Before your baby arrives checklist

During pregnancy, Medicare may help pay for tests and scans. Find out about Medicare services for pregnancy and birth on the Services Australia website.

Claim your Medicare benefit

You can claim Medicare benefits at the doctor’s or in your Medicare online account through myGov. If your Medicare account is linked to myGov, sign in to claim your Medicare benefit.

If you don’t have a myGov account, find out how to create one and link to Medicare.

Find out more about claiming your Medicare benefit through myGov.

Get higher benefits through Medicare Safety Nets

If you have high medical costs during pregnancy, you might get higher Medicare benefits through Medicare Safety Nets.

You can register as a family to combine your costs if you’re part of a family or couple. Find out how to register your family on the Services Australia website.

If you chose to give birth in a public hospital, Medicare may cover some of your pregnancy care and birth costs.

If you have private health insurance, some costs may also be covered if you choose to give birth in a private hospital.

Your hospital may also offer pregnancy education classes to help you prepare for birth.

Find out more about pregnancy care and birth in public hospitals and private hospitals on the Raising Children website.

Find a public hospital

You can find out about antenatal care in public hospitals close to you on your state or territory website. These links will take you away from myGov.

• ACT – Canberra maternity options
• NSW – Search for hospitals near you and services they offer
• NT – Pregnancy, birthing and child health
• Qld – Birthing centres and midwives
• SA – Pregnancy services
• Tas – Pregnancy
• Vic – Pregnancy and birth care options
• WA – Which public maternity hospital in Perth will I be referred to?

When you’re pregnant, you can get the influenza and whooping cough (pertussis) vaccines free through the National Immunisation Program.

Find out about immunisation for pregnancy on the Department of Health and Aged Care website.

You may be eligible for a family payment from Services Australia to help with the cost of raising children.

You can start your claim for Parental Leave Pay or Family Tax Benefit 3 months before your baby is due.

If you’re adopting there are a range of payments and services to help you care for your child. Find out more about adopting a child on the Services Australia website.

You’ll need to tell your employer that you’re having a baby at least 10 weeks before the baby's due date.

If you take time off work when you have your baby, you may get a payment from Services Australia. Parental Leave Pay is a payment to help you care for a newborn.

If you apply for Parental Leave Pay, you’ll need to tell your employer. They may need to pay your Parental Leave Pay with your normal pay cycle.

Find out more about your rights at work and parental leave on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.

If you need child care for your baby, you can find child care services on the StartingBlocks website. There may be long waiting lists for child care services in your area, so it’s best to plan early.

Apply for Child Care Subsidy

You may be eligible for Child Care Subsidy to help you with the cost of child care.

You need to have a specific car seat for your child to keep them safe. Check your state or territory website to find what car seat you need. These links will take you away from myGov.

• ACT – Seatbelts
• NSW – Child car seats
• NT – Child car seats
• Qld – Types of child restraints
• SA – Seatbelts and child restraints
• Tas – Child restraints
• Vic – Child car seats and restraints
• WA – Seats and seatbelts