Having a baby in Australia vs. America

[Travis and Meghan 24]

sorry, lol. We won't be going back. Travis loves the US so we're just going to stay here. He's a musician too so we've a far better chance at making a living here than we would in Australia. He's determined that music will be our career, lol

Edited December 2, 2011 by Travis and Meghan

[SDuke 3]

Whoa! May I ask who your insurer is? Those are excellent prices.

My husband is with Blue cross Blue Shield - he is also on a New England plan - Massachusetts is notorious for high insurance prices. I was so worried about the health insurance over in the US - you hear so many horror stories - but, his coverage seems to be really good. It does cost more than the plan I was on here in Australia, but I get better coverage which is surprising. Im grateful my husband has it through work, because to buy the plan through the company alone was about $500 a month - but again that's Massachusetts, and they are just ridiculous about everything!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

My husband is with Blue cross Blue Shield - he is also on a New England plan - Massachusetts is notorious for high insurance prices. I was so worried about the health insurance over in the US - you hear so many horror stories - but, his coverage seems to be really good. It does cost more than the plan I was on here in Australia, but I get better coverage which is surprising. Im grateful my husband has it through work, because to buy the plan through the company alone was about $500 a month - but again that's Massachusetts, and they are just ridiculous about everything!

Agreed that BCBS is awesome. We were on Michigan.. le sigh.

[Deb+Steve 13]

I had my baby 6 months ago and I was scared $hitele$$. But I worried for nothing. I received excellent perinatal care (high risk pregnancy) and post-natal care. I understand about the insurance issue but I did consider flying home in my second trimester. The baby bonus is not worth it to me and like Vanessa said, there are residency requirements that still need to be met. They know the day you fly out etc.

The only thing that we are bummed about is having to file the citizenship by descent paperwork for him. Best of luck.

[noremac 3]

Is there anyway to claim the baby bonus stuff if your child will be born in the USA.?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Is there anyway to claim the baby bonus stuff if your child will be born in the USA.?

Have a look at the links I posted before. I don't believe so no (I would LOVE if we could but it doesn't look like it's possible).

[SDuke 3]

Have a look at the links I posted before. I don't believe so no (I would LOVE if we could but it doesn't look like it's possible).

I love how our government works. We cant access our super once we leave the country because we are Australian citizens and might come back here, yet we arent eligible for the baby bonus. Crazy.

[Amanda and Josh 12]

We are with Blue Cross also (we are already registered even though we haven't arrived yet). I was curious about the whole medicare thing also from having fertility treatment. it would be cheaper to fly to Australia and have a round of IVF, even without medicare than it would be to do it in the states. Naturally if I could still get medicare it would be heaps cheaper. I also will be still getting paid from work for the first year that I am away, does that mean I can still claim on my medicare during that year seeing as I am paying for it?

[SDuke 3]

We are with Blue Cross also (we are already registered even though we haven't arrived yet). I was curious about the whole medicare thing also from having fertility treatment. it would be cheaper to fly to Australia and have a round of IVF, even without medicare than it would be to do it in the states. Naturally if I could still get medicare it would be heaps cheaper. I also will be still getting paid from work for the first year that I am away, does that mean I can still claim on my medicare during that year seeing as I am paying for it?

Depends where you live in the US - these states Arkansas, Illinois, Montana, Rhode Island, California, Louisiana, New Jersey, Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, New York, West Virginia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio

mandate that IVF be covered by insurance, and the level of cover depends on your insurer, but Blue Cross have very good levels of coverage, again also depending on the plan you have.

[Amanda and Josh 12]

Blue cross doesn't cover IVF at all and we will be in Ohio also. I have the charter here and it is very specific about it :-(

[SDuke 3]

Blue cross doesn't cover IVF at all and we will be in Ohio also. I have the charter here and it is very specific about it :-(

That's weird - You would think that they would, even at least cover part of it? Im in Massachusetts and our plan covers everything but the co-pays and something else that i cant remember- up to $25,000 a year - and that's because I have a diagnosable condition. Can you switch plans at all?

[Amanda and Josh 12]

That's weird - You would think that they would, even at least cover part of it? Im in Massachusetts and our plan covers everything but the co-pays and something else that i cant remember- up to $25,000 a year - and that's because I have a diagnosable condition. Can you switch plans at all?

No we were just added during open season and it is the best plan for our family as my daughter has cystic fibrosis and they cover pre exsisting stuff. None of the other plans on offer through the government that we looked at covered it either. I could always use the excuse to come home and hang with my bestie anyhoo :-)

[milopnkr 0]

I thought they are getting rid of baby bonus???

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I thought they are getting rid of baby bonus???

I haven't read that. I have read that they've restructured it. You no longer get a "lump sum". It's structured over several weeks.

[Amanda and Josh 12]

you can now either get the baby bonus paid as fortnightly payments as an extra on your family tax benefit or your can get it as paid maternity leave for 18 weeks. you can get the baby bonus paid if you are out of the country for 13 weeks but only if you meet the residency requirements (if you have just left while pregnant and have a return ticket you may be able to swing this one), but it takes quite a while to sort out.