Australia’s Guide to Maternity Health Insurance: Balancing Cost, Waiting Period & Care

• byBudgetpolicy
• 2025-07-08

Pregnancy is a very special phase. However, before transitioning into this beautiful phase, you must consider and plan for a lot of things. One of these things is working out the cost you’ll incur throughout this journey. 
In Australia, locals do have access to Medicare to manage pregnancy costs. However, if you are looking for specific services and a private hospital birth, Medicare won’t be of much help. Contrary to this, if you are not a local but are temporarily staying in Australia as a student or a visitor, Medicare does not apply. This means that without proper planning or coverage, you’ll have to shoulder Australia’s expensive healthcare costs on your own. This is why health coverage is usually mandated for both student and visitor visas. 

While for students, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is not a choice, however, Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) is not mandated for all visitor visas. We would recommend getting one anyway.

Exploring Pregnancy Coverage on Your Existing Plan

Is my plan covering my pregnancy?
Wondering if your current health insurance covers your pregnancy? Let’s come straight to the point! Your basic OSHC or OVHC plan does not provide coverage for pregnancy. However, you can opt for a comprehensive cover instead of a basic one. All top registered providers - NIB, Bupa, Allianz Care, Medibank, AHM, and AIA - offer slightly varied options to cover pregnancy in their comprehensive plans. For instance, one provider might offer a comprehensive plan covering hospital, obstetrics, postnatal, and complications. In addition to this, emergency ambulance, repatriation, and in-patient services might also be covered, while another only offers in-patient, surgical, and obstetric services. You will therefore have to select a plan that includes all the services you are looking for. 

Common inclusions include:

Private hospital delivery
Theatre/anaesthetic fees
Caesarean/normal birth
Complications of pregnancy
Access to obstetricians
Neonatal care (some limits may apply)
You might even be able to add a few more extras if required. 

What if I already have a basic plan?
If you already have an active OSHC / OVHC, most providers will allow you to upgrade to a comprehensive cover, add extras, and modify your plan. On doing so, you would be liable to pay higher premiums that align with your new cover.
Getting a cover in your budget

A health cover indeed helps you manage large sums of medical costs without punching a hole in your pocket. But, it is important to know what the range of the plan you are looking to buy is. You can thereafter assess your requirements and set your budget accordingly. Usually, an OSHC or OVHC with a pregnancy cover costs around $300-450 per month. The cost depends on the type of your plan and the services covered. 

As much as being mindful of the budget and balancing costs is necessary, it is equally important that your plan efficiently covers all your requirements. Also, keep in mind that the cheapest option is not always the best. The best way to find the right policy is to compare similar plans from various providers on budget policy. After you fill in some details, you will get detailed quotes from top providers. You’ll be able to compare the covered services and prices. This significantly helps you choose the right option.

Waiting Period 
All pregnancy covers have a mandatory 12-month waiting period. This means that you need to have an active pregnancy cover or an upgraded OSHC or OVHC that includes pregnancy for at least 12 months before you can avail of its services. It is therefore advised to get a cover at least three months before you start planning your family. 

If you are wondering whether special cases like premature delivery are exempt from this waiting period, you must know that they aren’t. Such emergencies are unforeseen.  Therefore, you need to pre-plan accordingly. 

To Sum it All
A pregnancy cover helps you manage the costs of a private hospital, obstetrics, and other birth-related services that might otherwise cost a fortune. Since Medicare is not available for students and visitors anyway, getting a health cover is the best bet. You can even choose to add extra services like therapies and massage by paying a higher premium. 
Remember, there’s a 12-month waiting period for new members or for the members who have just upgraded their policy. Therefore, plan ahead of time. You might also have to bear some outpatient services outside of the coverage. Be well prepared for that as well. 

Some providers, like NIB, might also provide partial coverage for IVF or GIFT treatments. If you need either of the two, enquire clearly. 
Lastly, use budget policy to compare plans and get the best deals on the plan you choose.