The survival period is the minimum number of days you must remain alive after the date of diagnosis (or qualifying medical event) before the insurer will pay the trauma benefit. A 14-day survival period is the most common standard across the panel — AIA Crisis Recovery, Zurich Trauma (when not linked to a death benefit) and several other panel products use this period. The reasons for a survival period include: confirming the medical event was severe enough to qualify (rather than transient), verifying the diagnosis through follow-up testing, and aligning trauma cover with its purpose of paying living costs to a recovering claimant rather than a deceased estate. If the insured person dies during the survival period, the trauma benefit is generally not paid (a separate life insurance benefit may apply if held). Some products allow the trauma benefit to be paid alongside or in addition to a death benefit if survival period requirements are met. Specific definitions vary, so confirm the survival period for your chosen product by reading the relevant PDS.