tax para sa walang insurance? Ang alam ko lang tax deductible ang private insurance. So yung binabayad mo eh ikakaltas din sa tax, parang offset lng din.
Agree with this one.. parang offset lang din ... ang maganda lang nyan pag meron kang private insurance ... na ooffset mo na yung payment mo sa medicare ... meron ka pang beenfits ...

to know more you can ask a accountant to clarify for you

kami gamit na gamit namin ang private insurance namin ... meron kasing glasses ang anak ko .. tapos dental checkup annually

Added security and peace of mind na rin ang insurance kasi. Mas maganda nga kung kasama ang dental at optical, pati ang annual general checkup.

Nadine · July 2013

Sagutin ko po sa aking makakaya:

Medicare should be able to cover your costs if public patient ka. If you get a private insurance, mas wider coverage, pero alalahanin na 12-month ang waiting period of major health insurance companies for pregnancy.

If a public patient, it is midwife-centered. Meaning, midwife will be with you prenatal, antenatal, postnatal. From the time you get pregnant to the time makalabas ka ng ospital, midwife ang mag-aalaga sayo, provided walang kumplikasyon ha. Pero yung public naman dito hindi naman tulad ng public sa atin eh. World-class ang public hospitals nila.

Prenatal - GP usually sees you initially. But you have to go to a bulk-billed GP. Otherwise, may babayaran ka. Or kung may babayaran man, yung gap lang. Refer ka ng GP to a midwife who will follow you up. Pupunta lang sa OB if complicated pregnancy or for ultrasound scans. Yung 12 week and 20 week scan libre ata. Pero kunyari, gusto mo ng another scan, magbabayad ka kung wala sa recommendation. Between $100-150 not sure.

Antenatal - midwife po ang andun sa delivery. Pero kunyari kailangan mo ng assisted delivery (example, vacuum delivery, forceps), tatawagan nila OB. Or if need mo pala C/S, OB din yun. Ang OB mo are obstetric registrars dito. Pero yung consultant ay naka-antabay lang just in case.

Postnatal - midwife pa rin titingin dun sa baby at sayo. Kung may problema dun sa baby, saka lang tatawagan yung pedia. And paediatric registrars ang pediatrician mo. Pero naka-antabay din lang ang çonsultant specialist. Madali sila tawagan for "complicated cases". Pagkalabas sa ospital, midwife din. Pero kunyari nakita may jaundice sa baby, papuntahin na kayo sa GP.

Palaging tanong po ay bakit advocated ang private health insurance when libre naman medicare?

Eto po ang rough difference with private:

1.With private, OB consultant ang andun sa kapanganakan mo. Pero andun pa rin mga obstetric registrars lalo na kung padating pa lang sa ospital yung consultant. Pedia mo consultant din. Pero pag hindi pa nadating ang consultant, paediatric registrars naman ang tinatawagan. Actually, walang difference sa management. Makakapili ka lang ng doctor mo.

2. Options: May sarili kang kwarto. Iisang OB na kilala mo na sa umpisa pa lang ang andun to the end. If kunyari gusto mo C/S, you can already talk to your OB beforehand. Then the OB will discuss kung ikakabuti or ikasasama mo. With public, ma-CS ka only if you need it. Having said that though, wala pa naman ako na-encounter na pasyente na ginusto ang C/S kung sasabihin ng private OB na kakayanin ang natural birth. C/S has its own risk. Nature has designed it that natural birth is the safest. Most naman sumusunod lang sa recommendation ng OB.

3. Yung scans, normally 12 week and 18-20 week scan lang ata libre. Without any coverge for an extra scan, out-of-pocket expense yan kahit may medicare ka, kunyari gusto mo ng additional scans. BUT, if may urgent need for additional scan, say, may nakita na kailangan follow-up, tingin ko may provision ang medicare for this. I'm not sure about this though. Please check.

4. Mararamdaman ang private insurance sa ER tingin ko. Hindi pa ako physically nakapag trabaho sa ER dito. Pero alam ko puno lagi. Pag public ka, maghihintay ka. Booked to the rim mga ospitals dito.

