We discuss protection for pre-existing conditions in health insurance
We answer queries by our viewers on pre-existing diseases or pre-existing illnesses
Pre-existing ailments are health conditions existing at the time of purchasing health insurance policy
They prevent you from getting health insurance protection for a pre-specified period
Health insurance coverage starts after the period gets over
We take up queries of viewers who want to know whether their pre-existing conditions will be covered
When you are about to buy a health insurance policy, you need to accurately and truthfully disclose your pre-existing conditions
Your health and other information go to a medical underwriter who reviews your health risk
After examining the facts of the case, recommendation is made to the company to respond
The insurance company can choose to cover the condition 2, 3 or 4 years after buying the policy
You could be charged higher premium
The company can also decide not to offer you a health insurance cover
The key to coverage of pre-existing conditions by health insurance policy are their disclosures at the proposal stage
One of the common reasons for health insurance claim rejection is the absence of upfront disclosure of pre-existing conditions
Other illnesses caused from the undisclosed pre-existing conditions will also lead to claim rejection
Chinmay Bora asks if one can get a health insurance protection even after having pre-existing conditions
On disclosing pre-existing condition in your proposal form, insurance company decides whether to issue a policy
It will take a call on the exclusion period when you will not be covered
And whether you will be charged a higher premium
Pre-existing illness or pre-existing ailment will get covered provided who made an upfront disclosure
Self-certification or any other certification for pre-existing conditions after policy issue doesn’t work and risks claim rejection
Shireen Rose Rodrigues asks whether pre-existing disease will be health insurance covered if it happened 10 years ago?
It will be covered if disclosed at the time of buying the health insurance policy
The company needs to decide whether you have pre-existing conditions and may also not consider it so
For pre-existing illness, the coverage for the illness gets excluded for a period but you get covered for other illnesses
Mashududan R asks whether pre-existing disease is covered irrespective of disclosure after waiting period
If you haven’t disclosed the pre-existing condition, you will not be covered
The claim can be rejected on the grounds of it being a “voidable agreement”
Company can argue that had you disclosed the pre-existing disease, it would have declined the cover or charged higher premium
Rohan Mane’s insurance proposal has been rejected due to pre-existing condition and he wants to know what can be done
We suggest you submit proposals to other companies
Explore the possibility of group health insurance at workplace provided by employer or through an association of employees
The chances of your individual coverage becomes higher when you are in a group covered by health insurance
The same effort can be made to create a group of people in a locality or residential complex seeking health insurance
You can seek health insurance coverage through a family floater health insurance policy taken by another family member
Create an emergency fund of 3 months or more of monthly expenses earmarked solely for health expenses
Anjan Jain inquires that is there was disease in childhood i.e 5th standard, is it pre-existing disease. His current age is 29 years
Let the company evaluate whether it is a pre-existing disease or not after you accurately disclose it in the proposal
If your proposal is rejected, that will ensure that your claim isn’t rejected later after paying premiums
If insurance company terms it as a pre-existing disease, during the exclusion period you are covered for other illnesses
For claims settlement, companies make efforts to find out the minutest details of medical history
Mission Das is 58 and has diabetes and kidney transplant in the form of pre-existing diseases
He wants to know which company can provide health insurance to him
You will need to submit proposal forms to different companies
Make an insurance agent or broker help you
You can back up your health insurance with an emergency fund