What is a waiting period?
A waiting period is the amount of
time before a new employee's health benefits
begin.
Benefits usually start the first of the
month following the waiting period. (See
chart below for examples.)
Who sets the waiting period?
Waiting periods are established by the
employer when the plan is set up.
How do I know what my waiting period is?
We have a record of your waiting period in our
files. You can also call the insurance
carrier to verify your waiting period.
Can I make an exception for an employee?
Not for new hires. Insurers will
sometimes accept a waiting period waiver for an
employee moving from part-time to full-time
employment.
What are common waiting periods?
As the economy picks up we're seeing shorter
waiting periods of 30 days or no waiting
period (i.e. first of month following
date of hire).
If you have a longer waiting period, and are
thinking of hiring, you might want to consider
shortening it to be more competitive.
How and when can I change our waiting period?
You can change your company's waiting period
by written request at your annual plan
renewal.
Is the wait period the same as an
exclusionary period?
No. A PPO exclusionary period
excludes coverage for pre-existing conditions
and begins when coverage begins.
