How Much Does a Private Obstetrician Cost in Melbourne? A Guide to Pregnancy & Birth Costs

If you're considering private pregnancy care, one of the first questions you may have is: how much does a private obstetrician cost in Melbourne?

It is an important question, but the answer isn't always straightforward.

The cost of having a baby privately is generally made up of several different components. Your obstetrician's fees are only one part of the overall cost. Depending on your circumstances, there may also be hospital costs, private health insurance excesses, ultrasound and pathology fees, and fees from other specialists involved in your care.

Understanding these costs early in pregnancy can make it much easier to plan your care and make informed decisions about the type of maternity care that is right for you.

How Much Does a Private Obstetrician Cost in Melbourne?

Private obstetrician fees in Melbourne vary between doctors and practices.

Rather than focusing only on the total fee, it is important to understand what is included in your obstetrician's pregnancy care package, what may attract a Medicare rebate and which services may involve separate costs.

At our East Melbourne practice, Dr Stephen Cole's Pregnancy Care Package is currently $7,995, paid in four instalments throughout your pregnancy.

The package has been designed to provide comprehensive care and support throughout pregnancy rather than simply covering individual appointments.

What's Included in Dr Stephen Cole's Pregnancy Care?

Pregnancy care with Dr Cole extends beyond routine antenatal consultations.

Your care includes regular antenatal appointments with Dr Cole and ultrasound assessment during routine visits, together with support from the wider Team Cole pregnancy-care team.

Your pregnancy care may include:

• antenatal appointments with Dr Cole throughout your pregnancy

• routine ultrasound scans during appointments

• coordination of appropriate pregnancy tests, pathology and specialist scans

• access to experienced midwifery support

• telephone support and advice during pregnancy

• urgent after-hours support when required

• preparation for labour, birth and the early postnatal period

• breastfeeding education and support

• pelvic-floor and pregnancy physiotherapy support and referral pathways

• postnatal support following the birth of your baby.

Your appointment schedule and monitoring may vary according to your individual pregnancy.

Some women require routine pregnancy care, while others may benefit from additional appointments, scans or monitoring.

As both a specialist obstetrician and Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist, Dr Cole also cares for women with high-risk and complex pregnancies, multiple pregnancies and pregnancies requiring additional fetal monitoring.

Are Ultrasounds Included in Private Obstetric Care?

One of the features of pregnancy care with Dr Cole is the ability to see your baby regularly.

Dr Cole performs ultrasound assessments during antenatal appointments where clinically appropriate, without an additional fee for these routine in-room scans.

However, some specialised pregnancy ultrasounds need to be performed by a specialist obstetric ultrasound service.

These can include detailed fetal assessments such as the 13-week and 20–21-week scans and, depending on your pregnancy, specialised assessments later in pregnancy.

External ultrasound providers set their own fees, so there may be an additional out-of-pocket cost for these services.

Does Medicare Cover Private Obstetrician Fees?

Medicare may provide rebates for eligible out-of-hospital medical services during pregnancy, including some obstetric consultations, pathology and diagnostic imaging.

However, a Medicare rebate does not necessarily cover the full fee charged by a private specialist.

The difference between the fee charged and the Medicare benefit is generally your out-of-pocket cost.

You will usually need a valid referral from your GP or another doctor to receive Medicare rebates for specialist obstetric care.

What About the Medicare Safety Net?

Pregnancy can involve a number of out-of-hospital medical appointments, tests and scans.

Eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses can contribute towards the Medicare Safety Net.

Once the applicable threshold is reached, Medicare may provide higher benefits for eligible out-of-hospital services for the remainder of that calendar year.

Because Medicare thresholds and individual circumstances can change, we recommend checking your current entitlement directly with Medicare.

Does Private Health Insurance Pay Your Obstetrician?

This is an area that understandably causes a lot of confusion.

Private health insurance and private obstetrician fees are not the same thing.

Private hospital insurance primarily relates to your treatment and accommodation when you are admitted to hospital.

Depending on your policy, your private health insurance may contribute towards costs associated with your hospital admission for labour and birth. You may still have an excess, co-payment or other out-of-pocket expenses.

Your outpatient antenatal care and pregnancy management fees are generally treated differently, with Medicare rebates applying to eligible medical services rather than your private hospital insurance simply paying your obstetrician's entire pregnancy-care fee.

Because policies vary considerably, it is important to contact your health insurer and specifically confirm that your policy includes pregnancy and birth (obstetrics).

Planning a Pregnancy? Check Your Health Insurance Early

If you are planning to have your baby privately and intend to use private hospital insurance, check your cover before becoming pregnant where possible.

Australian private health insurers can impose a waiting period of up to 12 months for pregnancy and birth services.

It is also important not to assume that having private hospital insurance automatically means you have obstetric cover.

Some lower-cost policies exclude pregnancy and birth or provide only restricted benefits.

Ask your insurer:

• Does my hospital policy include pregnancy and birth?

