Policies with no health questionnaire: what you give up

Key rules

• Emergencies: Emergency and urgent care is covered from day one, with no waiting period.
• Maternity: Maternity cover commonly has a wait of about 8 months from the start date, so a policy bought during pregnancy will not cover the birth.
• Pre-existing conditions: Removing waiting periods does not usually make existing conditions covered.
• Waivers: Any waiver of waiting periods must be written into your policy's special conditions.

The trade in one line

A policy with no health questionnaire gets you in easily. In return, expect longer waits, lower limits or narrower cover. Whether that is a good deal depends on what care you expect to need, and when.

What you may give up

Waiting periods. A waiting period is a stretch after the policy starts when a service is not yet covered. Typical ones on individual policies in Spain:

• Emergency and urgent care: none. It is covered from day one.
• Consultations and basic tests: usually none.
• Advanced tests such as MRI or CT scans: commonly 3 to 6 months.
• Surgery and hospital stays: commonly 6 months, sometimes 8 to 10 months for some operations.
• Maternity: the wait is about 8 months from the start date, and some insurers ask for 10. A policy bought during pregnancy will not cover the birth.
• Assisted reproduction: 12 months or more.
• Transplants and high-cost treatments: up to 12 months.
• Psychology and rehabilitation: sometimes 3 to 6 months.

Many insurers apply no waiting periods, or only some. The exact table is in each policy's general conditions and differs by product.

Pre-existing conditions. Skipping the questionnaire does not mean your existing conditions are covered. Removing waits does not usually remove exclusions for them. Ask directly what is excluded.

Limits and scope. Check for lower annual limits, fewer covered procedures and a smaller list of doctors or hospitals. These are the other common price of simple entry.

When waiting periods can be removed or cut

• A promotional campaign for new customers, often for a limited time.
• A company or group policy, which usually has no waits for people who join at the start.
• Moving from another insurer, with proof of your previous cover.
• A newborn added to a parent's policy within a set time after birth, often 30 days. The deadline varies by insurer, so ask.
• An extra premium that removes or shortens waits.

Eligibility depends on the insurer, and sometimes on your age and a health declaration. Get any waiver written into the special conditions of your policy, not just promised by the salesperson.

How to weigh it

1. List the care you might need in the next 12 months.
2. Compare it with the waits above. If you need an operation, an advanced test or a birth soon, a long wait may make the policy useless for that purpose.
3. If you mostly want consultations, basic tests and emergency cover, a no-questionnaire policy can work well.
4. Compare the same product with and without a questionnaire. Sometimes the questionnaire version has shorter waits or higher limits.

The timeline and questions below show what you can use and when.

Timeline and deadlines

• Use emergency and urgent care: From day one of the policy

• Book consultations and basic tests: Usually no wait

• Book advanced tests such as MRI or CT scans: After 3 to 6 months

• Plan maternity care: After 8 months from the policy start date

• Plan assisted reproduction, transplants or high-cost treatments: After 12 months or more

Frequently asked questions

Can I get the waiting periods removed on a policy with no questionnaire?

Sometimes, because insurers waive waiting periods (carencias) in promotions, company group policies, transfers with proof of previous cover, or for an extra premium. Eligibility depends on the insurer and sometimes on your age. A waiver does not usually remove exclusions for pre-existing conditions, so ask for it to be written into the condiciones particulares, the personal terms of your policy.

How long are the waits for surgery and advanced tests?

Surgery and hospitalisation commonly have a 6-month wait, and sometimes 8 to 10 months for some operations. Advanced tests such as MRI or CT scans commonly wait 3 to 6 months. Basic consultations and tests usually have no wait.

Can a newborn join my policy without waiting periods?

Yes, a newborn of insured parents can usually join with no waiting periods if added within a set time after birth, often 30 days. Check the exact deadline with your insurer before the birth.