Waiting Period
The time you must wait after buying a policy before certain claims become payable.
The time you must wait after buying a policy before certain claims become payable.
Most health insurance policies have multiple waiting periods layered on top of each other: an initial waiting period (typically 30 days, during which no claims except accidents are paid), a waiting period for specific illnesses (like 1-2 years for conditions such as cataracts or hernia), and a longer waiting period for pre-existing conditions (typically 2-4 years).
If you switch insurers, you can usually carry forward the waiting period you've already served through portability, provided you apply for porting before your current policy expires.
Example
You buy a health policy in January with a 2-year pre-existing disease waiting period, and you already have diabetes. A diabetes-related hospitalization in March next year would likely not be covered — but one after the 2-year mark generally would be, subject to the policy's terms.
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