Health Insurance for Pregnancy: Your Questions Answered

Are you planning to take out private health insurance to cover your pregnancy? Pregnancy cover can be confusing and a lot of people get caught out with a baby on the way and no private health insurance.

Private health insurance is a great way to have peace of mind around your healthcare, and for the important milestone of giving birth, it’s a good idea for mums-to-be. Read on to find out the answers to some common questions around health insurance for pregnancy.

When Do I Need To Take Out Cover?

If you’re planning on having a baby in the next year, you should think about taking out private health insurance with pregnancy cover now. Most policies have a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy, which means that if you wait until you conceive to take out your insurance, you won’t be covered when the baby is due.

It’s a good idea to take out health insurance that includes pregnancy six months before you start trying for a baby. This means that your final trimester and the birth will be covered by your policy.

What Happens If My Baby Is Premature?

Most pregnancies last forty weeks, but in some cases a birth can take place before the due date. If a baby comes three weeks early or more, it is considered premature. This makes it tricky for people who were hoping their cover would begin by the time baby is due. If you do have a premature birth and your pregnancy health insurance waiting period isn’t over yet, you won’t be covered.

Is My Newborn Baby Covered By My Insurance?

If you have pregnancy cover under a singles or couples policy, your baby is not included in your health insurance policy. If you do want your baby to have private health insurance, it’s a good idea to switch to a family policy. You will need to do this before your baby is born for them to be covered straight away. Your baby will be covered by Medicare for public healthcare, but if there is an urgent issue, it’s nice to have them on your policy for peace of mind.

What If I Need Assisted Reproductive Services?

Assisted reproductive services, such as IVF, will often have a 12-month waiting period. This means that if you are going to use any assisted reproductive treatments, you will need to have your policy for a year first. It’s also important to note that not all health insurance policies cover IVF and they may have specific terms around the use of these services. Check your policy carefully before signing up.

What If I Don’t Have Pregnancy Cover?

If you fall pregnant and don’t have private health insurance that covers pregnancy, most of your costs will be covered by the public health system. Private health insurance is a beneficial option that provides parents with the ability to choose their own doctor for the pregnancy process and access treatment in a private hospital. However, it is not a necessity when having a baby.