Effective Date

The effective date is the day your insurance coverage officially begins. From this date forward, you are eligible to receive benefits for covered health, dental, life, or disability expenses under the terms of your policy. The effective date is established once your application has been approved, all requirements are met, and the first premium payment has been received, unless otherwise specified in the policy.

In group insurance, the effective date usually corresponds to the employee’s start date or the date they become eligible for benefits after completing a probationary or waiting period. In individual insurance, the effective date is confirmed in your policy documents or certificate of insurance and may differ from the date you applied or were approved. Knowing your effective date ensures that you understand when coverage begins and helps avoid gaps between plans.

Example:

If your health insurance application is approved on March 10 and your policy states that coverage becomes effective on April 1, any eligible expenses incurred on or after April 1 will be reimbursable, while costs before that date will not.

What to Watch For:

Keep a record of your policy’s effective date and review it when changing plans or employers to ensure continuous coverage. Waiting periods or specific benefit delays, such as for dental or major medical expenses, may apply even after the effective date. For travel insurance, coverage typically begins on the departure date listed in the policy.