How Waiting Period Carry-Forward Works in Australian Health Insurance?

Waiting periods are the time you must wait after starting a policy before you can claim certain benefits, such as pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, or psychiatric treatment.

Australian private health insurance law allows waiting periods to be recognised across insurers, provided there is continuous cover and the level of cover does not reduce. This principle applies to both OSHC and OVHC, although the legal basis differs slightly.

• OSHC is governed by the OSHC Deed with the Australian Government
• OVHC is governed by each insurer’s Fund Rules under the Private Health Insurance Act

When You Renew Your OSHC or OVHC With the Same Insurer?

If you simply renew your policy with the same provider, waiting periods you have already served automatically continue.

There is no reset of waiting periods as long as:

• Your policy does not lapse
• Premiums are paid on time
• You do not downgrade to a lower level of cover

This applies across providers such as nib OSHC, Bupa OSHC, Medibank OSHC, AIA OVHC, and Bupa OVHC, as confirmed under their membership continuity rules.

In practical terms, renewal is the safest option if you want to avoid any disruption to benefits.

Switching Providers Without Losing Waiting Periods

Switching insurers does not automatically mean starting again, but continuity is critical.

Why continuity of cover matters?

• All insurers require proof of previous cover before recognising waiting periods. This is typically done through a transfer certificate issued by your previous insurer.
• If your new policy starts immediately after your old policy ends, waiting periods already served can be recognised.

Carry-Forward Rules for OSHC (Student Health Cover)

Under the OSHC Deed, insurers must recognise waiting periods already served when a student transfers between OSHC providers, as long as cover is continuous.

This means:

• If you move from nib OSHC to Bupa OSHC, or from Medibank OSHC to Allianz OSHC, waiting periods already completed can carry forward.
• Waiting periods do not reset if the level of cover remains equivalent or higher.
• Any additional benefits introduced by the new policy may still have waiting periods.

This protection exists because OSHC is a regulated product, designed to prevent students from being disadvantaged when changing insurers.

Carry-Forward Rules for OVHC (Visitor Health Cover)

OVHC waiting-period carry-forward is governed by insurer fund rules rather than a government deed. However, the principle is similar across AIA, nib, Bupa, and Medibank.

In general:

• Waiting periods already served may be recognised
• Continuous cover is required
• A transfer certificate is essential
• New or upgraded benefits may attract fresh waiting periods

Because OVHC products differ widely in coverage levels, insurers assess carry-forward benefit by benefit, not just policy by policy.

What Happens When You Upgrade Your Cover?

Upgrading is one of the most common reasons waiting periods partially reapply.

Why upgrades trigger new waiting periods?

When you move to a higher level of cover - for example:

• Budget OVHC → Top OVHC
• Core OSHC → Top or Ultimate OSHC

…any new or improved benefits that were not part of your old policy will usually have new waiting periods, even if your old waiting periods were completed.

However, waiting periods for benefits that remain unchanged are generally carried forward.

When Waiting Periods Do NOT Carry Forward?

There are situations where waiting periods will reset entirely.

Policy lapse

• If your policy expires and there is a gap before your new policy starts, insurers treat this as new cover, and all waiting periods restart.

Downgrading your cover

• Moving to a lower level of cover may result in loss of previously served waiting periods for excluded services.

No transfer certificate

• Without proof of prior cover, insurers cannot legally recognise waiting periods already served.

Carry-Forward of Waiting Periods - Common Scenarios

Policies Commonly Considered on GetMyPolicy.online

For clarity and trust, students and visitors often review policies from the following insurers:

OSHC Providers

• nib OSHC (Core, Standard, Top, Ultimate)
• Bupa OSHC
• Medibank OSHC
• AHM OSHC
• Allianz Care OSHC

OVHC Providers

• AIA Overseas Visitors Health Cover
• nib OVHC (Budget, Mid, Top, Advantage, Executive)
• Bupa OVHC (Visiting Cover, Working Cover)
• Medibank Visitor Health Insurance

Each policy has different waiting-period structures, which is why understanding carry-forward rules is essential.