Are you planning on getting pregnant soon? If you've answered yes - congratulations, how exciting! Now may be the time to start thinking about private health insurance, both for the peace of mind that you’ll be covered if anything goes wrong, but also to ensure that you have the most comfortable pregnancy possible. Whether you’re taking out a policy that offers pregnancy cover or you’re looking to switch to a family policy, private health insurance is worth looking into as soon as you decide to start a family.
When should you take out cover?
It’s important to be aware that most health insurance policies enforce a 12-month waiting period before you can claim on pregnancy-related issues. This means that if you’re looking for pregnancy cover for obstetrics, you will need to have taken out your policy at least three months before you fall pregnant.
Why should you go private?
There are heaps of benefits to going private, private hospital cover allows you to plan for the journey ahead, such as choosing to have natural birth, or booking in an elective caesarean (which isn't always an option in the public system). Here are more reasons where you can benefit:
- Choice of your own hospital, obstetrician and other specialists
- You’ll enjoy private room accommodation for maternity stays
- You’ll be fully covered for labour ward fees
- Your partner (or a parent, sibling or friend) can stay with you in hospital as a boarder at no extra cost
- Your baby will be covered on your family policy for at least 18 years
- There’s no limit to the number of legal dependents that can be included on a family policy with HIF
Are there any exclusions?
There are some out-of-pocket costs that you may have to cover yourself. These could include (but are not limited to):
At the end of the day, it’s completely up to you whether you take out a
private health insurance policy for pregnancy or not. However, if you are planning on getting covered, you should make sure that you consider it before you start trying for a baby. Having a baby is an exciting time, so don’t stress about it. Good luck and enjoy.