Zero Waiting Period Health Insurance: Immediate Coverage

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What is waiting period in health insurance?

Waiting period in health insurance is the time when you cannot raise a claim. There are different types of waiting periods applicable when you buy the plan. Note: Your policy is still active and you can claim for events like accidents.

For example: Most health insurance companies will require you to wait for 2 to 3 years before you can actually claim the maternity benefit. It means you need to have your policy for at least 2 years (or the specific duration mentioned in your health insurance policy) in order to access the maternity benefits.

Did you know?	ACKO PLATINUM PLAN HAS ZERO WAITING PERIOD! (You Get Coverage From Day 01 Under Rs.1 Crore and Unlimited Platinum Health Insurance Plans)

What are the types of waiting periods?

Here are the waiting periods in most conventional health insurance plans for different health conditions.

Health conditions	Waiting period
Pre-existing diseases (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)	1 to 3 years
Psychiatric health conditions, Bariatric surgery, Specific diseases/illnesses	1 to 2 years
Maternity cover	9 months to 3 years
Newborn baby inclusion	9 months to 3 years
Initial waiting period	0 to 30 days
Accidental hospitalisation	0 days
COVID-19 coverage	30 days

Let’s understand these different types of waiting periods in detail.

Pre-existing disease waiting period: At the time of buying a health insurance policy, if you or other insured members of the policy have existing ailments such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, thyroid, etc., then these ailments are referred to as pre-existing disease/conditions.

Most traditional health insurance plans cover pre-existing conditions after the completion of the minimum waiting period. Group health insurance waiting period may have different terms and conditions.

Please check with the respective insurance provider for more information. However, you get health insurance without waiting period and coverage for pre-existing diseases under Rs. 1 Cr ACKO Platinum Health Plan.

Waiting period for specific illnesses/diseases: Certain diseases or medical conditions and procedures may come with a specific waiting period. These may include cataracts, ENT disorders, osteoporosis, hernia, joint replacement surgery, etc. The waiting period for such illnesses can vary from 2 to 3 years, depending on the policy’s terms and conditions.

Waiting period for maternity and newborn baby add-on: Most health insurance plans cover maternity-related expenses and include a newborn baby only after the specified waiting period. It can range from 9 months to 3 years. The maternity benefit covers the delivery expenses and the newborn baby for the first 3 months. However, there are plans that do not cover maternity expenses. Make sure you confirm the coverage details before you purchase the plan.

Initial waiting period: The initial waiting period in health insurance is the duration from the date of policy commencement to the date from when you can start using the policy’s benefits. Except for accidental hospitalisation, no other medical expenses are covered during this initial waiting period in health insurance.

Waiting period for accidental hospitalisation: As stated in the previous section, only accidental hospitalisation does not have a waiting period in health insurance. All health insurance plans cover accidental hospitalisation from day 1 of your policy commencement date.

Know more about ACKO Health Insurance Plan →

Let’s discuss the important elements of the waiting period in health insurance and how it impacts claim settlements.

How does the waiting period in health insurance work?

The high likelihood of being affected by lifestyle diseases such as hypertension and diabetes has led to increased acceptance of health insurance. When you opt for a health insurance plan, you must understand that there are various aspects of the policy that needs your attention.

For example: Some health insurance plans may include Maternity Cover that may have a 2-year waiting period. And, in some plans it can be 9 months to 3 years before you can enjoy the policy’s benefits on maternity coverage.

Why do health insurance plans have waiting periods?

There are multiple reasons why health insurance plans have a waiting period.

To make sure there are no malpractices by policyholders.
To protect the insurer from any medical risk previously unaccounted for.
To ensure that the insured does not use health insurance for regular medical expenses.

Zero waiting period on ACKO Platinum Health Plan

Are there health insurance plans with no waiting period in India? The answer is a big YES!

With ACKO Platinum Health Plans, you get coverage from Day 01. Provided you disclose all the pre-existing conditions. Additionally, you get benefits like No Room Rent Capping, No Deductions on claims, and much more. Here are more details about these features:

Zero Waiting Period

Your coverage begins from the first day of your ACKO Platinum Health Plan. There are no waiting periods applicable. For example Initial waiting period, pre-existing diseases waiting period, etc. are not imposed.

Note: Get access to this feature by disclosing all the pre-existing conditions. Claims for undisclosed conditions may be rejected.

Zero Deductions on Claims:

You get the full claim amount including coverage for non-medical expenses (these are generally deducted from the claim amount). Besides, we also do not consider other deductions, such as deductibles, sub-limits, copay, etc.

No Room Rent Capping

Choose a hospital room of your choice without worrying about its effect on the final hospital bill.

Is it possible to reduce the waiting period in health insurance?

While it may not be possible to reduce the waiting period for health insurance, you can opt for ACKO Platinum Health Insurance Policy which has a zero waiting period for pre-existing diseases. Provided you disclose all your medical conditions while buying the plan.

Additional points to remember about health insurance waiting periods

Here are some important points to keep in mind about waiting periods in health insurance.

If the insured is diagnosed with a disease during the waiting period, then it will not be considered a pre-existing disease and will be covered under the policy.
Some of the health insurance plans for senior citizens have removed or reduced the waiting period by including a copay clause. In this case, the insured must bear a certain portion of the claim amount.
Opt for a health insurance plan that offers a zero waiting period or the shortest possible waiting period.

What is survival period in health insurance?

The survival period in health insurance refers to the specified time duration the policyholder needs to survive after being diagnosed with a critical illness (cancer, heart or kidney failure, etc.). This period can be anywhere between 14 days to 180 days, depending upon the type of plan and the illness. Note that the survival time period is in addition to the waiting period of a policy. The survival period in health insurance is an important part of critical illness plans. If a policyholder has a critical illness and raises a claim, the insurer will pay a pre-defined lump sum amount. However, this amount will only be paid if the policyholder survives through the specified survival period. Once this lump sum amount is paid for the surviving policyholder, the policy is terminated.

Difference between survival period and waiting period in health insurance

Refer to the below table to understand the differences between survival and waiting period in health insurance.

Criterion	Survival period	Waiting period
Applicable for	Critical illness policies.	All types of health insurance policies (excluding ACKO Platinum Health Insurance Policy).
What is it?	The specified time period during which the policyholder needs to survive after being diagnosed with a critical illness to get the claim amount (lump sum)	The specified time period before the policyholder can start raising claims against the policy
What’s the time period?	14 - 180 days	0 - 30 days of initial waiting period, 0-3 years for pre-existing disease
Factors affecting the time period	Depends on the critical illness and the insurance provider	Depends on the disease and the insurance provider
Continuity of the coverage	Terminates after the one-time lump sum payment of the sum insured	Exists post the waiting period with continued premium payments

Both the survival and waiting periods are associated with health insurance to make sure that genuine customers get adequate health insurance coverage during their time of need. However, they are not the same.

Takeaway

Now that you understand the definition of the waiting period in health insurance, it’s time to choose a plan that suits your requirements. However, you need not worry much about the waiting period in medical insurance if you buy a health insurance plan at an early stage of your life.

Health insurance plans with zero waiting periods are ideal for coverage from day 1. Take advantage of ACKO’s Rs.1 Crore plan with zero waiting period and zero deductions at claims for optimum coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some common questions and answers about the waiting period in health insurance.

Can I buy health insurance and use it immediately in India?

Yes, you can use the ACKO Platinum Health Plan from the start date of the policy.

Can I raise a claim during the waiting period in health insurance?

Except for accidental hospitalisation, you cannot file a claim during the waiting period of most conventional health insurance plans. However, you can raise a claim from day 1 with ACKO.

What is PED waiting period in health insurance?

PED (Pre-existing Disease) waiting period refers to the waiting period applicable on the coverage for Pre-existing Diseases. Most health insurance companies impose a waiting period of up to 3 years for offering this coverage. However, with ACKO Platinum Plans, you can get coverage for disclosed PED from day 01.

Why is there a waiting period in health insurance?

The reason for the waiting period in health insurance is to avoid malpractices by policyholders.

For example: If the policy buyer has a pre-existing disease and needs treatment for the same, the buyer may not disclose the same while purchasing the policy to avoid rejection of the claim. Insurers have included the waiting period in their health insurance plans to prevent such manipulation.

If you are looking for health insurance without a waiting period, then look no further. We offer Rs.1 Crore health insurance with zero waiting period if you disclose any pre-existing disease in case the pre-existing disease surfaces after a policy is issued. However at the time of claim, if it is found that the policyholder did not disclose any known pre-existing diseases while buying the policy, the claim may get rejected.

Which health insurance covers from day 1?

The ACKO Platinum Health Plan offers coverage from Day 01. Under this plan, you also get benefits like high sum insured, no deductions on claims, no room rent capping, and much more.

What is the benefit of a lower waiting period in health insurance?

The most significant advantage of a lower waiting period in health insurance is that the lower the waiting period, the sooner you can avail of the policy’s coverage. Before purchasing the plan, make sure to read the terms and conditions of the health insurance policy.

Will the policy's beneficiaries receive a return of the premium if you do not survive during the survival period in health insurance?

No. Most insurers do not return the premium if the insured does not survive during the survival period in health insurance.

How to check if my existing health conditions are covered in my health insurance policy?

Please check and understand the terms and conditions of the policy to know the inclusions and exclusions of the coverage.

What is the waiting period for mediclaim policy?

The waiting period for mediclaim policy can range anywhere from 2 years to 4 years. However, this can vary from insurer to insurer. Make sure you read and understand the terms and conditions of the policy before purchasing a health insurance plan.

Is it feasible to get rid of the waiting period clause in health insurance policies?

This can only be accomplished if the insurer permits the exclusion of the waiting period clause under specific conditions. If not, there is no possibility of doing so.

What is the waiting period for mediclaim policy?

The waiting period for mediclaim policy can range anywhere from 2 years to 4 years. However, this can vary from insurer to insurer. Make sure you read and understand the terms and conditions of the policy before purchasing a health insurance plan.

Disclaimer:

*Except for exclusions like maternity benefits, undisclosed diseases, etc. Please check policy wordings for more details.
**In case the pre-existing disease surfaces after a policy is issued. However at the time of claim, if it is found that the policyholder did not disclose any known pre-existing diseases while buying the policy, the claim may get rejected.