Medical Insurance Hospital Cover - Waiving off Possible for Pre-Existing Condition Waiting Period?

DeeJay12 on 22/11/2022 - 11:34
Last edited 22/11/2022 - 14:58 by 1 other user

Hi brains trust.
,
Does anyone know if someone switches Health funds, the wait times for pre-existing conditions is notified to the next fund or not from the fund they are leaving? Alternatively, is there any health fund that allows pre-existing conditions to be covered?

Sample scenario: A person added heart related cover by moving from Bronze to Silver tier cover, as soon as they became aware of a need for a minor heart related procedure (angiogram and probably stents) in early Sept 2022. The normal wait time is 2 months for any heart related procedure to be covered, and for pre-existing conditions its 12 months in this case.

If this person was to move to a new health fund in Dec 2022, will they be covered straight away for heart related procedures, OR will this wait period be carried over to the new fund as well, meaning the heart related procedure coverage won't be possible till Sept 2023?

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  Muzeeb on 22/11/2022 - 11:38

  +3

  LMGTFY

  Source - Commonwealth ombudsman (Waiting
  periods for private health insurance)

  If you transfer from one health insurer to another without a break in cover, you do not need to re-serve hospital waiting periods you have previously completed. However, if you are adding or upgrading your hospital cover, you do need to complete waiting periods for the new or upgraded items.

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  holdenmg on 22/11/2022 - 11:41

  Just no.

  You would get transferred from approved Bronze to commence Silver and have to serve the balance of the waiting qualification period with the new Fund.

  There isn't any point in non-disclosing (or moving) so just bump your Cover to Silver with your existing Health Insurer.

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  Meho2026 on 22/11/2022 - 13:34

  +3

  If someone needs coronary artery stents, they shouldn’t be waiting 12 months just so it can be done privately. Go public and get it done ASAP under Medicare.
  You’ll get better care in a public hospital and you won’t drop dead waiting to quality as a private patient

  • 

    Muzeeb on 22/11/2022 - 13:53

    Great life pro tip