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Health insurance with no waiting period

Hospital policies always have a minimum 2-month waiting period – some won't let you claim for 12 months. However, some extras policies let you claim right away.

What you need to know

  • You cannot waive waiting periods for hospital treatment, but you can transfer if you switch funds.
  • You will need to serve a 2- month waiting period for most hospital treatment and longer if it is a pre-existing condition.
  • Only extras policies will let you skip waiting periods for out-of-hospital care such as dental.

Can I get health insurance with no waiting period?

No waiting period hospital

No for hospital

You can't skip waiting periods for hospital treatment in a private hospital. You will always need to have hospital insurance for at least 2 months before you can claim or 12 months if you need treatment for a pre-existing condition.

No waiting period extras

Yes for extras

Some extras insurance policies let you skip waiting periods for general dental, optical, physio and more. Remember, extras refers to out-of-hospital treatment only.

Can I get hospital insurance with no waiting period?

Hospital insurance always has a waiting period of at least 2 months. This is the same for all insurers. They need to adhere to the guidelines set out by the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman. the only exception to this is when you're switching funds - served waiting periods will transfer over.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy: 12 months

All childbirth and pregnancy services come with a 12-month waiting period before you can claim on health insurance.

Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions: 12 months

You will need to wait 12 months if the medical issue you need treatment for is considered a pre-existing condition. For example, if you tear a ligament, then you take out health insurance, you will need to wait 12 months for surgery. There will generally be medical records showing if you had your illness or injury before you took out insurance.

Rehabilitation

Psychiatric care, rehabilitation and palliative care: 2 months

All psychiatric care, rehabilitation or palliative care has a 2-month waiting period – even if it's considered a pre-existing condition.

Hospital

Hospital treatment: 2 months

When you take out hospital insurance, you will need to pay for cover for 2 months before you are covered. Health insurers are not allowed to waive hospital waiting periods.

private contract
Switching funds?
If you're switching to a similar level of health insurance cover, you won't have to re-serve any waiting periods for treatment you were previously covered for. For example, if both your new and previous policy covered joint reconstructions, you will be covered straight away.

Can I get extras insurance with no waiting period?

Yes. You can skip general dental waiting periods with some of ahm's policies. These are the only policies to permanently offers this benefit. We looked at all health insurance policies on the market.

All come with the following perks:

  • You get to skip 2 and 6 month waiting periods for general dental as well as optical, psychology, pharmacy and remedial massages.
  • You get up to 2 free dental checkups per year – just make sure you use one of ahm's partner dentists.
  • You also get 100% back on optical – this includes frames, prescription lenses and contact lenses.

We arranged our top picks from the least to the most comprehensive.

Top pick:
Core extras
Lifestyle Extras
from $56.20 /month
Cover for 11 extras treatments
  • General Dental
  • Major Dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Hearing aids
+7 other treatments covered
Top pick:
Medium extras
Family Extras
from $60.77 /month
Cover for 13 extras treatments
  • General Dental
  • Major Dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Hearing aids
+8 other treatments covered
Top pick:
Top extras
Super Extras
from $90.85 /month
Cover for 13 extras treatments
  • General Dental
  • Major Dental
  • Optical
  • Physiotherapy
  • Hearing aids
+8 other treatments covered

Why compare health insurance with Finder?

  • We don't ask for your phone or email to see prices.

  • With 1 click, you can open your results to nearly every fund in Australia.

  • You pay the same price as going direct – we charge no fees.

Health insurance sign-up deals

You'll often see health funds offer sign-up deals that let you skip 2- and 6-month waiting periods, typically for extras only. Here is the list of all sign-up deals currently offered by Finder health insurance partners. Not every deal below offers zero waiting periods for extras, so you'll need to check the details.

1 - 2 of 2
Name Product

Get 6 weeks free + Waive 2&6 months waiting periods

Ends 31 December 2023

Join combined hospital & extras cover by 31 December 2023 for new members. T&Cs apply.


Get up to $200 cash card. PLUS 2-month waits on extras waived

Ends 31 January 2024

Offer applies for new joins on hospital and extras by 31 January. T&Cs apply.

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