Private Pregnancy Care - Costs
Unfortunately, medical insurance and medicare rebates are complex. You should be reassured that when Dr Bells secretaries quote your costs using the information you provide there are no tricks or hidden extra charges.
Note: Not everyone is aware that Australian Private Health Insurers are prohibited by the federal government from paying rebates for any out of hospital experiences (apart from allied health extras), and that can cause some confusion. In pregnancy your private health insurer only rebates for any in hospital events, and not for visits, blood tests, or scans outside of hospital.
Multiple factors influence your obstetric charge and final out of pocket costs;
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Do you have medicare rights?
If so medicare rebates and the safety net will apply. -
Do you have private health insurance?
If so, are you covered for obstetrics (pregnancy) at the date of your delivery?
Does the level of your cover include 'gapcover'?
Although it will not affect our charges, are you covered as a private patient in a private hospital? (as opposed to a private patient in a public hospital only). This will restrict which hospital you can attend. -
Has Dr Bell managed and delivered any of your previous pregnancies?
If so, a discount will apply. The more children he has delivered for you, the greater the discount.
Because of the above, to find your actual charges and your estimated 'out of pocket' please ring the surgery (however see below for the likely fees and out of pocket).
Our fees are structured so that your pregnancy care with us is both affordable and predictable. At your first antenatal visit, we will explain our fees and their payment in detail. You will know exactly how much you will be 'out of pocket' to us as our patient.
I am Insured for Pregnancy- With medicare rights and Gapcover Private Health Insurance
Generally, for over 90% of patients who are privately insured with a standard 'gapcover' policy that covers obstetrics at delivery, and have medicare rights- the charges will be;
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First Visit and Scan $220 (Government Rebate ~$85- out of pocket ~$140)
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Antenatal Visits at government rebate (That is, no out of pocket if medicare eligible)
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A variable amount above what medicare rebates- 'the retainer and management fees'.
$1700 payable at 20 weeks
$1700 payable at 28 week
You will get a Medicare Government rebate of about $400, leaving an out of pocket of about $3000 -
If Dr Bell has delivered a child privately for you previously, then there is a discount.
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If you have delivered one child with Dr Bell, the discount is $400 and then $200 for each other child.
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The more children he has delivered for you, the bigger the discount :-)
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Delivery- We will bill your fund directly with no 'out of pocket' for the delivery
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Post natal visit $75 (Government Rebate $35)
If you 'shop around', it can be hard to compare one obstetrician's fees with another. There is no point being quoted a small "retainer" payment if the antenatal visits incur large out of pocket payments per antenatal visit or 'extras' such as a caesarean section incur extra charges against you. You will see Dr Bell at every antenatal visit.
I have Private Health Insurance but it isnt 'Gapcover' or it is an overseas policy?
Please ring our reception and we will work out the difference, if any, between your insurance and Australian Gapcover insurance.
I don't have Private Health Insurance or I am not covered for pregnancy?
If you are not in a health fund, but are covered by Medicare, we can still offer you an affordable package for Dr Bells services.
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You may deliver in a private hospital.
Contact the private hospital (Norwest Private Or Westmead Private) and they will provide you with their quote for uninsured patients.
The self insured packages available at private hospitals vary from time to time- it is best that you deal with them directly. -
You may choose to deliver at Westmead Public hospital under my care as a 'Self Insured' patient.
This will be cheaper and have less financial uncertainty than a private hospital.
Although in a Public Hospital, you would still be under Dr Bells care as a "Self Insured Private Patient"
The hospital will charge you about $1000 to $3000 (depending on whether your stay in hospital 1 day, 2 days, or 3+ days), but that price doesn't increase if you stay beyond 3 days or whether complex extra services are required. -
Whether self insuring at a private or public hospital, my charge will be approximately $3800 (and you should get ~$400 back from medicare if you are medicare eligible).
I am an Overseas Visitor
If you are from overseas and are not covered by Medicare we will tailor a fee package according to your circumstances.
This will also take into consideration whether you are covered by an overseas health fund (which vary markedly in the rebate they provide to Obstetricians).
Will I be charged extra for an emergency Cesarean, etc?
If your delivery is out of hours, is by caesarean, or is complex and requires extra procedures- Dr Bell will not charge you extra.
Other Fees- Hospital, Pathology, Scans, Anaesthetists, Paediatrician
During the pregnancy, you will likely experience other out of pocket expenses for tests (eg. NIPT, routine pathology) and ultrasound scans. None of these are within my control.
When having your baby there may be charges from the hospital, and this depends on the level of health insurance cover you have. Insurance funds sometimes like to play clever games with their policies. To be sure, contact the hospital with your insurance fund name and cover type and they will tell you.
A paediatrician will make sure all is well with your baby and may charge out of pocket expenses not covered by the fund.
If you have an epidural or caesarean the anaesthetist may also charge out of pocket expenses.
There may also be a fee from a surgical assistant, but I rarely use or need an assistant. If you need blood tests in the hospital there may also be out of pockets (I make every effort to avoid ordering unnecessary tests).
These other providers are not under Dr Bells control and some are provided by the 'on call' service so it can be difficult to predict the out of pocket accurately.
However, I am aware that unexpected significant out of pocket expenses is a live issue. I (and my obstetric colleagues) are aware that this is a real issue and are actively taking steps to ensure you are not charged excessively and can have informed financial consent before attending hospital.
Payment Methods
We accept for payments cash, EFTPOS, direct debit, Visa and Mastercard.