A waiting period is a stretch of time, counted from the start of your health policy, during which certain claims are not payable. Waiting periods are one of the most common reasons a genuine claim is declined, so they deserve attention before you buy.
Common types
- Initial waiting period — a short period at the start of a new policy during which only accidental emergencies are usually covered.
- Specific illness waiting period — applied to listed conditions and procedures such as hernia, cataract or joint replacement.
- Pre-existing disease waiting period — applied to conditions you already had when the policy began.
- Maternity waiting period — where maternity benefits are offered at all.
Practical points
- Waiting periods generally restart if the policy lapses, so renew on time.
- Continuity of waiting periods may be preserved when you port a policy — check the conditions.
- Declare your medical history accurately; non-disclosure is a separate and more serious problem.
The exact durations and the list of conditions differ from insurer to insurer and from plan to plan.