US Medical Term · insurance
Waiting Period
Período de Espera
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Waiting Period |
| Spanish (Español) | Período de Espera |
| Chinese (中文) | 等待期 |
| Korean (한국어) | 대기 기간 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thời gian Chờ đợi |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Panahon ng Paghihintay |
| Portuguese (Português) | Período de Espera |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ระยะเวลารอคอย |
| Japanese (日本語) | 待機期間 |
What it means
A waiting period is the time between when you enroll in a health insurance plan and when your coverage becomes active, or the time before a specific benefit begins. Under the ACA, employer health plans cannot impose waiting periods longer than 90 days for new employees. A waiting period differs from a pre-existing condition exclusion, which the ACA prohibits outright. Medicare has a 24-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance recipients before Medicare coverage starts. Some plans also impose separate waiting periods for dental or vision benefits. Understanding your plan's waiting periods helps you plan for potential coverage gaps.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
WAY-ting PEER-ee-ud
período de espera
Also called 'eligibility waiting period' or 'coverage waiting period'
También llamado 'período de elegibilidad' o 'período de espera de cobertura'
HR may say: 'Your benefits start after a 60-day waiting period'
'Sus beneficios comienzan después de un período de espera de 60 días'
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026