Understanding waiting periods
Waiting periods are an important part of any health insurance policy. They define how long you need to wait before you can access benefits for certain services. As an international student with Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), your waiting periods begin on the day you enter Australia (or the date you start your membership, whichever is later).
3 minute read
Published 18 January 2024
In summary
- When your policy begins, you might not be able to claim on some services right away. Learn how waiting periods work
- A 12-month waiting period applies for any pre-existing conditions. It also applies for pregnancy-related services where the duration of your cover is less than 24 months. Read about our standard waiting periods
- If you claim in the first 12 months of your cover, a doctor may need to determine whether you have a pre-existing condition. Learn more
What are waiting periods?
Waiting periods indicate a specific length of time you need to wait before your health insurance will help cover the cost of a service. They apply to all new health insurance members (or existing members who have upgraded their cover). If you’re switching to Bupa OSHC from another insurance provider, we will honour any waiting periods you’ve already served on your previous policy.
Waiting periods don’t prevent you from getting medical care – they just determine your eligibility for benefits. There are no waiting periods for standard GP (general practitioner) appointments, so if you’re feeling unwell, don’t hesitate to go see a doctor. OSHC members can also access 24/7 online consultations through Blua, with no waiting periods and 100% of costs covered^.
What waiting periods are there for OSHC members?
Pregnancy related services
If your OSHC policy is less than 24 months, a standard 12-month waiting period applies for pregnancy-related services, including childbirth, miscarriage and termination of pregnancy, and outpatient pregnancy services such as ultrasounds or blood tests.
There is no waiting period if your policy is 24 months or more.
Pre-existing conditions
A 12-month waiting period also applies for pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is any health condition, ailment, or illness of which there were signs or symptoms in the 6-month period ending on the day your OSHC cover starts (or in the 6 months before upgrading to a higher level of cover with us) even if your condition wasn’t diagnosed or known by a doctor.
If you get sick while travelling to Australia, this could also be classified as a pre-existing condition. This 12-month waiting period applies to all new health insurance members (or existing members who have upgraded their cover).
There is no waiting period for Hospital Psychiatric Services, including those which are pre-existing conditions.‌
Defining a pre-existing condition
If you see a specialist doctor or need hospitalisation in Australia during the first 12 months of your Bupa membership, we’ll need to check if this relates to a pre-existing condition.
Ask your doctor to fill out this medical certificate (PDF, 62KB) during your consultation. Another doctor, appointed by Bupa, will then review the information and decide whether your treatment relates to a pre-existing condition. This may affect your eligibility for benefits on that service.
^Fund and policy rules apply. 100% of the appointment fees will be covered for Blua online doctor appointments. Members will only be able to book general doctor appointments via Blua. Appointments with specialists cannot be booked via Blua. Members who are 15 and over are required to book their own appointment using their own Bupa Digital Identity login. Members who are under 15 years old may need to attend the appointments with a parent or guardian. Service provided by third party partner.