The cost of a caesarean section is estimated at $US10,500 ($A14,086) in Australia, only $US5,000 ($A6,708) cheaper than in the US, figures compiled by The Lancet show. A vaginal birth in Australia costs $US6,775 ($A9,089), while in the US it is $US10,232 ($A13,726).
Medicare covers all births but public hospitals won't perform a C-section unless it is medically necessary. That means it is essentially not covered and you'll have to use the private system. Not all private hospitals will agree to perform an unnecessary C-section, but you may find one that does.
About 3 out of every 5 caesarean births in Australia are planned (elective). Sometimes health problems or pregnancy complications mean that a caesarean birth would be safer than a vaginal birth.
In Australia, pregnancy care in a public hospital or birth centre is free because it is covered by Medicare, which covers Australian citizens and some visitors to Australia.
The average cost of a C-section in the United States without any complications is $22,646. (This cost does not include what insurance covers. Please consult your insurance plan for what you would pay out-of-pocket.)
In the U.S., the average cost of a vaginal birth is $13,024, including standard predelivery and postdelivery expenses such as facility fees and doctor fees. A cesarean section (C-section) is much more expensive, costing an average of $22,646 including standard predelivery and postdelivery expenses.
Several Factors Explain Variation in the Cost of Childbirth
Because C-sections are a more intensive surgical procedure, they are typically associated with longer, more expensive admissions.
C-sections tend to cost significantly more than vaginal births, and each type of intervention, from induction to epidural, comes with its own separate charge. Hospitals also generally charge for room and board, more for each additional day at the hospital.
By cesarean section: You can receive benefits up to four weeks before your expected delivery date, and up to eight weeks after your delivery.
The average hospital stay after a C-section is 2 to 4 days, and keep in mind recovery often takes longer than it would from a vaginal birth. Walking after the C-section is important to speed recovery and pain medication may be supplied too as recovery takes place.
Medicare can cover all or part of the health care costs of having a baby, including: your doctor or GP fees. ultrasounds and blood tests. midwife and obstetric fees.
Newborn Upfront Payment – a lump sum payment per child. Newborn Supplement – up to 13 weeks per child. Parental Leave Pay – up to 18 weeks while you take time off work to care for your newborn baby. Dad and Partner Pay – up to 2 weeks to care for a newborn baby.
Public hospitals: As most of your costs (such as visits to midwives or obstetricians as well as the actual birth) are covered by Medicare, you'll typically only expect up to $1,500 of out-of-pocket expenses.
The obstetrician should consider the risks of vaginal birth and the likelihood of an emergency c-section. The hospital can only refuse to offer you a c-section if it has balanced all the factors and can show that there are good reasons for refusing and the effect on you is not disproportionate.
Asking for a caesarean
Some women choose to have a caesarean for non-medical reasons. If you ask your midwife or doctor for a caesarean when there are not medical reasons, they'll explain the overall benefits and risks of a caesarean to you and your baby compared with a vaginal birth.
Can I be forced to have a caesarean? Your right to refuse a c-section is protected by law. This means that even if your decision will probably result in the death of you or your baby, you are legally entitled to refuse the advised treatment, as long as you are deemed 'competent' or fit to make that choice.
As mentioned above, the Medicare Part B deductible is $226 per year in 2023. Medigap Plan C covers 100 percent of the Medicare Part B deductible.
How much does a CPAP machine cost with Medicare? You will pay a 20 percent coinsurance based on the Medicare-approved amount for a CPAP machine. Medicare Part B covers the other 80 percent of the cost.
Once you have met your Medicare Part B deductible, Medicare will usually pay 80% of the cost of prenatal and post-partum (after birth) medical care. You will typically pay 20% of the Medicare approved amount for these services. Medicare does not cover your infant after delivery.
Private: If you have private health insurance, the cost of a birth at a private hospital can range between $2,500-$20,000. If you don't have private health insurance but still want to give birth in a private hospital, the cost jumps to anywhere from $9,000-$30,000.
In 2020, 37% of all women giving birth in Australia had a caesarean section (AIHW 2022). The increasing rates of caesarean sections may be influenced by several maternal and clinical factors and medico legal concerns, however, the reasons for the steep rise remain unexplained.
In some situations, a C-section is not only preferable but mandatory—situations involving conditions like placenta previa, in which going into labor would precipitate life-threatening hemorrhaging, or cord prolapse, which can cause the death of a baby if a C-section is not performed in a manner of minutes.