This is the set amount of time you must wait before you can claim for hospital or extras on your cover.
Waiting periods apply when:
- You first join
- You re-join after some time without health insurance
- You change to a higher level of cover or one that has additional services or higher benefits on services where a waiting period applies
If you switch to us from another private health insurer, we’ll generally recognise any waiting periods you’ve already served for comparable benefits.
Check your product guide to see what waiting periods apply.
Why do health insurers have waiting periods?
Without waiting periods, people might be more likely to take out health insurance to cover specific costly treatments, then cancel the insurance soon after. If too many people did this, health insurers would have to significantly increase premiums.