Maternity at the Mater

No, you don’t need to have private health insurance to give birth in a private maternity hospital. Many mothers choose to be self-funded and pay the full out-of-pocket costs.

If you’re planning to be self-funded, your estimated hospital expenses must be paid on admission. Any additional costs incurred during your stay are payable on discharge.
 

In private hospitals your pregnancy will be managed by an obstetrician whereas in public it is overseen by midwives only (unless circumstances result in needing a doctor)

At the Mater Hospital, North Sydney we offer well-appointed private rooms with ensuites, room service and other services at no extra cost.

Our public hospitals offer a safe and affordable option for pregnancy care and birth. You may be lucky and get to stay in a private room but many rooms are shared. You’ll normally stay 1 or 2 days. If you have a Medicare card, most of the costs will be covered.

You can book your maternity stay as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed. Simply follow the prompts to make your booking.

For most policies, you need to have private insurance cover for 12 months before the birth of your baby, so plan ahead.

We strongly advise you to call your health insurer to find out what your plan covers regarding the costs of your prenatal care, birth and postnatal care. You should also check that your level of cover includes your baby in case they need to be admitted to the special care nursery.