Pregnancy and your OSHC
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 is provided by obstetricians or midwives, who are specialised in managing the care of the pending mother and unborn baby. These services can be very expensive within Australia. As soon as you know you are pregnant, contact us immediately so we can assist you in receiving 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 OSHC 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*
• When to add your baby to your 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. You 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 Overseas Student.
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.
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 on items such as pregnancy when you haven't served the 12-month waiting period, you'll need to be aware that you'll incur 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 OSHC policy.
In all instances, you'll need to let us know about your pregnancy by calling us on 1300 174 538 as soon as possible so we can help you find lower cost options and pre-natal programs that suit your needs.
If you have 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 are 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.
Your baby will not have to serve any waiting periods served by you provided you inform us of your pregnancy or birth and you upgrade to a family or sole parent policy one month prior to birth. However, we recommend upgrading your OSHC policy three months before the expected birth date in case your baby decides to arrive early. If you do not upgrade your policy to include your child one month prior to birth, your child will need to serve a two-month waiting period before they are eligible for benefits.
Contacting us early in your pregnancy means you can access helpful information to navigate care for you and your baby. Also, we’ll let you know if you must serve any waiting periods before you’re eligible for benefits for pregnancy-related services, including birthing.
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.
