Maternity Insurance

[joannek]

i didn't join the well baby clinic of matilda. i just called them when i had problems cos when i left the hospital, the nurse told me to call if i have any problem with my new baby.

anyway, i'm sure adventist is also a very good hospital. they even have a jacuzzi in the birth room.

but sth i don't know, when u check in at adventist, do they let you stay in the birth room already, or you wait in your own rm until your final labor to go into the birth room? at matilda, i check into the birth room upon arrival before they even checked how far i was dilated.

my friend also told me that there was no tv in the canossa birth rm. she thought she was gonna watch tv while she waited for her baby to arrive (she was on epidural) so she didn't prepare anything to entertain herself during those several hrs. (and her husband wouldn't go in with her to wait) so she was just lying there doing nothing for several hours. i don't know about adventist (i think they have a tv)? at matilda, they have tv, cable, dvd players in the birth rm, although i didn't use any of those (i brought my own cd player to play hypnobirth music to help me relax).

one more thing, i don't know about the other hospitals. my mid wife stayed with me throughout while i was waiting to be fully dilated (maybe i was in during off peak hrs? that's why she had the time to stay w/ me?), which was reassuring.

 

[rani]

Yes at Adentist they take you straight into the labor room which has TV + Cable. You're assigned a mid-wife as soon as you're admitted. Mine didn't leave my side either. She was brilliant!

 

[blessing]

Folks,

Thanks for sharing the info. Isn't this forum great!!! But anyone has experiences with Canossa? They seem to be so conveniently located compared to the other two. But none of you chose Canossa so there must be a reason.

 

[slamdunk]

My due date is the end of the year and am starting to consider my hospital options. I have insurance with William Russell and would like to know the potential cost to me (i.e. my 20% co-share) with a private hosptial.

Rani's earlier posting with breakdown of costs was very useful as we use the same insurers (pleased that 100% of paediatrician costs is covered). My insurance covers 100% cover for 'Complications of pregnancy' (up to $75k) and I wonder what constitutes a 'complication'.

Emergency CS for sure, but what about associated anaethetists/epidural costs (which also occur for normal births) and others such as forceps/vacuum delivery (separate charge incurred).

 

[rani]

Blessing,

I didn't choose the Canossa cos I heard it was a bit outdated. However they've recently renovated the maternity floor, so definitely worth taking a tour.

 

[bekyboo44]

Hi,

My husband and I are also trying to choose a hospital; our obstetrician delivers at Matilda, Adventist and Canossa. I asked him for his opinions on all three and he recomended the Matilda and Canossa, based on the quality of their nursing staff. He was pretty adament that the Matilda and Canossa had the best nurses, he seemed very wary of those at the Adventist. But this is just his opinion.
Our obstetrician reccomended the Canossa because we live in DB and the Canossa is a lot closer to the ferry pier than the Matilda and a lot more accessible- but I want the Matilda!
Prices of all three hospitals are very similar, there is at most a few thousand dollars difference between them; our obstetricians fees are the same regardless of the hospital.

 

[Belly]

When should i get the maternity insurance ?

I am quite confused about the maternity insurance. They usually have a waiting period for 10-12 months. So, when should I get it though? Before pregnancy or during?

As the insurance only cover for 12 months, it usually takes longer than one year to trying a baby till deliver. How does it work out? Do you need to buy two years insurance to cover the cost?

thanks!

:bighug

 

[Buckeroo]

Gave birth at the Adventist. Had pretty much the same experience as Rani. The nursing staff were great --very helpful and supportive! Did not need to be assertive about b'feeding --they were, in fact, very encouraging. They cup-fed (no bottle) my LO the first night when my milk wasn't in yet... Showed us how to bathe baby more than once until we felt comfortable enough to do it ourselves (and actually showed the nurse while she watched and gave pointers). Dad CAN go into the nursery, even on his own --without mom! Booked a semi-private room, but had the room all to myself the whole 5 days I was there. :groupwave:

 

[undecided]

This is an older thread, but it was great to read it. I'm shocked at the prices!

I was at Matilda for something else and out of curiosity I asked about the prices. Compared to Rani's breakdown they seem a lot more... the Private Room at HKD35K (as compared to 27K) and epidural HKD4,500.

Rani what's the difference between the epidural and the anesthetist epidural?

I have BUPA and we're capped at about HKD70K/year. I thought this would be more than enough, but it does not seem so! And I don't know if they cover pediatric care...

Matilda seems to be really pretty and easier to reach from the South side. I have not visited the Adventist, but would really avoid the Canossa, as earlier in the year they admitted mishandling a friend, who passed away of heart attack there. I know that there is nothing to do with the maternity, but I would not trust them.

 

[bekyboo44]

I think the best thing to do is to actually go and visit the hospitals- and take a tour. We recently visited the Canossa and Matilda and found the visits really useful- you get to talk to the nurses and midwives, you get a feel for the hospital, the rooms, the nursery etc.

I wasn't keen on the Canossa after our visit- for example they only let the baby room with you if you have a private room (our insurance covers everything but only if I have a semi private room), whereas at the Matilda the baby automatically rooms with the Mother, regardless of wether you are in a private room, semi private room or ward room. I really want the option of having the baby be with me.

Also while the nurse at the Canossa said she they were supportive of breastfeeding she also said they would feed the baby if the Mother was too tired- some Mums might appreciate this, but I don't want them feeding my baby, and I got the impression that if they decided I was too tired to feed our baby then they wouldn't wake me.

However at the Matilda, they will not feed your baby, they made it very clear that they have nothing with which to feed the baby, and as someone who believes very strongly in breastfeeding this was great for me.

Also at Matilda each room (regardless of what kind) has chairs for breastfeeding; at the Canossa I was told I would have to breastfeed in the nursery, even at 3 in the morning!

So in terms of what's important to me, the Matilda came out as the forerunner, we have yet to make an appointment with the Adventist to visit. But visiting the hospitals makes it much easier to choose!