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The health system in Australia

Australia's healthcare system is administered by state and territory governments, with additional funding provided by the Federal Government. The country's health system comprises public healthcare and private healthcare. Women in Australia utilise both the public and private health systems during pregnancy and childbirth, and there is a wide range of care services and options for childbirth across the country.

What care can I access in Australia if I'm pregnant?

Care is available for °µÍø½ûÇøs during pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum, but the type of care you can access will depend on your visa and the healthcare benefits you are eligible for.

Public healthcare

To access healthcare in the public system — and therefore incur fewer expenses — you need to be registered for Medicare. However, there are limitations to the visa types that can access Medicare in Australia. For instance, the following groups are entitled to Medicare benefits:

• Australian citizens;
• New Zealand citizens;
• Permanent residents;
• Those applying for permanent residency;
• Temporary visas listed .

Citizens from particular countries may also be eligible for Medicare under a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement. So, if you are from one of the following countries, you can learn more :

• Belgium;
• Finland;
• Italy;
• Malta;
• The Netherlands;
• New Zealand;
• Norway;
• Ireland;
• Slovenia;
• Sweden;
• United Kingdom.

However, student visa holders from Ireland, Norway, Finland and Malta are not included.

Medicare covers the following costs:

• doctor and midwife appointments;
• Ìý(²õ³¦²¹²Ô²õ);
• ;
• birth in aÌý;
• hospital care for your baby;
• .

Private healthcare

But if you are not eligible for Medicare, don't despair. In some circumstances where you are not entitled to Medicare benefits, you must obtain before you can secure your visa to Australia, which should provide some coverage for hospital admissions and doctors' fees. For instance, if you are an overseas student, you have a visa with condition 8501, and you hold a working visa subclass 482 (Temporary Skills Shortage) or visa subclass 485 (Temporary Graduate), you are required to . It's important to remember that policies differ in coverage and costs, so if you are thinking of starting a family, make sure pregnancy and birth services are included in the policy you choose.

But even if health insurance is not a requirement under your visa, the government firmly advises visitors to Australia to take out health cover, as you are financially responsible for any healthcare debts you incur while in the country. So even if it isn't a condition of your visa, health insurance is highly recommended just in case you need medical attention or an ambulance trip to the hospital, leaving you out-of-pocket and thousands of dollars in debt. It's important to be aware that outstanding health debts can affect any future visa applications.

Read also Work visas for Australia

And if you are thinking of starting a family, ensure your health insurance policy covers pregnancy, childbirth, and neonatal care, as pregnancy and childbirth in Australia can be very expensive without appropriate health insurance coverage. It's also important to make sure your baby is covered from birth in case they require immediate hospital care. If your baby is healthy, they won't need to be admitted to the hospital straight after birth, but it is crucial to check with your healthcare provider about their rules for covering newborns.

It's also important to note that even if you have private health insurance, you may still be required to pay for some medical services and treatments. This is referred to as the ‘gap' payment. You can read more about patient contributions or gap payments .

Important:

All private health funds in Australia have a . This means you must have held the appropriate coverage for a year before being admitted to a private hospital to give birth.

Useful link:

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Read also Permanent residency in Australia

Care during pregnancy in Australia

After you get a positive pregnancy test, it's time to call your General Practitioner (GP). During the appointment, your doctor will confirm your pregnancy with a blood or urine test and estimate your due date. You will also discuss options for ante-natal care, which is the care you receive while you are pregnant, and your GP can refer you to an obstetrician, hospital, midwife or birth center. You can also discuss the possibility of giving birth at home. Where you choose to give birth will influence where you go for your scans and your check-ups throughout your pregnancy. Your GP will also advise you on the foods to avoid, any additional tests you may need, and any lifestyle changes you might need to make, such as quitting drinking and smoking.

Antenatal appointments

YourÌýantenatal careÌýwill includeÌýscans, tests, and check-upsÌýright up until you give birth.ÌýDepending on the type of care you choose, your appointments will be with an obstetrician, a doctor or a midwife and can be held at a public hospital, your obstetrician's office, at a birth center, or in your own home if you're having a home birth. The Australian Government's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website has an informative guide to antenatal appointments, their timing, and what to expectÌý.

Doulas

In Australia, a doula can provide emotional and physical support to you during your pregnancy, the birth of your child, and after your baby is born. A non-medical companion, a doula does not require any official medical qualifications but must have completed a doula training course. A doula works alongside your birth support partner and your doctor or midwife during the birth of your baby and can also provide support at home by helping you with feeding and settling your newborn. Doulas charge privately for their services, which are not covered by Medicare or private health insurance. If you are interested in researching doula services, visit and for more information.

Read also Childcare in Australia

Options for giving birth in Australia

Public healthcare options

If you are giving birth in the public health system in Australia, make sure to do your research and start early, as public hospitals are popular and can book out. The costs for giving birth in the public system are covered by Medicare, although there will potentially be some minimal out-of-pocket expenses for tests, ultrasounds and GP visits. You get to choose the public hospital you want to have your baby in, and you will be looked after by obstetricians and midwives, but they might not be the same medical professionals each time. If you choose to go public, you will have access to pain relief during the delivery, as well as specialists in newborn care after your baby is born. There is also the chance that you might be discharged early from hospital, although you will be visited by a midwife at home the next day.

Private healthcare options

You can choose the private health system for your pregnancy and delivery, whether you have private health insurance or not. However, without private health insurance, you will need to cover the costs yourself. There may be some out-of-pocket expenses even with a private health insurance policy that includes obstetrics. If you have private health cover, you can give birth in the private or public hospital of your choice, and you will have more control over your pregnancy and the birth. You will get to choose the obstetrician you want, and they will provide consistent care throughout your pregnancy and the birth of your baby. You will also have access to a private ward in the hospital.

Birthing center or midwifery unit

You could also decide on a less medical approach by choosing a . But you'll need to book early as birthing centers are often in high demand, with Medicare usually covering the costs. Birthing centers and midwifery units will only accept low-risk pregnancies, and they offer fewer pain relief options than hospitals. But you'll have continuous care by the same midwives throughout your pregnancy and birth, you'll usually have your own room, and some centers offer water births as well.

Home birth

Giving birth at home is another option, but both you and your baby must be at low risk of complications. There are public and private home birth options. This type of birth can be expensive as it is not covered by Medicare, and you'll have limited pain relief options. To give birth at home, you must be cared for by a midwife who is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), and two registered health professionals must be present at the birth. But you'll be more relaxed in familiar surroundings, you'll have more privacy, and you can have as many people at the birth as you want! There is also the option to be transferred to a hospital if necessary.

The costs of giving birth in Australia

The vary depending on the type of care and birth setting you choose. Here is an estimate:

• Public Health System is covered by Medicare — $0 to minimal out-of-pocket expenses;
• Private Health System — AUD 2,000 (USD 1,298) to AUD 10,000 (USD 6,491);
• Medicare-funded home birth — $0 to AUD 1,500 (USD 974);
• Private home birth — AUD 3,500 (USD 2,272) to AUD 6,000 (USD 3,985).

Useful link: