What is a Pre-existing disease (PED) waiting period?
A pre-existing disease (PED) waiting period is the time you must hold a policy before conditions you already had when buying are covered. During this window, claims arising from those conditions are excluded. IRDAI has been reducing the maximum length of this waiting period in recent years.
How the PED waiting period works
A pre-existing disease is generally one you were diagnosed with, or took treatment or advice for, before buying the policy (within a defined look-back window). Cover for such conditions begins only after you have held the policy continuously for the stated waiting period.
The exact length depends on the plan and current regulation, and some plans let you buy the waiting period down. Always read the PED clause and your declared conditions carefully, because non-disclosure is a leading cause of claim rejection.
Example
You disclose diabetes when buying the policy. A diabetes-linked hospitalisation in the first year may be excluded under the PED clause, while the same claim after the waiting period ends would be payable.
Common mistakes
- Not disclosing an existing condition, which can void the claim later.
- Assuming the PED clock restarts if you port to another insurer; continuous coverage credit usually carries over on porting.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the PED waiting period?
It varies by plan and has been shortened under recent IRDAI norms. Check your policy's PED clause for the exact period, and whether a buy-down option is available.
Does porting reset the PED waiting period?
Porting to a new insurer generally preserves the continuous-coverage credit you have already earned, so you usually do not start the waiting period again from zero.