Cost per month
Waiting Periods
Waiting periods refer to the amount of time you’ll need to wait before you can begin claiming on your health insurance policy.
You will only have to serve a waiting period when you first take out a private health insurance policy, have held cover for less than 12 months, or increased your level of cover.
When you transfer from one fund to another at the same level of cover there are no new waiting periods although the balance of any waiting periods not yet completed will most likely need to be served.
The following information is provided as a general guide only and may include reference to waiting periods for services not covered by your particular policy. You should ask your Health Insurance Comparison adviser about waiting periods for specific benefits.
The government sets the maximum waiting periods that funds can impose for hospital treatment:
- 12 months for pre-existing conditions
- 12 months for pregnancy
- 2 months for psychiatric care, rehabilitation or palliative care, even for a pre-existing condition
- 0-1 day for accidents (depending on your fund)
- 2 months in all other circumstances
People who are new to Extras cover or who upgrade their cover may need to serve waiting periods. The standard waiting period for most Extras services is usually 2 months. For some services, like glasses, contact lenses, major dental, orthodontics and hearing aids, the waiting period can range between 6 - 24 months. For your convenience, your quote includes information about waiting periods for each service.
In most cases, you will have waiting periods (including 12 months for pre-existing conditions and pregnancy) on those services that are included on the new cover but weren't on the old policy. For example if you add pregnancy to the cover, you will need to wait 12 months to claim on pregnancy, but all other services that were on the old cover can be claimed immediately providing you have already fully served the waiting period for those services.
Any time spent with the old fund with be recognised by the new fund, and the time spent with the old fund will be deducted from the waiting periods that would otherwise apply. For example, if you held the old cover for 9 months, you'd only need to wait the remaining 3 months for pre-existing conditions when you switch to an equivalent cover.
When you reduce your hospital excess you will need to serve waiting periods before your new lower hospital excess can apply
The waiting periods will be:- 12 months for pre-existing conditions
- 12 months for pregnancy
- 2 months for psychiatric care, rehabilitation or palliative care, even for a pre-existing condition
- 0-1 day for accidents (depending on your fund)
- 2 months in all other circumstances
If you have used part or all of your annual benefits with your previous health fund, your new fund will adjust your benefit limit accordingly. For example, if your annual benefit for optical is $200 and you have claimed $150 with your previous health insurer, this claimed amount will be carried across to your new fund. Annual limits are reset on either 1 January or 1 July each year. Please check with your Health Insurance Comparison Consultant when your new fund resets annual Extras limits.
*All prices shown assume no LHC (Lifetime Health Cover) loadings, your selected or default rebate tier, any age-based discounts, and any potential savings from direct debit payment (click here for individual insurer discount/surcharges)
This quote contains important information relating to this policy which you should read and retain. All premiums quoted are subject to variation and/or rounding. A slight variation may be expected. Please contact us on 1300 163 402 or email us at complaints@healthinsurancecomparison.com.au if you require any further information. If you change your mind and choose to cancel within 30 days, you can receive a full refund on your hospital and/or extras premiums if you haven't made a claim. Health Insurance Comparison prides itself on high quality customer service, but in the event that you need to make a complaint, please read the following complaints & dispute resolution information. For information regarding the complaint resolution process for the funds that Health Insurance Comparison represents, please visit: AHM, Australian Unity, HCF, GMHBA, NIB, Peoplecare, Bupa.