Pre-existing diseases (PEDs) like diabetes or hypertension can complicate your health insurance journey, often leading to higher premiums or waiting periods. However, by understanding how Pre-existing diseases are defined and handled by insurers especially the 48-month lookback rule, you can still secure comprehensive coverage.
Let us imagine you apply for a health insurance policy at a top health insurance company in India for your elderly parents who have a medical condition like diabetes.
So what happens next?
The insurer either approves your application with higher premiums than usual or rejects your application.
Now both of these happen because your parents have a pre-existing disease.
So let us answer questions like, what is a pre-existing disease? How do we purchase a health insurance policy with a pre-existing condition? And how does this affect group health insurance and individual health insurance plans?
According to the IRDAI, pre-existing disease or a pre-existing condition refers to any ailment, illness, disease or injury which is diagnosed by a physician within 2 years (48 months) before purchasing your health insurance policy.
In simple words, 48 months prior to the effective date of the policy issued by the insurer, if you suffer from any disease or ailment that requires medical treatment then, it is considered as a pre-existing disease.
Some of the most common pre-existing diseases in health insurance include:
These conditions require long-term medical management, which is why insurers treat them as higher risk.
Well, the answer is simple because when suffering from a pre-existing condition like thyroid, cancer, asthma, cardiac problems, or any other named ailments you are more likely to file a health insurance claim. It means your health insurer is at a greater financial risk. At the end of the day, even the health insurance companies wish to run a profitable business.
One of the biggest advantages of group health insurance is the way it handles pre-existing diseases. Unlike individual policies, which often impose long waiting periods or higher premiums, a group health insurance plan typically offers broader and more accessible coverage.
Here are some of the major advantages of group health insurance cover for employees with pre-existing diseases:
Most group health insurance policies offered by employers cover pre-existing diseases from the first day of the policy. This means employees do not have to wait for years to receive treatment coverage for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or asthma.
In many cases, employees joining a group health insurance plan are not required to undergo medical tests. This makes it easier for individuals with existing health conditions to access insurance coverage without facing policy rejection.
A group health insurance policy spreads the risk across a large number of employees. Because the insurer is covering an entire workforce rather than a single individual, premiums are significantly lower compared to individual health insurance plans.
Many group insurance for employees plans allow workers to extend the coverage to their spouses, children, and sometimes even parents. This ensures that family members with pre-existing diseases can also benefit from the group health insurance cover.
Employers often choose comprehensive group health insurance plans that include large hospital networks, preventive health checkups, and wellness programs. This makes it easier for employees with chronic conditions to manage their health effectively.
Because of these benefits, group health insurance has become one of the most important employee benefits offered by companies today. For employees who already have a pre-existing disease, a group health insurance policy can provide immediate financial protection and access to quality healthcare.
Insurance companies carefully assess an applicant’s health history before issuing a health insurance policy. The goal is to determine whether the person already has a pre-existing disease that may affect coverage terms, waiting periods, or premiums.
Insurers use several methods to identify pre-existing diseases before approving a policy:
Medical tests during policy purchase
For many individual health insurance policies, insurers may require applicants to undergo medical tests. These screenings help detect conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart problems that may qualify as a pre-existing disease.
Past medical records
Insurance companies may review previous medical records to identify past diagnoses or treatments. If an illness was treated or diagnosed before buying the policy, it may be categorized as a pre-existing disease.
Prescription history
Regular prescriptions for medicines related to chronic conditions like thyroid disorders or asthma can indicate the presence of a pre-existing disease.
Hospitalization records
Previous hospital admissions or surgeries can also signal an existing medical condition that needs to be disclosed during the policy application.
Claim history from previous insurers
If the applicant had a prior health insurance policy, insurers may review claim records. Past claims related to chronic illnesses can indicate a pre-existing disease.
It is always important to disclose any existing medical condition while purchasing a health insurance policy. If an insurer discovers a pre-existing disease that was not disclosed earlier, the company may reject the claim or even cancel the policy.
For employees covered under a group health insurance policy, the process is usually simpler because medical screenings are rarely required. This is one of the key reasons why group insurance for employees is considered a valuable workplace benefit.
Well there are two ways to purchase a health insurance policy with a pre-existing disease.
Buy and Wait- Firstly, you can purchase a health insurance policy and wait. Yes, it's that simple. People with a pre-existing period can also get coverage for their ailments after a certain period commonly known as a pre-existing disease waiting period. However, it depends on the type of health insurance policy you opt for and the terms and conditions of your policy.
Even pregnancy is considered as a pre-existing condition hence, your maternity insurance has a certain waiting period.
Buy and Pay Higher Premiums- Secondly, you can purchase health insurance and pay higher premiums to waive some of your pre-existing disease waiting period.