• Have I completed the required waiting period?

• Which private maternity hospitals are covered?

• What hospital excess will I need to pay?

• Are there any restrictions or exclusions I should know about?

• What do I need to do to ensure my baby is appropriately covered after birth?

What Other Costs Can There Be When Having a Baby Privately?

When comparing the cost of having a baby privately in Melbourne, it helps to think beyond the obstetrician's pregnancy-care fee.

Depending on your pregnancy, birth and insurance arrangements, additional costs may include:

Private Hospital Costs

Your health insurer may cover much of your hospital accommodation and treatment if you have appropriate obstetric hospital cover, although an excess or other out-of-pocket costs may apply.

Patients choosing to self-fund their private maternity care will receive hospital cost information separately.

Anaesthetist

If you have an epidural, spinal anaesthetic or caesarean birth, an anaesthetist will usually be involved in your care.

The anaesthetist is an independent specialist and will generally charge separately.

Paediatrician

A paediatrician may attend your baby's birth or provide assessment and care during your hospital stay.

These fees are separate from your obstetrician's pregnancy-care fee.

Pathology and Blood Tests

Routine and specialised blood tests may involve separate pathology charges depending on the test, provider and your Medicare eligibility.

Specialist Ultrasounds

Formal specialist pregnancy ultrasounds performed outside Dr Cole's rooms may involve separate fees.

Additional Hospital Services

Pharmacy, additional nights in hospital, some consumables or treatment for unexpected complications can potentially result in additional costs depending on your hospital and insurance arrangements.

This is why it is important to consider the overall cost of private maternity care, rather than comparing obstetricians purely on one quoted fee.

What Are You Paying for When You Choose a Private Obstetrician?

Choosing private obstetric care is about more than choosing where your baby will be born.

For many women, one of the main reasons for choosing a private obstetrician is continuity of care.

It means developing an ongoing relationship with the obstetrician responsible for managing your pregnancy and having a team who becomes familiar with you, your medical history, your pregnancy and your preferences for birth.

With Dr Cole, pregnancy care is supported by an experienced multidisciplinary team and access to specialist expertise when required.

Dr Cole is a Melbourne obstetrician and qualified Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist, with particular expertise in high-risk pregnancy, complex pregnancy, twin and multiple pregnancy and obstetric ultrasound.

Importantly, specialist expertise isn't only relevant when something is wrong.

For women experiencing a straightforward pregnancy, having access to that expertise can also provide reassurance that additional assessment and management are available if circumstances change.

Which Melbourne Private Hospitals Does Dr Stephen Cole Deliver At?

Dr Cole provides private obstetric care in Melbourne and currently works across:

• Epworth Freemasons

• Frances Perry House

• St Vincent's Private Hospital Melbourne

The right hospital for you may depend on your health, pregnancy, private health insurance, personal preferences and individual circumstances.

Team Cole can discuss your hospital options when you enquire about pregnancy care.

Can I Have Private Obstetric Care Without Private Health Insurance?

Potentially, yes.

Some families choose to self-fund private maternity care rather than use private hospital insurance.

In this situation, the hospital can provide an estimate of the expected hospital costs, while Dr Cole's professional fees and the fees of other specialists are considered separately.

If you don't have private health insurance but would still like to explore having your baby privately, speak with our team about the options available to you.

Questions to Ask When Comparing Private Obstetrician Fees

When you're researching private obstetricians in Melbourne, don't be afraid to ask exactly what you're paying for.

Useful questions include:

• What is your total pregnancy management or pregnancy-care fee?

• What antenatal appointments are included?

• Are routine ultrasound scans included?

• What midwife support is available?

• What support is available if I have concerns between appointments?

• What postnatal care is provided?

• Which services are billed separately?

• Which fees attract Medicare rebates?

• Which hospitals do you deliver at?

• What happens if my pregnancy becomes high risk?

• Who provides care if my obstetrician is unavailable?

• Are there additional fees if I need more appointments or monitoring?

Two obstetricians may quote different fees while offering very different models of pregnancy care, so comparing what is included is just as important as comparing the headline price.

Private Obstetric Care in Melbourne With Dr Stephen Cole

Choosing how and where to have your baby is a very personal decision.

Our aim is to make the financial side of private pregnancy care as clear as possible so you understand your expected fees and the care you will receive before committing to your pregnancy-care plan.

Dr Stephen Cole's current Pregnancy Care Package is $7,995, paid across four instalments during pregnancy.

Dr Cole provides private obstetric care from his rooms in East Melbourne, supported by Team Cole and an experienced pregnancy-care team.

If you are newly pregnant, planning a pregnancy or considering private obstetric care in Melbourne, you are welcome to contact our rooms to discuss appointment availability, the Pregnancy Care Package, hospital options and expected fees.

Dr Stephen Cole – Specialist Obstetrician & Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
Suite 109, Level 1
320 Victoria Parade
East Melbourne, Victoria