What is a "waiting period" on expat health insurance?
An important detail about our expat health insurance policy is that it includes a 31-day insurance activation period or "waiting period".
What is the 31-day waiting period?
The activation period requires the policyholder to have an active policy for at least 31 days before making a claim. Please note that regardless of the waiting period, you would still have some limited coverage in case of life threatening illnesses or injuries.
Does the 31-day waiting period apply to everyone?
No. There are two reasons why the waiting period can be waived:
If you start an expat health insurance policy within 31 days of arriving in your country of insurance, then no waiting period applies.
For example: if you arrive by airplane to France on the 1st of June then you must sign up for a policy before the end of that calendar month. Keep in mind that if you do file a claim within the first 31 days of your active policy, you will need to show proof that you moved and signed up within 31 days of arriving in France. Proof, in this case, could include an airline, train, or bus ticket.
Alternatively, if you have previous insurance of equal or greater coverage, and there is no gap in cover (so your expat insurance would start on the day of or before your previous insurance is set to expire), then the waiting period would also be waived. The same situation applies as the first point, in that if you do file a claim within the first 31 days of your active policy, you will need to show proof of your previous insurance without a gap.
Why does this rule exist?
The 31-day waiting period exists to ensure that no policy abuse occurs. If the waiting period did not exist, then it would be easy for someone who had an accident or illness to sign up for insurance and be treated on the same day—and that would make monthly payments grossly expensive for all other policyholders. For this reason, waiting periods are a common feature of many types of insurance across Europe, including health insurance and health insurance add-on policies.
Our expat health insurance relies largely on the honour system to get you insured—generally, we don't require applicants to submit a medical report or have a doctor's exam before taking out a policy with us. That's why we can get you insured in minutes! But we need to put mechanisms in place to ensure no abuse of the insurance policy occurs.
What happens if I become seriously ill or have a major accident during the waiting period?
In the case of a major incident such as an accident or sudden affliction, the waiting period is waived and you will receive the necessary treatment.
Can I submit claims that occurred during the waiting period after it is over?
No, only issues that first take place after the waiting period can be claimed for, with the exception of life threatening accidents or injuries.
What happens after the 31-day waiting period is over?
After the waiting time has ended, you can fully take advantage of the benefits of your policy.