What is a pre-existing disease (PED)?
PED is one of the most common rejection grounds — and one of the most contested. Here's what it actually means.
The definition
A pre-existing disease is, broadly, a condition you were diagnosed with or had signs/treatment for before your policy began. The exact definition is in your policy wording — read it, because the precise words decide the case.
Why it matters
Policies usually exclude claims arising from a PED until a waiting period is completed. So insurers may cite PED to deny a claim made within that window.
When an insurer can — and can't — invoke it
The burden is generally on the insurer to show the condition genuinely pre-existed the policy. If your records don't show a prior diagnosis, you can ask them to share the medical basis for their conclusion rather than accepting it.
Frequently asked
Upload your policy and the insurer’s letter — Claim Saathi reads both, finds the exact clause, and helps you respond.
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