Points:

Kaya po I advocate manganak sa ospital. And to be within minutes if kapanganakan na. Andun sa major ospitals ang mga specialista. So, even if it's only a midwife in attendance, you are assured that a speciàlist doctor is just down the hall should you have problems.

Also, I feel I need to mention in case matakot kayo na registrars lang pala andun pag public. Wala dapat ikakaba kasi in case lang, andyan lang sa kabilang kwarto ang specialista. Tsaka these doctors are not interns nor resident medical officers. They are advanced level, kumbaga. Oherwise, hindi naman sila bibigyan ng AHPRA ng license. Strict dito. Pati yung mga midwives, may head midwife din na nakaantabay lang called clinical midwives na parang OB na rin sa galing. Sa maniwala kayo sa hindi, kung hindi pa nakarating sa ospital ang Pedia consultant, tinatawag registrars pa rin.

Ang haba na pala nito. Bow.

jengrata · July 2013

@nadine very well explained. Yung mga baby shots pala sino nagaadminister?

Nadine · July 2013

GP dito sa Oz.

Pwede sa pedia, if may mahanap. Sa sobrang konti ng pedia, 6 months advanced booking. Kaya ang first week check-up ni baby at 6-weeks vaccinations, GP yan.

Kung may private pedia, I think maisisingit nila sa clinic nila, depende din kun may availability. Hindi pa ako nakakaupo ng clinic dito kasi, kaya hindi ko rin masasabi pa yung sistema lalo na sa private. Check ko to ha. Will get back to you.

floradanica · July 2013

@Nadine thank you! at least nacoconvince ako na kumuha rin ng private insurance coverage. haha! so di pa pala ako pwede manganak pagkadating ko. lol. anyway, siguro e mas maigi na rin na maging stable talaga bago mag-baby ulit.

at least I have this info to look back to, in case di pa magbago ang mga bagay within a year or so! lol

Nadine · July 2013

Oo naman, pregnancy is really best planned. But in case andyan na, Maganda ang public hospitals dito. Yung facilities and services, maganda, standardised, at kumpleto. Convenient lang talaga pag private. And for those without medicare, it's a must. Thousands of dollars kung wala insurance.

May kasabihan: It's good to be in a public system with a private cover. Hehehe. Pero hahaba na naman ang post ko. Saka ko na lang ulit explain.

floradanica · July 2013

hahaha parang gusto ko mabasa yung sulatin mo na yan mam! lol

now reading: http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/healthinsurance/

stabilo · September 2013

Hi there,

balak namin pumunta sa Oz ng December on my 6th month of pregnancy...please suggest naman po what to buy sa Pinas or SG na mas murang things (like feeding bottle,clothes for babies, etc) esp for buntis and soon sa baby namin kesa sa OZ na of course mahal....balita ko kasi nagsirado na Mothercare dyan sa Sydney?
or baka may alam kayong bilihan ng baby stuff there sa OZ esp sa Melbourne.

Maraming salamat

JCsantos · September 2013

Hi there,

balak namin pumunta sa Oz ng December on my 6th month of pregnancy...please suggest naman po what to buy sa Pinas or SG na mas murang things (like feeding bottle,clothes for babies, etc) esp for buntis and soon sa baby namin kesa sa OZ na of course mahal....balita ko kasi nagsirado na Mothercare dyan sa Sydney?
or baka may alam kayong bilihan ng baby stuff there sa OZ esp sa Melbourne.

Maraming salamat

Mahal nga dito pero meron ka namang baby bonus will cover much stuff so siguro ok lang

yung gatas alam ko mas mura din dito

stolich18 · September 2013

@stabilo ensure nyo lang din na if may mga bibilhin kayong stuff, hindi kayo magbabayad ng excess baggage. heheh Kase minsan mas ok din na dito na lang bumili. Mas mahal minsan pero mas convenient din. Pde cguro magdala ng konti (or ung mga small stuff) pero as much as possible iwasan ung excess baggage fees.

Meron ata sa qantas ung unaccompanied baggages. Mas mura ata sya but hassle ata kase kukunin pa sa airport.. check nyo na lang sa website ng qantas.

