HCi waiting periods

Waiting periods apply to all health cover, including that offered by HCi.

The what and why of waiting periods

A waiting period simply means a set amount of time before you are eligible to make a claim on a particular service. Most insurance providers apply the same waiting periods, although there are some variations between extras options.

At HCi, we accept all members. However, if members joined only when they knew they had a health issue, our premiums would have to be much higher for everyone.

Australian law sets maximum waiting periods that we can apply for hospital procedures. For extras, HCi sets waiting periods that are as short as possible for members whilst maintaining reasonable premiums.

What waiting periods apply to HCi members?

We will always inform you of any applicable waiting periods when you join HCi.

Accident cover is currently available via Bronze Plus and Basic Plus Hospital policies only. A two month Waiting Period applies after acquiring the cover to be eligible for Accident cover.

Psychiatric services and rehabilitation only require a two month waiting period, even with pre-existing conditions.

Members may be able to upgrade from a policy that offers restricted benefits for hospital psychiatric services to a policy with full cover for psychiatric services, without having to serve the normal two month wait. This exemption can only be used once in a person’s lifetime, including if you have transferred between insurers.

New members

If you are taking out private health insurance for the first time, you will need to serve full waiting periods before you can start claiming benefits.

This includes people joining an existing member’s policy as dependants (eg adopted children and partners) who were not health fund members within the previous two months. For a newborn, waiting periods apply until we receive the birth certificate or Medicare card details (see below for more detail).

Existing members

When upgrading to a higher level of cover, you will serve waiting periods only on the higher level.

Previous annual limits continue until these waits finish and higher levels of cover start. For example, if you had a $500 annual limit on physio and your new HCi cover has a higher limit for physio, HCi will honour the $500 limit during your waiting period.

Transferring from another fund

If you switch to HCi from another health fund (within two months of ceasing with the other fund), you may join a similar level of HCi cover and receive the same level of cover with no new waiting periods.

If you transfer to a level of HCi cover that includes services not covered by your previous fund, you will need to serve the relevant waiting periods for the additional or higher level of cover. Where limits apply, the entitlement transferred to HCi may be reduced by any claims paid by the previous fund.

Pre-existing condition waiting periods

A pre-existing condition is any illness, ailment or condition you (or someone covered on your policy) have had signs or symptoms of in the last six months. It doesn’t matter if the condition wasn’t identified or diagnosed.

An independent medical practitioner (not your doctor) will assess whether any signs or symptoms existed during the six months prior to taking out or upgrading your cover.

Claims will not be paid for pre-existing conditions during the waiting period. The pre-existing condition waiting period applies to new members and existing policy upgrades.

You can find out more about pre-existing conditions in our factsheet.

The pre-existing condition assessment process

After a chat about your situation, we will send you any relevant paperwork to complete with your doctor. Then our indpendant medical practitioner will review your paperwork. We generally respond within 5 business days.

Our response will be that it is a pre-existing condition (so we don’t cover it until the waiting period is complete) or it is not pre-existing (so you can claim everything covered by your policy).

If you have less than 12 months of cover with HCi, please contact us before you plan a hospital visit so we can determine if a pre-existing condition waiting period applies.

What about hospital treatment during a waiting period?

Please contact us if you need to visit hospital before your waiting period has completed.

If you are admitted to hospital before we confirm your eligibility, you may be liable for all costs from that hospital admission.

If you want to delay your hospital treatment until you know your waiting period ends (or we agree it is not a pre-existing condition), please discuss with your doctor as a delay may not be medically advisable.

IVF and assisted reproductive services.

A 12 month waiting period applies to all IVF and assisted reproductive services where utilisation of these services generally relates to treatment of a pre-existing condition. If there is not a pre-existing condition, a 2 month waiting period applies to IVF and assisted reproductive services.

Check with HCi before proceeding with assisted reproductive services, such as IVF, to confirm what services you will be required to pay for and that you have completed any required waiting periods. Only an admission to hospital can be covered under private hospital insurance.

Always check with the hospital, HCi and your doctor before proceeding with a hospital booking to ensure you will be covered and to understand what costs you may incur.