Waiting periods and accidents
Accidents are just that – accidents. That’s why, if you have an accident shortly after you’ve joined Bupa or upgraded your cover, we’ll waive any waiting period. What costs we cover depends on what’s included in your policy, as shown in the example below
What do I need to do if I have an accident?
We’ll waive the waiting period for any treatment you need because of an accident, if you:
- Get medical advice or treatment from a registered medical practitioner within 72 hours of the accident.
- Submit an ‘Accident Injury Report Form’
(click here for form).
- Continue to hold a policy which covers the accident-related treatment.
- Have all the treatment you need within 180 days of the accident.
Here’s an example
Say you recently joined Bupa, or upgraded your cover, and your new policy covers hip replacements. If you fell and needed a hip replacement, we’d waive the waiting period and you’d be covered for the surgery.
| Hip replacement cover | Waiting period waived? | Covered? |
|---|---|---|
| Included | Yes | Yes |
| None | N/A | No |
We consider something an accident if:
It was unforeseen and occurred by chance.
It happened because of an external force, but wasn’t intentional.
It happened in Australia.
What’s not considered an accident?
A sudden illness.
Surgical procedures.
Injuries due to alcohol or drug use, or drugs not prescribed by a registered practitioner.
Pregnancy.
Aggravation of an existing condition.
Damage to teeth caused by eating.
Accident Inclusion means upgraded cover
We understand that no one sees an accident coming, so you might not have thought to include some things on your cover. That’s why, on some policies, we’ll cover you in a private hospital for treatments that are excluded or restricted on your cover if you need them because of an accident. We call this Accident Inclusion. Check your policy information to see if this is included in your cover.
Utilising our ‘Accident Benefit’
On some covers, our Accident Benefit can help reduce the costs you pay in hospital, and on extras services in the case of an accident (up to a limit). How the limits apply varies between products, so check your policy information.
If you’ve had an accident, you can use your Accident Benefit:
In Hospital
On Extras
your limit.
Check your policy information to see if this is included in your cover.