A period of time an individual must wait either to become eligible for insurance coverage, or to become eligible for a given benefit after overall coverage has commenced. This does not generally refer to the amount of time it takes to process an application for insurance, but rather is a defined period before benefits become payable. Some policies will not pay maternity benefits, for example, until nine months after the policy has been in force. Another common waiting period occurs in group insurance offered through a place of employment where coverage may not start until an employee has been with a firm over 30 days. For disabled persons to be covered under Medicare, there is a waiting period of two years; a person must be entitled to social security disability benefits for two years before medical benefits start.