The info posted in my post is contained in this pdf download, from the HIA web-site:

http://www.hia.ie/assets/files/publications/Consumer_Info_Brochures/HIA%20Choices%20Jan2010.pdf

Page 4 contains the waiting period based on age information.

Do I have to serve a waiting period when I take out health insurance for the first time?

Ans. on P4, (really page 6 of PDF)

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As S.Goggins has said, those waiting periods apply to new conditions.

Info regarding pre-existing conditions and age-related waiting periods also in that Doc, also on Page 4.

I have a medical condition. Do I have to serve additional waiting periods before I am covered for this?

If you are taking out health insurance for the first time and have a pre-existing condition e.g. diabetes, the health insurer can impose a waiting period in respect of cover for treatment for this condition. The maximum waiting periods that the health insurer may impose in this case are as follows:
• 5 years, for a person who is under the age of 55 years.
• 7 years, for a person who is of or over the age of 55 years and under the age of 60 years.
• 10 years for a person who is 60 years or over.

These waiting periods may apply from the date of policy commencement. It should be noted that whether or not a
condition existed at the time that an insured person began serving a waiting period is decided on the basis of medical advice. Whether or not the insured person was aware that they had the condition at the time that they started serving the waiting period may be considered not to be relevant by the insurer. If this matter is important to you, you should consider
clarifying it with your insurer.

So, watch out for possible conditions which you may not consider to be “major on-going issues”.

The above waiting periods apply to new conditions. You should also take note of the pre-existing condition waiting periods associated with taking out health insurance in Ireland for the first time.
For those over 60 a 10 year waiting period applies to pre-existing conditions. These are defined as any condition which can be proven to exist prior to taking out health insurance, regardless of whether the person was aware of this condition or had presented with symptoms prior to the commencement of the policy.

Generally, there is no age restriction on taking out Health Insurance for the first time, Company’s have to quote you, based on Community Rating.

However, the following is a real restriction based on age bands under-55, 55-65, over-65:

Do I have to serve a waiting period when I take out health insurance for the first time?

If you are taking out health insurance for the first time or have allowed your cover to lapse for 13 weeks or more, you will be covered for accident and injury claims immediately.

However an insurer may apply a waiting period to all other claims.

The waiting periods that an insurer may apply in these circumstances are as follows:

26 weeks in respect of a person who is under the age of 55 years.

52 weeks in respect of a person who is of or over the age of 55 years and under the age of 65 years.

104 weeks in respect of a person who is 65 years and over.