Maternity Packages: Raffles VS Polyclinic

I dont know whether im the dumb one or is it the CPF board's website that is not clear enough or is the Raffles Medical staff still clinging to old information?



I have been dying to know how much can we claim for Pre-delivery check ups under MediSave. For overseas friends, MediSave is sort of like a govt medical scheme where u and ur employer contribute a certain % of ur monthly salary to a pension fund that is divided into 3 categories, one of them being this MediSave.



So Anyway, yesterday i visited Raffles Women Centre at Causeway Point to ask what is their package like. its in the range of between $2,000 - $2,600. At that time, i had no benchmark to compare it with. But these are why i like their services:

1. SUPER NEAR and convenient


2. professional


3. one doctor at CW and 9 others at the hospital


4. i'd give birth at Raffles Hospital!! SUPER SHIOK (Great/nice) ok


5. the package includes supplements like Folic acids, Calcium and multi vitamins that i would certainly need


6. Also included are urine tests and 3 ultrasounds.

A call to CPF hotline says that i can claim up to $900 is its a normal delivery ie not C-sect. This conclusion was only reached after 10min on the phone! GRRR Even then Viloh or whatever her name was couldn't advise me what actually Medisave Maternity Package. I asked whether its the packages i can find at clinics or should i sign up with CPF themselves? Either im too thick to get her explaination right or she wasnt clear about it herself because she kept putting me on hold to check with her colleagues.

To verify the information as i perceived it, i called Raffles Womens Center. And SHE said that i could only claim up to $450. Now why is that so? ok The table from CPF website here did indicate its $450 but under the Package is $900. So which is which now???

Arghhh i just hope that they will announce a better, confusion-free package next month!

Now is the time to explore other alternatives. Sidek Clinic at Simei is offering a $450 package. Just nice to claim the medisave. But of course they:

1. are very far

2. dont include blood tests, medicine, CTG (whatever that is).

In any case, i wont be comfortable with a Muslim MALE Doctor as i imagine they have just the one.

A check with another friend said that Thomson Medical has a $350 package! Ok and im just researching now. Their hospital looks nice on the inside and they offer lotsa maternity lessons. It is also convenient to go from work or to get home from there. Hmmm should ask more in detail for this one lah.

But ultimately, yesterday, as planned, Zubair and i went to the polyclinic nearby to get myself checked.

To cut the story short, after 2hours + 1hr lunch of waiting, we are certified 6 weeks pregnant. i know i use the term WE. LOL. Of course the father should be as involved as the mother. I hafta add that me and Z had a lovely laughable time. We actually talked and teased each other. haha

The total bill for this first visit is just.............. $13.50!!!

Consultation $9 (that's $1 more than usual)

Folic Acid 1 month's supply @ $1.50!!!! (From Guardian Pharmacy like $10+)

Lab test @ $3

Zubair did the sweetest thing. He paid for the bill! He said, "I dont feel good lah if even for baby you hafta pay. I'm the father what." I can tell you i was melting then. Funny how u can still melt even when u've been married for sometime.

So that was what made me to decide i shall continue going to the Polyclinic.

PROS:

1. CHEAP

2. Pay as u visit and not lump sum as other clinics would have u do.

CONS:

1. No Air Con, just Fan. But at least since the renovation, the Fan is SUPER POWERFUL. So kinda make it up for it, really

2. Doctor rushed thru ur appt.

Really. All she did was ordered a urine test to be done. Asked my first day of last period and calculated that its 6 weeks. Granted, she said that its still much too early to do any other check up or even to see my abdomen... but she could have given me some advices, no? I had to do the questionings which im glad to anyways. But what if i didnt know WHAT to ask since im so blur about this topic? It doesnt help that she seemed very young and inexperienced, although very nice and gentle.

Polyclinic is actually ideal for subsequent babies and you're already an experienced mum. But its ok most of my ex colleague went to poly even for their first ones, so i can go thru it too.