Most Australian trauma policies include a qualifying period (sometimes called an exclusion period or waiting period) at the start of the policy, during which certain conditions cannot be claimed. Three months (90 days) is the most common period and typically applies to cancer, heart attack, stroke, and coronary artery bypass surgery — the conditions where rapid claims could indicate adverse selection (taking out cover after symptoms have begun). If you're diagnosed with one of these conditions during the qualifying period, the insurer is generally not obliged to pay the trauma benefit, even if the policy is otherwise active. Conditions outside the qualifying-period list (such as accidental injury) are usually covered immediately. Some products offer a portability or 'continuation of cover' provision: if you're switching from another trauma policy where the qualifying period has already been served and the replaced cover is cancelled at the same time, the new insurer may waive the qualifying period — see, for example, OnePath's explicit waiver clause for replacement of comparable cover. Always check the PDS for the exact qualifying-period structure, including which specific conditions trigger it.