Waiting period

Health insurance policies usually include one or more waiting periods — stretches of time after the policy begins during which certain claims are not payable:

• Initial waiting period — often 30 days from the start, during which typically only accident-related claims are covered.
• Specific illness waiting period — for listed conditions or procedures, such as certain surgeries.
• Pre-existing disease (PED) waiting period — for conditions you had before buying the policy.
• Maternity waiting period — in policies that cover maternity.

Why it matters

Waiting periods decide when your cover becomes fully useful. Buying health insurance only when a need seems near can mean the most relevant conditions aren’t covered for years.

How to read it

• Continuity counts. Waiting periods generally run once. Renew without a break and they don’t restart; portability rules let you carry credit for time served when you switch insurers.
• Disclosure. Declaring pre-existing conditions honestly is essential; non-disclosure can lead to a claim being rejected.
• Compare policies. Waiting periods differ between products, and some can be shortened for an extra premium.

Common misconceptions

• “A waiting period means no cover at all.” Most policies cover accidents from day one; other conditions are covered once their waiting periods end.
• “Switching insurers resets everything.” Under portability, credit for completed waiting periods can usually be carried over, subject to rules.

In India: IRDAI’s health insurance master circular of May 2024 capped the pre-existing disease and specific-illness waiting periods at 36 months, and set a 60-month moratorium after which a claim cannot be contested for non-disclosure except for established fraud. Check your policy wording for exact terms.