Private Obstetrician Fees in Melbourne

The Costs of Having a Baby: Out of Pockets, Options, and More

If you’re planning on starting a family or are already expecting, we advise you to take some time to understand the costs associated with obstetrician fees in Melbourne. To help, we have compiled this guide with comprehensive information on the typical fee components, what to expect out-of-pocket, and the options available. Because individual fees, rebates and inclusions change over time, please treat the figures below as general guidance only and refer to our current Fees page or contact the practice for up-to-date, practice-specific amounts.

Are Obstetrician Fees Covered by Medicare?

Fees and billing for private pregnancy care in Melbourne is quite complex. This is due to there being quite a number of groups involved in the overall care; firstly, there is the obstetrician fee for your antenatal visits, labour and postnatal care. There are several medical tests such as the NIPT blood test, sugar test, other specialists such as paediatricians and anaesthetists (if required) and then of course there is the hospital stay for birth and postnatal recovery. All of these facets and others form part of your care over the 10 month period that you are pregnant.

Having a specialist obstetrician care for you and your baby during your pregnancy journey does incur out-of-pocket costs. Typical fee components include an initial consultation, a pregnancy management fee covering your antenatal care, a delivery/hospital-related fee, and separate costs for paediatric, anaesthetic and some test or scan services. These costs will vary amongst private obstetricians. In the case of Guy’s services the overall fee structure is designed to cover you for the full term of your pregnancy from your first visit with him through to your postnatal visit at 6 weeks after delivery. For exact current amounts, please see our Fees page or contact our Practice Manager directly, as these are reviewed and may change.

If you have a Medicare card and a valid referral, then you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate on your antenatal visits and a further rebate after your larger payment, calculated according to the relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers and any Medicare Safety Net thresholds that apply to your circumstances at the time. Rebate amounts are set by Medicare and can change — please confirm current rebate amounts with Medicare or our practice manager rather than relying on indicative figures.

Most mums-to-be require approx. 8-12 consultations to their obstetrician for the duration of their pregnancy. Sometimes patients need to see Guy or our midwives more frequently and this is arranged on a needs basis, and any additional cost, if applicable, will be discussed with you directly.

The fee schedule for Guy and his staff covers all of your visits and scans at every visit, full support from our private practice midwives both in person and on the phone, liaising with GPs and other specialists as required, and the coordination, organisation and review of tests and speciality scans at 13 and 19 weeks, and of course the management of your labour and birth and postnatal recovery period and postnatal visit 6 weeks after birth. Guy is on call 24 hours a day for advice and support but there are occasions when he takes leave or is unable to work due to illness (this is extremely rare!). If Guy is away, he ensures his covering arrangement is with highly experienced and senior obstetricians. To see which programs these inclusions apply to, visit our maternity programs page.

Will the Fee Change if I Have a Complicated Birth or Require a Caesarean Section?

Guy’s fee for your pregnancy will not change, regardless of the complexity of the birth or pregnancy. Please note that fees for additional specialists, such as anaesthetists or paediatricians, if required, are billed separately and are not included in this fee — see “Other expenses” below.

Other Expenses

There are other costs that you will incur such as Specialty Ultrasound that occurs at 13 and 19 weeks gestation, Anaesthetics for a caesarean, Blood tests (including your sugar and NIPT’s test and Pharmacy as required) and a Paediatrician if needed. These additional expenses are billed separately by the independent practitioner and are not included in Guy’s fees.

Access Gap claiming scheme may mean some costs of the labour and delivery can be claimed directly from your private health fund. Many funds with no-gap cover will cover the full delivery fee with no out-of-pocket costs to you, though this depends entirely on your specific policy and level of cover. Please ensure you check with your private health insurance to determine if there will be any out-of-pocket costs to you.

Medicare Rebates

Medicare provides a rebate for eligible antenatal visits and a further rebate after your larger payment, based on the applicable MBS item numbers. The exact rebate amount depends on the specific item billed and whether Medicare Safety Net thresholds have been reached in the calendar year — these thresholds and rebate amounts are reviewed and adjusted by the Australian Government from time to time. Please ensure you and all family members are registered for the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) so you can claim the maximum Medicare benefit you’re entitled to. Once full payment is made on your last instalment, our staff will be able to process your rebate for you direct to Medicare. We recommend confirming current rebate amounts directly with Medicare (Services Australia) or our practice manager, as these figures can change.

If you do not have Medicare, please advise our practice manager and midwives, as additional fees will apply for your antenatal visits and your eligibility for Medicare rebates will differ — please contact our practice manager for details specific to your situation.

