If your condition is considered to be pre-existing, your health fund will impose a 12 month waiting period before you can claim for benefits relating to that condition. If you need to be admitted to hospital for a condition that you think may be pre-existing, check with your health fund in advance to ensure you’ll be covered for your medical treatment. It’s important to realise that even if you need to sit through this waiting period, you can still seek treatment through Medicare, if you think it’s medically urgent.