The pre-existing disease waiting period varies from one insurer to another. It can be mostly a period between 1 to 4 years in most cases. Also, it largely depends on factors like your age, your condition, the type of health insurance policy, etc.
So, if you file for a health insurance claim for such specific diseases in between this period, your claim may get rejected.
💡Use online health insurance premium calculator to compare and estimate your premiums instantly.
Pointers to keep in mind before the policy purchase for people with pre-existing disease
Always read the terms and conditions of your health insurance policy. Because the waiting period for the pre-existing disease varies across different insurance companies. Some health insurance companies also offer a benefit known as “waiver of a pre-existing condition”. With this, you can cover your pre-existing illness and its treatment costs.
Not all conditions you suffer are pre-existing diseases. In simple words, not all doctor visits count. If you suffer from a cold, cough, fever, etc then do not panic. Insurance companies consider only those diseases which have an impact over the long run.
It is always a bad idea to hide your pre-existing disease. There are high chances that your insurer may reject your claim or decide to not cover you at all. However, the insurer cannot deny you a health insurance policy on the grounds of pre-existing illness.
It is always a good idea to purchase your health insurance policy in the early years when you are healthy. Such that the insurer starts covering you from day 1 for any medical condition.
Some insurers will ask you to pay a higher premium and in turn, they waive or reduce the pre-existing disease waiting period.
Understand co-payment clauses
Some health insurance plans with PED coverage come with a co-payment clause, meaning you’ll need to bear a fixed percentage of the total bill (like 10–30%). Always check this before purchase.
Check insurer's claim settlement ratio
Opt for an insurer with a high claim settlement ratio, this increases the chances of your claim being approved, even if it involves a PED.
Look for disease-specific plans
For chronic PEDs like diabetes or cancer, some insurers offer specialized plans with better coverage, benefits, and reduced waiting periods.
Disclose lifestyle habits
Habits like smoking or drinking may impact how your PED is evaluated. Full transparency ensures your policy remains valid during claims.
Not all network hospitals may offer specialized care for chronic illnesses. While choosing a policy:
So all the above-mentioned effects of pre-existing disease on health insurance are applicable for individual health insurance policies and other family floater policies only.
While purchasing your individual health insurance plan or family floater plan, you have to undergo a mandatory health check-up. It screens you for any medical condition or any disease you suffer. But this is not the case with a group health insurance policy plan that your organization or your employer provide.
Yes, you heard it right! A bit of a shocker isn’t it?
When your organization provides you with a group health insurance policy, all your pre-existing diseases are covered from day 1 with 0 waiting period.
Well, how does this happen?
In a group health insurance policy the risk factor is spread across your employees and not on a single employee. Furthermore, the premiums paid are much lesser than an individual insurance policy.
Pretty cool, isn’t it?
You can always purchase a health insurance policy with a pre-existing disease. You can either purchase health insurance plans specifically for pre-existing diseases like cancer or diabetes and get coverage for your conditions. Or else, you can purchase a health insurance plan with a pre-existing diseases waiting period. However, these may vary from one insurer to another depending upon their terms and conditions.
At Pazcare we provide group health insurance policies for your employees at the best prices. You can customize the plan according to the needs of your workforce. The pre-existing diseases are covered from day 1 with 0 waiting periods. The employees can also opt for a maternity cover along with their group plan. Check out our group health insurance guide to know more about it. Not only that you can also cover your workforce with group personal accident cover and group term insurance to protect their families financially against any unforeseen circumstances. The best part is administering all of these benefits at a single place using the Pazcare dashboard.
Talk to our team to get more insights about the plan and its benefits. Get a competitive quote for your team and get started.
A pre-existing disease (PED) is any medical condition, illness, or injury that was diagnosed or treated by a doctor within 48 months (4 years) before purchasing a health insurance policy. Common examples include diabetes, hypertension, asthma, thyroid, and heart disease.
Any chronic or ongoing condition that requires medical attention or medication before the policy start date is considered a pre-existing condition.
It’s the timeframe (usually 1–4 years) after buying the policy during which treatment for pre-existing conditions is not covered.
Yes, diabetes is one of the most common pre-existing diseases.
It covers pre-existing diseases from day 1 with no medical tests.
Many group medical insurance plans (including those available via Pazcare) offer coverage for pre-existing conditions from day one, depending on the insurer and policy terms.
Any condition diagnosed, treated, or showing symptoms before the policy start date is considered a pre-existing disease.
Yes, many modern policies now offer day-one coverage for pre-existing conditions, especially when customised through platforms like Pazcare.
Best pricing for you.
Best claim support for your team.
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