We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
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.
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.
No. 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.
All childbirth and pregnancy services come with a 12-month waiting period before you can claim on health insurance.
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.
All psychiatric care, rehabilitation or palliative care has a 2-month waiting period – even if it's considered a pre-existing condition.
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.
Yes. Some extras policies will let you skip waiting periods for services such as general dental, optical, remedial massages and allied health services such as physio.
You can skip 2- and 6-month waiting periods with an ahm Lifestyle Extras policy (this includes general dental, optical and physio). It's the only policy we found that permanently offers this benefit.
Other insurers often offer sign-up deals that let you skip 2- and 6-month waiting periods for extras only. We've listed Finder partners below:
| Store | Discount | |
|---|---|---|
 Medibank Health Insurance Deals
VERIFIED
|
Get 6 weeks free and up to $250 in gift cards Plus no 2&6 month waits on extras. New members only, T&Cs apply. Ends July 10. Last verified |
VERIFIED
Coupon code ends |
 ahm Deals
VERIFIED
|
Want up to 12 weeks free? Plus, any 2&6 month waits on extras waived? Join by June 30 and maintain eligible hospital & extras cover. Find out more. Last verified |
VERIFIED
Coupon code ends |
 Bupa Health Insurance
VERIFIED
|
8 weeks free plus any 2&6 month waits on extras waived Join Now & Get Up To 8 Weeks Free + 2&6 Month Waits Waived On Extras On Eligible Products* Last verified |
VERIFIED
Coupon code ends |
 Qantas Health Insurance Deals
VERIFIED
|
Join and earn up to 140,000 Qantas Points Plus, skip the 2 & 6 month waiting periods on Extras with combined Hospital and Extras cover. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Last verified |
Get deal
VERIFIED
Deal ends |
 PeopleCare Health Insurance Deals
Exclusive
|
Get 6 weeks free + Waive 2 & 6 months waiting periods Join hospital only or combined hospital & extras cover by 30 June 2022 for new members. Last verified |
Exclusive
Coupon code ends |
 nib Health Insurance Deal
VERIFIED
|
Get up to $600 off + Waive 2 & 6 months waiting period on extras Get up to $600 off when you choose Hospital + Extras cover. Plus, skip the 2 or 6 month wait on Extras! Last verified |
Get deal
VERIFIED
Deal ends |
 HIF Health Insurance
VERIFIED
|
Get 6 weeks free. PLUS 2-month waits on extras waived Offer applies for new joins on hospital and extras by 30 June. T&Cs apply. Last verified |
VERIFIED
Coupon code ends |
 GMHBA deals
VERIFIED
|
Get one month free Plus waive 2 & 6 month waits on extras when joining on combined cover by June 30. T&Cs apply. Last verified |
Get deal
VERIFIED
Deal ends |
Looking to do more research? You can use this free tool to see health insurance quotes side by side. Keep an eye out for the yellow banner highlighting any insurers waiving waiting periods as a sign-up deal.
Restricted services aren't that common in health insurance but they're worth knowing about.
The 8501 visa condition means you need to get health insurance for your stay.
Finder research found that 6% of Australians – equivalent to 1.2 million people – have had some form of plastic surgery in the past 12 months.
If you just turned 31 or have started earning over $90k, you'll want to think about taking out health insurance now.
The Medicare Levy is a 2% tax that goes towards funding the public health system – here's how it works.
What is the private health insurance rebate and how has it changed?
Get cover quickly and easily for your stay in Australia.
Find out how to claim vasectomies and tubal ligation with Medicare or private health funds, and the things you should know before going in.
Dialysis treatment for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is covered by Medicare and private health insurance, but which offers the best cover?
Get cover to suit your budget and lifestyle.
Great offers, promos, and deals for today.
Hospital, extras, or neither? Find out in 1 minute.
Compare visa-compliant OVHC today.
I have been with a fund for many years and I recently upgrade to premium hospital cover. Due to the upgrade I now have to wait 12 months for some pre-existing conditions. If I were to transfer to another fund to cover of the same level would the wait time continue?
Hi Kym,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well with you. :)
Generally, if you switch to another, according to Private Health Ombudsman, “you will not have to re-serve waiting periods if you transfer to a policy that is at the same or a lower level of benefit. Your new fund must give you continuity for the waiting periods you have already served. However, if your new plan includes new or higher benefits that were not part of your old policy, you will have to complete a waiting period before you can access those benefits.”
To give you a short answer, you should not wait another 12 months if you are to transfer to another fund and that fund will cover the same level.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Hi how long waiting period for pregnancy insurance.
Hi Kin,
Thanks for reaching out.
Generally, waiting periods vary and are different for hospital cover and general treatment (extras) cover. As for obstetrics (pregnancy), the government sets 12 months as the maximum waiting period that funds can impose for hospital treatment. You may like to read more about how waiting periods work on health insurance.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
May
Is there any promotions about waiting periods being waived with any health fund with extras only if we are in WA
Hi Karen,
Thank you for your question.
Currently, in our panel of health funds, AHM has an offer of waiving waiting periods on extras services only. To check the details, please head to our list of health insurance deals and offers.
Cheers,
Zubair