Benefit Waiting Period (BWP)
For Groups Headquartered Domestically
At initial submission of the group the benefit waiting period (BWP) may be waived upon the employer’s request. This should be checked on the Employer Application and consistently applied to all employees. BWPs must be consistently applied to all employees, including newly hired key employees.
The BWP for future employees may be the first of the month following 0 days, 30 days, or 60 days following the date of hire. Aetna does not have a date of hire BWP.
A change to the benefit waiting period may only be made on the plan anniversary date. No retroactive BWP changes will be allowed.
For new hires the eligibility date will be the first day of the month following the waiting period. If “0” days is selected and the employee is hired on the first of the month, the effective date will be the date of hire. Please note, if the 30th or 60th day falls on the first of the month, the effective date will be the first of that month.
| BWP Examples | Effective Date of Employee |
| 0 Days | Date of hire: 4/1 > Effective date: 4/1 |
| 0 Days | Date of hire: 4/18 > Effective date 5/1 |
| 30 Days | Date of hire: 4/18 > Effective date: 6/1 |
| 60 Days | Date of hire: 4/18 > Effective date: 7/1 |
For Groups Headquartered Internationally
At initial submission of the group the benefit waiting period (BWP) may be waived upon the employer’s request. BWPs must be consistently applied to all employees, including newly hired key employees.
The BWP for future employees may be the date of hire (DOH), first of the month following 0 days, first of the month following 30 days, first of the month following 60 days, or 90 days.
One BWP may be selected and must be consistently applied within a class of employees as defined by the employer.
A reduction to the benefit waiting period may only be made on the plan anniversary date.
An increase in the BWP may be requested once in a 12-month period and may be requested either on or off the anniversary date.
BWP Examples | Effective date of Employee |
DOH | Date of hire: 4/18 > Effective date: 4/18 |
1st of month following 0 Days | Date of hire: 4/18 > Effective date: 5/1 |
1st of Month Following 30 days | Date of Hire: 4/2 > Effective date: 5/1 |
1st of Month Following 30 Days | Date of hire: 4/18 > Effective date: 6/1 |
1st of Month Following 60 days | Date of Hire: 4/18 > Effective date 7/1 |
90 Days | Date of hire: 4/18 > Effective date: 7/16 |
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