Waiting Periods
First-time health cover
If at the time of joining you do not have health cover, full waiting periods will apply before benefits can be paid.
Transferring from another health fund
You can transfer from another fund to HCI at any time. If you join within 2 months of the expiration of your current cover, you will not have any new waiting periods for the same or lower level of cover with HCI.
Normal fund waiting periods, including pre-existing, apply to benefits not covered by your previous fund cover. Your Certified Entry Age for the Federal Government’s Lifetime Health Cover purposes will be recognised by HCI on transfer.
Upgrading Your HCI Membership
Members may upgrade to a higher level of cover, or move to a lower cover option, or no excess cover, at any time. Normal waiting periods apply to the higher level of benefit entitlements. Benefits will be paid at your previous level of cover until waiting periods are served.
| Waiting Period | Benefit |
|---|---|
| 2 months |
|
| 6 months |
|
| 12 months |
|
| 2 years |
|
| 10 years |
|
Pre-existing ailments
Benefits are not payable during the first 12 months of cover for an ailment, illness or condition, the signs or symptoms of which, in the opinion of an independent medical practitioner appointed by the fund, existed at any time during the 6 months preceding the date of joining or upgrading to a higher level of cover.
Waiting periods for new born babies
Babies themselves are only covered by family cover. Any treatment a newborn baby requires is therefore only covered if the mother has family cover at the time of treatment and all relevant waiting periods with respect to the baby have been served.
The period prior to the birth of a baby during which the mother is covered by either a couples or family cover will be counted towards all waiting periods for the baby.
A person with single membership is eligible for obstetric benefits provided she has been a member of a hospital table for 12 months or more. We strongly recommend single members upgrade to family membership as soon as pregnancy is confirmed so that waiting periods for the baby can be commenced prior to birth.
If you haven't been covered by family hospital cover for 12 months prior to becoming pregnant, we suggest you give us a call on Freecall 1800 804 950 to check you and your baby's benefit entitlements.