){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
){kind=small}
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
){kind=logo}
How long are waiting periods for dental cover in Australia?
Waiting periods for dental insurance in Australia usually range from two to 12 months, depending on the type of treatment. Health funds apply these waiting periods to prevent people from signing up only when they need expensive treatment. They typically apply if you're new to private health insurance, or if you're upgrading to a policy with higher benefits.
With Extras cover, dental falls under three categories:
- General dental – 2 months: Covers routine treatments like check-ups, scale and cleans, x-rays, fillings and simple extractions.
- Major dental – 12 months: Includes more complex and costly procedures such as bridges, crowns, dentures, periodontics, veneers and root canals.
- Orthodontic – 12 months: Covers corrective treatments like braces, retainers and other appliances used for teeth or jaw alignment.
Keep in mind that dental procedures requiring hospital treatment – such as surgery to the teeth and gums, including wisdom teeth removal – are usually covered under a Hospital policy, not Extras. A two-month waiting period typically applies to this type of dental surgery.
Can you get dental cover with no waiting period?
Yes, many funds offer no waiting periods on Extras – including dental – as part of special deals for new customers. These health insurance sign-up offers often apply when you’re switching funds and allow you to start claiming on eligible dental treatments straight away.
You also won't need to re-serve waiting periods if you're switching to a new fund with the same or lower level of cover, and you've already completed the waiting periods with your previous insurer.
If you're upgrading to a higher level of cover (for example, adding major dental or increasing limits), waiting periods may still apply to the new benefits. This rule also applies when changing from a singles policy to a couples or family policy – waiting periods generally won’t restart as long as the level of cover stays the same.
Which funds offer dental insurance with no waiting periods?
Several health funds are currently waiving the usual two- and six-month waiting periods on Extras cover, which often includes general dental treatments. These promotions can change or expire at any time, so it’s worth comparing policies regularly.
Provider | AAMI |
|---|---|
No waiting period offer | AAMI is waiving the 2 & 6 month waiting periods when you take out a combined Hospital and Extras policy (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 1 September 2025 |
Provider | ahm |
No waiting period offer | Say goodbye to the 2 & 6 month waiting periods on Extras when you take out combined Hospital and Extras cover (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 28 August 2025 |
Provider | Apia Health |
No waiting period offer | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2 & 6 month wait on Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 1 September 2025 |
Provider | Austrailan Seniors |
No waiting period offer | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. |
Offer expires | 31 August 2025 |
Provider | Australian Unity |
No waiting period offer | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2-month wait on Extras, including optical (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 31 July 2025 |
Provider | Bupa |
No waiting period offer | Join on combined Hospital and Extras products and get the 2 & 6 month waiting periods on Extras waived (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 31 July 2025 |
Provider | Frank Health Insurance |
No waiting period offer | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. |
Offer expires | 31 July 2025 |
Provider | GMHBA |
No waiting period offer | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2 & 6 month wait on Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 15 July 2025 |
Provider | Health Partners |
No waiting period offer | Purchase combined Hospital and Extras cover and avoid the waits on most Extras with a 2-month waiting period after the first contribution payment has been received (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 31 July 2025 |
Provider | HIF |
No waiting period offer | Purchase combined Hospital and Extras cover and avoid the waits on most Extras with a 2-month waiting period (eligible customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 31 July 2025 |
Provider | ING |
No waiting period offer | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2 & 6 month wait on Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 1 September 2025 |
Provider | Latrobe Health Services |
No waiting period offer | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. |
Offer expires | 17 August 2025 |
Provider | Medibank |
No waiting period offer | Take out new Bronze Hospital and Extras cover or higher and avoid the 2 & 6 month waiting periods on Extras (eligible customers only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 15 July 2025 |
Provider | Navy Health (restricted membership) |
No waiting period offer | Join on combined Hospital and Extras cover to get the 2 & 6 month waiting periods waived on Extras (eligible ADF members and families only, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 31 August 2025 |
Provider | nib |
No waiting period offer | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. |
Offer expires | 31 August 2025 |
Provider | Suncorp |
No waiting period offer | Join on combined Hospital and Extras cover to get the 2 & 6 month waiting periods waived on Extras, T&Cs apply). |
Offer expires | 1 September 2025 |
| Provider | No waiting period offer | Offer expires |
|---|---|---|
AAMI | AAMI is waiving the 2 & 6 month waiting periods when you take out a combined Hospital and Extras policy (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 1 September 2025 |
