Moving whilst Pregnant

[KRichards]

Hi All.

Firstly thanks to all the administrators for such a great website. Thank you!

We are moving to Canberra in January, my wife will possibly be pregnant at that time.

What is the best solution with regards to Medical aid. Should I get one now already and start paying towards it? (We going on a 457.)

How is the cover for scans etc, do they cover birth costs?

Thanks for any help in this regard.

[Sibella]

I came when I was pregnant, but we came on a PR visa so we qualified for Medicare immediately.

I don't know much about the 457 visa except that you need private healthcare and that you normally need to be on it for 12 months to cover maternity.

I'm also not sure if you can pay for it ahead, as far as I know it works like medical aid in South Africa, where you pay while you are on it.

Hopefully someone else will be able to assist...

[naomiwarr]

Hi,

We are in Australia on a 457. We took our medical cover with medibank and there is definitely a 12-month wait for maternity cover.

I might also just add that on a 457 you won't be able to have the baby in a public hospital (that might be obvious to some but it wasn't to me). Also, although the private hospital bill will be covered (if it is after the 12-month waiting period) you will still have to pay in the region of $4500 for the specialist fees (I think that's just for the birth but not 100% sure - might also only apply to the medical cover we took, which is medibank hospital + gp's).

I was with discovery health in South Africa, and I checked with medibank - they will not waive the 12-month waiting period as they don't have any links with discovery health. I remember reading somewhere on the forum that someone managed to find a private health care cover that would recognise the time spent on their South African medical aid. If I find the post later I will direct you to it.

[Lynnie]

We are here on a 457 and our private health fund is IMAN - they are brilliant :ilikeit:

I am not sure what their waiting periods are - but have a look at them as well (perhaps you could join their fund now already?). Perhaps they could give you some advice or point you in the right direction.

Good luck :ilikeit:

[naomiwarr]

Can't find the post i mentioned before - sorry. Even tried to use google to get an answer and all it did was confuse me more. Now I'm reading that you can access the public hospital system on a 457 visa but as a private patient (so you pay quite a bit, but a lot less than at a private hospital).

[jjj]

I think I read somewhere, a few years ago, that if you are traveling abroad, discovery will still cover you for some time period.

I think it is up to 3 months. Not sure if it only applies to sickness or emergency and not planned events. Worth a look though and perhaps a call to them.

http://www.discovery.co.za/portal/loggedout-individual/international-travel

They do not specify childbirth as excluded on the website.

Neither do they state on the website you need to use a specific hospital within SA but check with them first.

http://www.discovery.co.za/portal/loggedout-individual/maternity

They do require you to get authorization at least 48 hours in advance or it will not be covered, so I suppose it is easy for them to simply not authorize your hospitalization in Aus.

Also, I read that you will qualify for a maternity grant or something similar to minimum wage for about 18 weeks when you have had a child, provided that you have been working for at least a year. Much better than our UIF. This may also only apply to PR visa like we are intending to go so not sure about the temp visa.

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/paid-parental-leave-scheme

I have a documents I recently downloaded with regards to your employment rights as parent in terms of leave and income etc. I'm not sure how to post the doc. PM me and I'll send them to you.

In summary, you keep your job if you have been working for the company for at least a year and you are entitled to a lot of unpaid leave.

Good luck and happy reading.

[Bronwyn&Co]

Hi KR

There is a 12 month wait for obstetrics on Medibank Visitor's cover.

Here is a link to the site : http://www.medibank.com.au/m/international.asp

My mate Allison works for Medibank in Canberra, let me know via PM if you want her to email you.

I'm just not too sure if you can take the cover now already ( if you don't have a visa yet), in order to start serving your waits.

I know Medibank won't count your Discovery time as part of your 12 month wait :-(

[Sibella]

Parental leave etc. is only available on a PR visa. And I don't expect Discovery will cover maternity once you are in Australia.

Allround if you cannot find a health fund who will waive the waiting period for you it might be better to wait before you fall pregnant or if already pregnant have the baby in South Africa. It is possible to have the baby here privately but it will cost a lot of money.

[KRichards]

Thanks a lot for the responses everyone really appreciate it. I have been suggested Medibank by my agent so, Bronwyn would be great if I could get in contact with your friend, I would appreciate it.

I am currently not with Discovery but with Prosperity health. So will check with them as well.

Thanks again

[Shelmadean]

Hi there. I came over to WA in Feb, with my hubby being here from December 2011. I am pregnant at the moment and due in March 2013. We are with IMAN. I found them to offer the best all round cover, dependent on which cover option you select. We have the second highest plan, meaning I need to birth in a public hospital to have full cover. Alternatively if I go to a private hospital, they will only cover up to the public rate & the rest will be out of pocket for me. The private hospital estimates my out of pocket at $5000. The public hospitals don't see us as private patients, but as overseas visitors. So some of the public hospitals have refused service completely. The others refer me to their private wards. There are only 2 available as full public hospitals that will accept me, but this is subject to their approval after review of my medical records. So I believe I will be going private and paying the out of pocket cost. As for getting cover before you come over, IMAN only covers from the date you arrive in Australia. They mentioned that they could request proof of arrival. Good luck with your move & choice!