Do waiting periods apply if I change health insurers?

No, you do not need to serve waiting periods again for Hospital Cover if you change insurers and take out a new policy at the same level of cover as your existing policy. However if you are changing to a higher tier of cover, waiting periods will apply for the new services and treatments (known as clinical categories) you were not covered for previously. When you begin your new policy, your old insurer will send a Transfer Certificate (also known as a Clearance Certificate) to your new insurer, which details the waiting periods you’ve already served.

If you are changing your Extras Cover policy to a different insurer, in most cases you will not need to serve waiting periods again for a policy at the same level of cover. However since Extras Cover waiting periods vary considerably between insurers, it is worth asking your insurer to confirm in writing what waiting periods will apply to you.