Private Hospital Insurance

If the birth is taking place in hospital, the birth fee will be billed directly to your private health insurance (please ensure you have eligible pregnancy/obstetrics cover). Your Private Hospital Insurance will also cover your in-hospital stay (this is normally a stay from 4–5 nights) for labour, birth and postnatal recovery. Cover, waiting periods and any out-of-pocket gaps vary by insurer and policy, so please confirm your specific inclusions with your fund before booking.

If you do not have private hospital insurance that covers obstetrics, please speak with our practice staff to understand what the cost of your hospital stay and birth will be.

Benefits of a Private Obstetrician

Seeing a private obstetrician is not for everyone. Public maternity hospitals in Melbourne offer pregnancy care, and a substantial part of the costs will be covered via Medicare. Please ensure you speak to a public maternity hospital about any additional costs that you may incur as an out-of-pocket cost to understand your financial responsibilities prior to registering.

What to Check in Your Policy:

• Waiting periods: Most policies have a 12-month waiting period for maternity cover.
• Level of cover: Make sure your policy covers the services you need.
• Out-of-pocket costs: Be clear on what you’ll need to pay, and confirm these directly with your insurer, as they are specific to your policy.

How Much Does an Obstetrician Cost Out-of-Pocket?

Out-of-pocket costs for obstetrician services will vary widely depending on whether you go public or private, your health insurance coverage, your chosen obstetrician, and the extent of services you receive. For example, more services may be required when working with a high risk pregnancy obstetrician in Melbourne. For our current fee structure, please see our Fees page or contact the practice directly, as we don’t publish set figures online given how much individual circumstances can vary.

Is a Private Obstetrician Worth It? What Are the Advantages?

Bringing a child into the world is magical, but it can quickly become an overwhelming experience (even if you have had a child before). Working with a private obstetrician can offer several benefits throughout the process to make things more manageable.

Here’s why some parents-to-be opt for private care:

Advantages:

• Continuity of care: Seeing the same obstetrician and midwives throughout your pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period can help you build a rapport and understanding and enables you to be informed and free to ask questions no matter how big or small.
• On-call availability: 24 hours a day.
• Private Practice Midwives: Available on the phone and in person for advice and support.
• Flexible appointment times: Shorter wait times and more convenient scheduling are a big plus.
• Personalised care: Tailored care plans and more personalised attention, providing you with experience and knowledge to have confidence in determining the best birth plan for you and your baby.
• Different models of care: Maternity One and Maternity Plus are two different models of care that are available through Guy’s practice. Maternity One is the traditional model of care, and Maternity Plus is our midwifery-led care model suited to low medical risk patients. See our maternity programs page for full details of what each program includes.

Considerations:

• Cost: Higher out-of-pocket expenses compared to public care.
• Insurance cover: Ensure your private health insurance covers obstetrics.

Cost of Giving Birth in Australia for Non-Residents

For non-residents, the costs can be significantly higher since they don’t have access to Medicare. Many non-residents may not have private health insurance either, or they may have international health insurance. Here’s what you need to know if you’re a non-resident planning to give birth in Australia.

The figures below are indicative estimates only, provided as a general guide. Costs change over time and vary by individual circumstances — please contact our Practice Manager for a current, personalised quote before making any decisions.

Private Obstetrician for Non-Residents in Victoria

• Initial consultation: Approx. $300 – $600.
• Antenatal visits: Approx. $50-$100 per visit.
• Tests and Scans: Approx. $100-$500 per item
• Pregnancy management fee: Approx. $5500 – $8000
• Delivery fee: Approx. $2500 depending on the type of delivery
• Hospital stay: Approx. $7000 – $9000 (this fee is set by the hospital)

For a detailed, current quote, please contact our Practice Manager on (03) 9417 0147.

Making an Informed Decision

By being informed, you can weigh up the costs and options that matter most to your circumstances. Remember, the goal is to find an approach to care that works for your health needs, preferences and financial circumstances during this time in your life.

When deciding on your pregnancy care, consider:

• Cost: Compare the costs of public vs. private care for your situation.
• Convenience: Private care offers more personalised and flexible services for many patients.
• Health insurance: Confirm your policy covers the necessary services and understand any out-of-pocket gaps before you commit.

Learn More with Dr Guy Skinner

Navigating the costs associated with obstetrician fees can be daunting, but with the right information and planning, you can make informed decisions. Whether you opt for public or private care, understanding your options and financial responsibilities is key to a smoother journey to parenthood.

As a long-standing obstetrician in Melbourne, Dr Guy Skinner and the practice team are ready to answer your financial questions related to pregnancy and obstetrics.

This article provides general information only. Fees, Medicare rebates, Safety Net thresholds and private health insurance arrangements are reviewed and can change over time, so figures should always be confirmed directly with our practice, Medicare (Services Australia) and your health insurer before making financial decisions about your pregnancy care. For current, practice-specific fees, please see our Fees page, explore our maternity programs, or contact the practice directly.