DIFFERENT WAITING PERIODS IN A HEALTH INSURANCE

How Does the Waiting Period in Health Insurance Work?

• Most health insurance plans have an initial waiting period of around 30 days.
• Pre-existing diseases may have a waiting period ranging from 2 to 3 years.
• Certain specific illnesses may have separate waiting periods depending on the policy.

Can the Waiting Period Be Reduced?

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Important Things to Remember About Waiting Periods

Before purchasing a health insurance policy, you need to consider a few things, which include:

• Always check the waiting period mentioned in the policy document.
• Disclose all existing medical conditions honestly during the application process.
• Understand that pre-existing diseases may have waiting periods of up to three years, depending on the insurer.
• Compare multiple plans before making a decision.
• Look for policies that offer shorter waiting periods if immediate coverage is important to you.
• Choose coverage based on your healthcare needs and budget rather than the premium alone.
• Buying health insurance early in life can help you complete waiting periods before major health issues arise.

Different Types of Waiting Periods in Health Insurance

The waiting period in a health insurance policy is mentioned to address the waiting time for a particular type of claim covered in your policy. Here are some commonly incurred waiting periods that can be observed in most health insurance policies:

1. Initial Waiting Period In Health Insurance

The initial waiting period in health insurance is the first waiting period which is considered after the activation date of a particular policy. In this period, you will not be able to claim any health insurance policy benefit at all. Generally, the initial waiting period in health insurance is about 30 days long, which also gives you some time to change or cancel your policy.

2. Pre-Existing Disease Waiting Period

Whenever you opt-in for a health insurance policy, you will either have to go through a full-body medical test, or you need to provide detailed information about your and your family's past medical history. Any medical condition that is diagnosed within the last 48 months up to this point will be considered a pre-existing disease.

The pre-existing disease waiting period is the time period for which you will not be able to claim any benefit from the insurance company regarding the diseases or illness that fall into the pre-existing category. The time period for pre-existing diseases might be as long as 3 to 4 years, depending upon the type of policy.

3. Maternity Benefits Waiting Period

Most health insurance companies are offering maternity cover in individual as well as family health insurance plans. It is a preferable option if you are planning to start a family in the near future. There are a lot of expenses that arise at the time of childbirth and later on. Hence, it is better to be prepared.

In most cases, you will be able to claim the maternity benefits within 3 to 4 years after buying a policy. A few companies offer maternity benefits within 2 years of the policy period, which is great.

4. Accidental Claim Waiting Period

Most health insurance policies are focused on accidental covers as these events are unexpected and might cause serious injuries and medical expenses. Thus, accidental claims are generally free from any waiting period in most health insurance policies except the initial waiting period. You will be able to claim benefits from a health insurance policy for accidental claims even a few days after you activated the policy.

5. Waiting Period For Coronavirus (Covid-19)

A large number of audiences are seeking health insurance policies due to the outbreak of coronavirus, which causes covid-19 disease. Considering the ever-increasing numbers of cases every day, you should also opt-in for an insurance policy that offers a minimum waiting period for Covid 19.

In most cases, you will find the waiting period for Covid 19 around 30 days which is equivalent to the initial waiting period in health insurance.

How Can You Reduce The Waiting Period?

A minimum waiting period health insurance policy is always a good choice as it allows you to claim the benefits quickly. A handful of companies offer you the option to reduce the waiting period for a certain category by paying an extra premium amount. Also, the health insurance policies purchased under group health plans generally have a lower waiting period.

With such an option, you will be able to reduce, say 2 years waiting period in health insurance for a certain category up to 1 year or even less, depending upon your plan. It is also beneficial for those who wish to reduce the critical illness waiting period in their policy.

FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions