Pregnancy and your OVHC
Having a baby is one of life’s biggest journeys and at CBHS International Health we’re here to help you with your health and wellbeing during pregnancy and birth.
In Australia, pregnancy care for you and your baby is provided by specialist obstetricians or midwives. These services can be very expensive within Australia. As soon as you know you're pregnant, please contact us immediately so we can help you receive the best care possible.
It’s important that you contact us as soon as you become pregnant so that we can give you information on the pregnancy and birthing aspects of your cover and about programs or services that are available to you as an OVHC member. This includes:
• Finding an agreement private hospital closest to you.
• Providing access to a pregnancy program that gives information on pregnancy, birth, and mother and baby health*. Members with OVHC Base Hospital cover are not eligible.
• When to add your baby to your OVHC policy and any waiting periods for you and your baby.
As an expectant or new parent, you can face a range of challenges – physical, mental, and social – during pregnancy and on the journey to parenthood. While support and information are available in the wider community, it can often be overwhelming working out which source of information is best for you and your family.
Contacting us early in your pregnancy means you can access helpful information to navigate care for you and your baby. We can also let you know when the best time is to add your baby to your policy, so they’re covered at birth. Also, we’ll let you know if you have to serve any waiting periods before you’re eligible for benefits for pregnancy-related services, including birthing.
OVHC Mid and Top Hospital and Medical policy holders may be invited to participate in a Maternity Program* arranged by CBHS International Health with an external party. Participation in such a program will be provided at the discretion of CBHS International Health and at no cost to the member.
*Refer to your level of health cover for eligibility, service limits, benefits, and any applicable waiting periods. Base Hospital members are not eligible for the maternity program.
Inpatient pregnancy is a restricted service for both OVHC Base Hospital and OVHC Mid Hospital and Medical and has a $500 excess.
There is a 12-month waiting period that you need to serve before you're eligible for benefits toward pregnancy services. The 12-month waiting period starts from the date the policy is activated. So, if your OVHC policy started on 3 January, 2020 and your baby is due 30 September, 2020, then you would not be covered by your OVHC policy because you'd still be within the 12 month waiting period.
If you joined 3 January, 2020 and your baby is due on 20th February, 2021, then you'd be eligible for benefits toward pregnancy services under your OVHC policy (depending on your level of cover).
A waiting period is the period between the date your cover starts and the time you need to wait before you're eligible for benefits for that procedure or service. During a waiting period no benefit is payable for any procedures or services. After the waiting period has been served, you’ll then be eligible for benefits.
If you try to claim for pregnancy-related services when you haven't served the 12-month waiting period, you’ll have significant up-front and additional out-of-pocket costs. Birthing costs can be more than $10,000, even for an uncomplicated delivery. During a pregnancy waiting period, costs for pregnancy-related services are your responsibility because they're not yet covered by your OVHC policy.
In all instances, you’ll need to let us know about your pregnancy by calling us on 1300 174 537 as soon as possible so we can help you find lower cost options and pre-natal programs that suit your needs.
Your costs will be minimised if you have:
- Contacted CBHS International Health
- You're booked into one of our contracted private hospitals.
If you've served your waiting period, contacted CBHS International Health and you are booked at one of our contracted private hospitals, your costs may be minimised.
CBHS International Health holds agreements with an extensive range of Australian private hospitals and day surgeries (agreement hospitals). These agreements ensure hospital fees including bed, theatre, labour ward and intensive care fees are covered when
you're admitted as a patient to hospital, up to any relevant service limit.
Using a doctor or obstetrician at a non-agreement hospital can result in large out-of-pocket costs. You'll only receive benefits similar to a public hospital shared-room rate, which can result in substantial out-of-pocket expenses. This is also similar to any charges incurred in a non-agreement hospital. You'll only
receive benefits similar to a public hospital shared room rate which can result in substantial out-of-pocket expenses.
If you're on a Single or Couples CBHS International OVHC Policy, your newborn baby will automatically be added to your cover when you inform us of their birth, effective from their birth date. They won't need to serve any waiting periods already served by you, provided you upgrade to a Family or Sole Parent OVHC policy within two months of your baby's birth date.
If your baby is not added within two months of birth (from their birth date), all waiting periods will apply.
If you are on a Single or Couple’s cover, adding your baby will change your cover to a Family or Sole Parent cover and your premiums will increase.