ahm | Say goodbye to the 2 & 6 month waiting periods on Extras when you take out combined Hospital and Extras cover (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 28 August 2025 |
Apia Health | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2 & 6 month wait on Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 1 September 2025 |
Austrailan Seniors | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. | 31 August 2025 |
Australian Unity | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2-month wait on Extras, including optical (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 31 July 2025 |
Bupa | Join on combined Hospital and Extras products and get the 2 & 6 month waiting periods on Extras waived (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 31 July 2025 |
Frank Health Insurance | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. | 31 July 2025 |
GMHBA | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2 & 6 month wait on Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 15 July 2025 |
Health Partners | Purchase combined Hospital and Extras cover and avoid the waits on most Extras with a 2-month waiting period after the first contribution payment has been received (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 31 July 2025 |
HIF | Purchase combined Hospital and Extras cover and avoid the waits on most Extras with a 2-month waiting period (eligible customers only, T&Cs apply). | 31 July 2025 |
ING | Join now on Hospital and Extras and skip the 2 & 6 month wait on Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply). | 1 September 2025 |
Latrobe Health Services | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. | 17 August 2025 |
Medibank | Take out new Bronze Hospital and Extras cover or higher and avoid the 2 & 6 month waiting periods on Extras (eligible customers only, T&Cs apply). | 15 July 2025 |
Navy Health (restricted membership) | Join on combined Hospital and Extras cover to get the 2 & 6 month waiting periods waived on Extras (eligible ADF members and families only, T&Cs apply). | 31 August 2025 |
nib | Take out combined Hospital and Extras cover get the 2- and 6-month waits waived on selected Extras (eligible new customers only, T&Cs apply. | 31 August 2025 |
Suncorp | Join on combined Hospital and Extras cover to get the 2 & 6 month waiting periods waived on Extras, T&Cs apply). | 1 September 2025 |
Chris Whitelaw, General Manager - Health Insurance at Money.com.au
“We hear it all the time – people don’t want to wait months just to see a dentist, especially when they’ve got a toothache or a family to look after. Whether it’s young couples staying on top of their dental health, families covering the kids or seniors booking in for a check-up, skipping the waiting period makes a real difference. And if there’s no gap to pay? Even better as every dollar counts in a cost-of-living crisis.”
Chris Whitelaw, General Manager - Health Insurance at Money.com.au
How to get dental cover with no waiting period
Here’s how you can get dental insurance with no waiting period:
1
Look for sign-up offers from health funds
Some health insurers run limited-time promotions that waive the standard two- and six-month waiting periods on Extras – including general dental. These offers are typically aimed at new members switching from another fund. Keep an eye on current deals or use a comparison service like ours to find funds offering no waiting periods.
2
Switch to a fund with equivalent cover
If you’ve already served your dental waiting periods with one insurer, you usually won’t have to re-serve them when switching to another fund – as long as your new policy offers the same or lower level of cover. This lets you change providers without losing your ability to claim straight away.
3
Speak to a health insurance expert
With so many policies and exclusions to consider, it’s a good idea to speak with a health insurance expert. They can help you find an Extras policy that matches your needs and confirm whether waiting periods will be waived, especially for dental.
Some health funds, like nib, offer dental membership programs such as DentalPass that provide access to discounted rates at a wide network of dentists without waiting periods. These programs typically involve a low annual fee and allow members to claim back on basic treatments like check-ups, cleans and x-rays, making them a convenient and affordable option for people who want quicker, more flexible dental care without signing up for full Extras cover. However, benefits usually apply only when visiting participating dentists and don’t cover major or orthodontic treatments.
Is no-waiting period dental cover more expensive?
Dental cover with no waiting periods is often offered as a limited-time promotion, not a more expensive policy by default. This means you’re getting standard Extras cover with waived waiting periods at no extra cost.
Always compare the overall value – including the benefits, annual limits and the health fund’s preferred provider network of dentists – not just the waiting period.
Can you get instant cover for major dental?
Major dental and orthodontic treatments almost always require you to serve the full 12-month waiting period. Major dental includes procedures like root canals, crowns, dentures, veneers and periodontal work, while orthodontics covers things like braces, clear aligners, and retainers. These treatments are more expensive and complex, so health insurers are much less likely to waive the waiting periods.
There are two exceptions where waiting periods may not apply:
- You’ve already served them with your previous fund and you’re switching to a policy with the same or lower level of cover. In that case, the new insurer will usually recognise your previous cover and won’t make you re-serve waiting times.
- A rare promotional deal includes major dental or orthodontics – but these are uncommon and usually come with very specific terms.
