Which HIF policies cover pregnancy and birth related services?
Private health insurance for pregnancy is provided on Gold Tier Hospital Cover, which includes comprehensive pregnancy cover and support for birth-related services, so you’re prepared every step of the way. For more information get in touch with the HIF team at 1300 134 060.
Insurance that’s worth the wait
If you’re taking out pregnancy health insurance for the first time, the waiting period for all pregnancy and birth related services is 12 months.
This means you’ll need to have held private health insurance for pregnancy for 12 months prior to your delivery date. Planning and taking out Private Hospital Insurance as early as possible helps ensure you’ve already served your hospital waiting periods well before your new bub arrives.
If you choose to switch to HIF from an equivalent or higher level of Hospital Cover with another insurer, you can rest easy in the knowledge that we’ll automatically honour your previous policy. That means that you won’t have to re-serve any hospital waiting periods already served with your old fund, including pregnancy health insurance.
Please note that continuity in cover will not be offered if the financial date paid to with the previous health insurer is greater than 2 months from the commencement date with HIF.
Access-what Cover?
Access Gap Cover is our medical gap cover arrangement, designed to minimise or eliminate your out-of-pocket expenses for pregnancy health insurance and other medical services when you’re an inpatient in a registered hospital or day facility.
Some doctors - including your chosen obstetrician - may charge more than the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), leaving patients who don’t use an Access Gap doctor, obstetrician or specialist, with (sometimes significant) out-of-pocket expenses for the difference between the fee charged and the MBS, which may be significant in some cases when using pregnancy health insurance.
The good news is that Access Gap arrangement is designed to minimise or eliminate these out of pocket expenses for medical services whilst an in-patient in a registered overnight hospital or day facility. Australian doctors can nominate to opt in or out of the Access Gap on a per-patient basis though, which is why we always recommend that our members request an itemised medical estimate prior to undergoing treatment using pregnancy health insurance.
Useful tip: If you hold private hospital cover, it’s always advisable to ask EACH doctor, obstetrician or specialist if they will treat you under the Access Gap arrangement in order to reduce or eliminate any potential medical gaps. To search for a list of registered participating specialists, please visit our Access Gap Specialists page.
What to expect once you're expecting with HIF pregnancy health insurance
Once you're expecting (hooray!) your pregnancy health insurance through HIF gives you the flexibility to choose your preferred hospital, obstetrician, and other specialists. Some obstetricians will only deliver at certain hospitals and will usually book your hospital stay for you.
To make the most of your private health insurance for pregnancy, it’s best to book early so you have a better chance of getting into the hospital that you and your obstetrician choose. While every pregnancy journey is unique, here are some commonly asked questions about maternity stays and pregnancy cover with HIF.
Understanding these steps early can help you feel more confident about your choices and make the most of your pregnancy health insurance with HIF.
What does my hospital stay involve in pregnancy cover?
Depending on your level of cover, you'll enjoy private room accommodation in an HIF-contracted hospital1. Even better, your partner may be able to stay with you in hospital as a boarder at no extra cost too, adding extra comfort to your pregnancy cover experience.
Will I incur any extra expenses?
Your private hospital insurance only pays benefits for services provided while you’re admitted to hospital as an inpatient. But don't worry, you can claim any outpatient medical services (such as GP visits, specialist consultations, confinement fee and obstetrician’s check-ups) from Medicare. You will need to pay your hospital excess though, plus any personal expenses like additional meals for your partner or any other expenses not covered by our agreement with the hospital (including drugs issued on discharge).
While your pregnancy insurance offers broad protection, it’s helpful to understand what’s included in your pregnancy cover and plan accordingly. HIF members have 24/7 access to check their membership details & view their product factsheet when they log in to our Online Member Centre or the HIF Mobile App. To get the best understanding, we recommend HIF members read their product factsheet in combination with our health cover guide.
Taking a few moments to review these details can help you better understand how your pregnancy health insurance works and avoid unexpected costs along the way.
What happens if my baby needs hospital treatment?
If your newborn requires a medical procedure or a visit to the special care nursery, they’ll be covered for things like accommodation, intensive care, ward and theatre fees as long as you’ve already served your waiting periods and your newborn is added to your HIF membership. As part of your pregnancy health insurance, it's important to update your policy as soon as you can once your new bundle of joy arrives, as this allows them to be covered from birth and inherit your waiting period status.
Please note, if you are still serving your waiting periods, the newborn will be required to serve the same waiting periods that you have to serve. Waiting periods already served by you will be waived for the newborn.
When should I add my baby to my policy?
If you hold a single or couples membership, you have two months from your baby’s date of birth to add them to your policy. If you add them after two months, they’ll have to serve waiting periods. If you hold a single parent or family membership, you have four years from your baby’s date of birth to add them to your policy. If you add them after four years, they’ll have to serve waiting periods. There’s also no limit to the number of kids you can add to a single parent or family policy, which can be helpful when planning with pregnancy health insurance.
To add your baby to your membership, simply complete a Variation Form and email it to hello@hif.com.au or call us on 1300 134 060. A letter will be sent to your preferred method of communication to confirm when this request has been actioned.
FAQs about Pregnancy Health Insurance
Pregnancy health insurance helps cover hospital costs related to pregnancy and birth when you’re admitted as an inpatient. With HIF, pregnancy health insurance is included under eligible hospital cover and supports services associated with pregnancy and delivery in a private hospital.
Most private health insurance for pregnancy includes a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy and birth-related services. This means it’s important to take out cover well before your due date so waiting periods are served in time.
Private health insurance pregnancy cover generally includes hospital accommodation, theatre fees and eligible medical services when you’re admitted for birth. What’s included can vary depending on your level of cover and the hospital you choose.
You can switch pregnancy private health insurance providers if you already hold an equivalent or higher level of hospital cover. In many cases, waiting periods already served may be honoured, provided there’s no significant break in cover.
Health insurance for pregnancy can extend to your newborn once they’re added to your policy within the required timeframe. Adding your baby early allows them to inherit your waiting period status from birth.
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