When you take out health insurance , you may face a waiting period . This period corresponds to a period during which certain guarantees are not yet activated, even if you pay your contributions. Understanding the waiting period is essential for choosing a mutual insurance plan adapted to your immediate or future health needs.
1. Definition of the Mutual Waiting Period
The waiting period , also called the qualifying period , is a period defined by the insurance contract during which certain guarantees are not effective. During this period, the insurer does not cover certain health costs.
Examples of care subject to a waiting period:
- Dental care (prostheses, implants).
- Optics (glasses, lenses).
- Non-urgent hospitalization.
- Alternative medicine procedures.
2. Why is there a waiting period?
The waiting period is put in place by insurers to prevent abuse, particularly by people who take out mutual insurance only to benefit from expensive treatment or medical procedures before cancelling their contract.
The objectives of the waiting period:
- Limiting opportunistic behavior : Guaranteeing the financial viability of mutual insurance companies.
- Encourage policyholder loyalty : Expensive care is only covered after a certain period.
3. Average Length of a Waiting Period
The length of a waiting period varies depending on the mutual insurance companies and the guarantees concerned:
- Routine care (consultations, medications): Generally without waiting period.
- Dental and optical : Between 3 and 12 months.
- Hospitalization : Approximately 3 months for non-urgent procedures.
- Maternity : Up to 10 months for childbirth-related benefits.
Tip: Some mutual insurance companies offer reduced or even non-existent waiting periods if you change mutual insurance companies without interruption of coverage.
4. How to Bypass or Reduce the Waiting Period?
To avoid being penalized by a waiting period, here are some solutions:
a. Choose a Mutual Insurance Plan with No Waiting Period
Some mutual insurance companies offer policies with no waiting period, particularly for routine care. These offers can be particularly attractive if you have immediate needs.
b. Provide a Certificate of Termination
When changing mutual insurance companies, if you have been covered by a previous insurance policy, certain guarantees can be activated immediately without any waiting period.
c. Check Additional Options
Some mutual insurance companies allow you to reduce or eliminate the waiting period for a slightly higher contribution.
5. Why subscribe to your mutual insurance with KT Assur&Bank?
At KT Assur&Bank , we help you choose a mutual insurance company suited to your needs, while limiting the impacts linked to the waiting period:
- Personalized analysis : We identify mutual insurance companies with little or no shortage for priority care.
- Competitive offers : Thanks to our partnerships, we offer solutions adapted to all budgets.
- Complete support : We guide you through the steps to optimize your reimbursements from the start of your contract.
Conclusion
The waiting period is a key factor to consider when choosing health insurance , especially if you have urgent needs. Understanding how it works will help you choose a plan that's right for your situation.
Contact KT Assur&Bank today to discover our mutual insurance plans with no waiting period and benefit from immediate coverage.