And yup tama may baby bonus naman so makakatulong din un sa mga gastos. hehehe

stabilo · September 2013

thanks JCsantos

if tama pagkakaintindi ko 5K baby bonus if first child?
sa gatas naman, i will take malunggay capsule (hope it helps me to brastfeed na lang)

stolich18 · September 2013

@stabilo yup 5K at the moment:

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/baby-bonus

Pero it will be abolished by 01 March 2014. Papalitan sya ng increase sa Family tax benefit A:

http://learn.nab.com.au/baby-bonus-changes-and-your-household-budget/
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/publications-and-resources/budget/1314/measures/families/48-15254

Bottomline, magiging 2K na lang for 1st child as part of Family tax benefit. Take note na income-tested ang family tax benefits from what I know...

stabilo · September 2013

@stolich18 - thanks for clarification...naku 1st to 2nd week of March p naman ang due date ko....sayang...hehehe

btw meron ba sa OZ na cloth diaper? I am thinking of using it eh

maraming salamat

kookie420 · September 2013

Hi @stabilo, i'm going to Sydney early next month and will be giving birth there in December.

I'm bringing a lot of things with me (kasi may baggage allowance naman) so i bought few baby clothes (newborn) up until 6mos, cloth diapers and some other things that Aren't too heavy/bulky to bring.

Like you, i'm also determined to breastfeed my child so We invested on a good breastpump. My husband bought 6bottles but i'm hoping I won't have to use it since I will still stay at home for a few good months to do exclusive BF. I suggest you practice hand expression or invest in a good pump.

We were based in Sg before, too, but I'm not too sure if there are cheap CDs there. There are several local brands of cloth diapers in Aus but a bit expensive

compared to US, theirs is a bit pricey. That's why I bought mine sa US, Manila and Online from China. Visit thebubhub.com.au if you want to know more about it. And register ka sa bebup.com.au, parang freecycle na pang baby stuff.

Hope this helps!

stolich18 · September 2013

^true napakamahal nga dito ng mga gamit ng baby especially pag sanay ka sa prices sa US. hehehe ung medela pump na nabili ko, around 300-400USD lang, sa pinas around 30K pesos, dito mga around 400+ AUD ata. hehehe not sure, check mo na lang din online and compare the prices.

stabilo · September 2013

hello @kookie420 - thanks for the information.greatly appreciate it. Btw I also plan to be a stay home mom for awhile. wow 6months preggy kana congrats

I agree din na mostly baby clothes and CD's lang ang bitbitin namin sa OZ

hi @stolich18 - Thanks sa info sa madela pump. i will reserch it for sure

kookie420 · September 2013

Baka may makita kang store that will let you try breast pumps para makapag decide ka which you're comfortable with

ako, I went with Ameda Purely Yours. Ang laki ng difference ng price from Us and sa online stores sa Mla. Hehe

Actually andaming cute na CDs sa Aus, pero di ko ma take ang presyo

)

Thanks, it's my 2nd pregnancy so hopefully medyo may alam na ako this time hehe good luck din sa yo. Enjoy the preps!

JCsantos · September 2013

I agree with kookie the best thing to bring is baby clothes and oversized baby clothes ... mabilis kasi lumaki ang baby e ...

yung in-laws ko at parents ko pag nag bibigay sila ng damit yung malalaki talaga hehehhe by the time magamit nya e after 1-2 years pero sulit ...

stabilo · October 2013

Hi pips,

I'm planning to give birth sa melbourne, any suggestions ng hospital?
Naghahanap p Lang kami ng house to live and hospital too.

Maraming salamat

kookie420 · November 2013

^ check mo sa thebubhub forum kasi madaming feedback dun and according to suburb pa so you can choose which hospital you're going

Anybody here in Sydney who needs a pram? May extra kami,it's old but still sturdy. Steelcraft ang brandi you're interested message me

JCsantos · November 2013

^
Anybody here in Sydney who needs a pram? May extra kami,it's old but still sturdy. Steelcraft ang brandi you're interested message me

this gives me an idea

filipinacpa · November 2013

Parang nakakainspire manganak sa Australia. Lol May I ask na rin gano katagal ang maternity and paternity leave? Thanks

dhey_almighty · November 2013

we're still here in the Philippines and planning to go to WA probably around April 2014...

going to 7 months na si misis that time at sa Oz na nga manganganak...libre po ba ang panganganak sa oz?! and ano-ano po ang benefits sa mga manganganak sa Oz?!

