God Takes Care of....Our Healthcare

Today was a good day, insofar as our to-do list went.

Firstly, we got our temporary Medicare cards (the actual ones will arrive by post in 3 weeks), which we can use to see the doctor, to pick up a prescription at the pharmacy, and of course, to make a claim through Medicare.

In the afternoon, we drove to Werribee Mercy Hospital to enquire about how to have my baby there. The receptionist gave us a list of names and told us we would have to engage an obstetrician first. There were 4 names on the list, all doctors who consult with the hospital. We were advised us to call and find out the charges, as they differ from doctor to doctor. Apparently, hospital charges are covered by Medicare but not consultations.

I went down the list and got the appropriate info from each clinic. (On average, it's $100 for a visit, but there is a Medicare rebate, so you won't be out of pocket so much). We finally settled on Dr C. Calandra of 79 Morris Road, Hoppers Crossing. His clinic is closest to where we plan to settle, and also close to the hospital. Will see him for my first appointment on 3 Oct, by which time I will be 28 weeks pregnant.

Informed the hospital of my choice of ob and was given an appointment for 7 Oct.

Afterwards, we walked around the vicinity of the childbirth centre (peeping discreetly into maternity wards) to get a sense of the place, and liked what we saw. The place is quiet (even though it's on Princes Highway), surrounded by lots of green (you can go out any side door into the garden and sit down for a bit of fresh air), has a chapel and facilities for pastoral care (it's part of the Mercy Group), and most importantly, has a calm, unhurried atmosphere. The attendants look friendly and cheerful, rather than harrassed, and there's none of that clinical, life-or-death feel you get in a large busy hospital. Feel quite positive about the idea of giving birth here. :)

General Info
In Australia, there are several options offered by the healthcare system. If you are a public patient under Medicare, most charges are fully paid for (i.e. in-hospital charges) or 75%-85% (i.e. out-of-hospital charges) subsidized by the system. They try to help you even further by minimizing any shortfalls through the Medicare Safety Net system. Generally, you do not get to choose your doctor if you are a public patient being treated in a public hospital; you are assigned whoever's on duty.

Alternatively, you can choose to be a private patient and choose your own doctors and caregivers. You would then pay for private insurance to cover your medical expenses. Most people I know are private patients.

In Victoria, there are options for antenatal care and delivery, called models of care. You can have an ob to take care of you exclusively, or a Shared Care combi of ob+midwife, or midwife/midwives only. You can also choose to give birth at home, in a birth centre or in a hospital.

Will see what the ob advises on our first visit before we decide further. Right now, we're just glad to have got these things settled.