Pregnancy care

Choosing private or public care

If you choose a private obstetrician and hospital for pregnancy and birth, you can pay yourself or use private health insurance.

Ask your private health insurer what your policy covers. Find out more about private health insurance and pregnancy on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

If you choose the public health system for your pregnancy and birth, Medicare covers some of the costs.

Medicare during pregnancy

During pregnancy, you may get tests and scans to check your health and the baby’s health and development. Medicare may help pay for things like:

• visiting a doctor
• routine pregnancy tests, like ultrasounds and blood tests
• care from midwives and obstetricians
• your stay as a public patient in a public hospital
• some immunisations
• pregnancy counselling.

You can claim Medicare benefits at the doctor’s office or your service could be bulk billed. If it’s bulk billed, you won’t have to pay anything.

Find out more

Find out about Medicare and pregnancy, claiming and when to get check ups. Some of these links will take you away from myGov.

Higher Medicare benefits

You may have higher medical costs during pregnancy. Medicare Safety Nets help to lower your out of pocket costs.

Medicare Safety Nets are calculated each calendar year. You’ll automatically get more money back if you spend over a certain amount.

If you’re part of a family or couple, you can combine your costs by registering as a family. This means you could reach the Medicare Safety Nets threshold sooner.

Find out more about Medicare Safety Nets, including how to register as a family or couple and check your balance.

Pregnancy care if you’re visiting Australia

If you’re pregnant while visiting Australia or on a visa, the cost of health care will change depending on your status.

Find out what to expect for pregnancy care on a visa on the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website.

Help in your language

You can find Medicare information in your language on the Services Australia website.

You can find the number to call the Medicare program line on the Services Australia website. Let them know if you need an interpreter and they’ll arrange one for free.