we're holder of 190 visa...any insights?! :-)

dhey_almighty · November 2013

@stolich18 ay ganun..magiging 2K na lang ang baby bonus by March 2014! tsk! plan pa namamn namin is April 2014 kame punta dyan at manganak si misis ng June 2014! tsk...sayang! hehehe

dhey_almighty · November 2013

@akino thanks for sharing...nice! :-)

we're planning to come to Oz next year, around April 2014 siguro and going to 7 months na yata si misis nun at dyan na nga mangangak...sabi nga rin ng mga tita ni misis e wala daw kame babayaran sa panganganak...i hope! :-)
at may baby bonus pa...yun nga lang, 2K na lang...pero at least meron pa rin...san ka pa! hehe
ang galing naman dyan...nabisita pa talaga ang mga midwife sa bahay pa mismo... :-)

sana nga at wala rin kaming bayaran...keeping my fingers crossed, sana kambal! hahaha

nfronda · November 2013

@dhey_almighty..Yes pag sa public hospital manganak c misis mo, wla ka tlagang babayaran. Everything is free..

LakiMasel · November 2013

Laking tulong ba talaga ang baby bonus? Sapat na ba sya sa gastusin para kay baby - nappies, milk, etc.? For a year lang yun diba?

Kelan po ba makukuha yung baby bonus at paano makukuha?
At saka paano po ba maghanap ng hospital pag buntis na?Pupunta ka lang ba sa public ospital?

JCsantos · November 2013

Laking tulong ba talaga ang baby bonus? Sapat na ba sya sa gastusin para kay baby - nappies, milk, etc.? For a year lang yun diba?
Kelan po ba makukuha yung baby bonus at paano makukuha?
At saka paano po ba maghanap ng hospital pag buntis na?Pupunta ka lang ba sa public ospital?

im guessing

after manganak si wifey mo pila ka lang sa centrelink ... of course with all the papers ...

never pa kami nag claim

for the hospital just look for a hospital near to your place

kookie420 · November 2013

@LakiMasel, just look for any public hospital near your place. Para accessible for you to come anytime. But initially, go to a GP to get a referral to be able to get a slot in the hospital. Then you go to the hospital and present the form and then they will book you for check ups and etc. Free naman lahat except for some stuff like yung scheduled ultrasound I had for 3rd trimester, Medicare will only cover 85% of it. We initially paid 100aud so technically, we only paid 15aud since the 85aud will be reimbursed by Medicare once you submit the claim and fill out the form.

Yung baby bonus, you file it after your baby comes. You will get the payment made in 13 fortnightly installments. I think this will be credited automatically to the account you tied up in your Medicare.

Additional information lang for public hospital patients, medyo hassle kasi pa iba iba yung mag ha-handle sayo na midwife and OB during your check ups. So be ready to update them with everything every time you see them. If accessible for you guys ang Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, I suggest you go there kasi maganda ang facilities kahit public hospital siya.

@JCsantos, let me know if you're interested. Andito kami sa Randwick.

stabilo · November 2013

@LakiMasel, just look for any public hospital near your place. Para accessible for you to come anytime. But initially, go to a GP to get a referral to be able to get a slot in the hospital. Then you go to the hospital and present the form and then they will book you for check ups and etc. Free naman lahat except for some stuff like yung scheduled ultrasound I had for 3rd trimester, Medicare will only cover 85% of it. We initially paid 100aud so technically, we only paid 15aud since the 85aud will be reimbursed by Medicare once you submit the claim and fill out the form.

Yung baby bonus, you file it after your baby comes. You will get the payment made in 13 fortnightly installments. I think this will be credited automatically to the account you tied up in your Medicare.

Additional information lang for public hospital patients, medyo hassle kasi pa iba iba yung mag ha-handle sayo na midwife and OB during your check ups. So be ready to update them with everything every time you see them. If accessible for you guys ang Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, I suggest you go there kasi maganda ang facilities kahit public hospital siya.

Hello....plan ko dyan manganak sa Royal Hospital for Women this Feb or March (hehehe malapit na). May iba kpb sugguestion ano gagawin bukod sa reimbursment?

maraming salamat :-)