One of my relatives recently purchased a mediclaim insurance policy for her father, who had a history of high blood pressure. About six months later, his blood pressure suddenly spiked he fainted and required immediate hospitalization.
Naturally, she assumed the medical expenses would be covered under the policy. To her shock, the insurance company rejected the claim.
Why?
Because high blood pressure was a pre-existing condition, and the treatment fell within the waiting period set by the insurer.
This incident is an important message, awareness, and reality of health insurance
This is normal that mostly Mediclaim companies do not cover pre-existing disease from day one. There is always a waiting period, but there are some option where you can get policies without waiting period at some point. You can check where you fit in these options.
5 Options to Get Mediclaim Insurance Without Waiting Period
- Senior Citizen Plans (e.g., Star Health Red Carpet)
Star Health-Senior citizen Red carpet plan offers PED coverage for people aged 60+ for one year or immediately, depending on the premium.
It’s up to you to choose a waiting period of one year or add little more premium to get coverage for your pre-existing disease from day one.
- Super Top-Up Plans:
Some insurers waive waiting periods on top-up plans if the base policy already covere the PED.
- Group Health Insurance (Applicable for Corporate)
Some big corporate employees get immediate treatment for pre-existing diseases like blood pressure, diabetes, asthma, etc. These plans are typically provided by employers or professional associations.
- International Health Plans
Some international plans (for expats or overseas travel) include PEDs, especially if required by law in that country.
- Specific Disease-Based Plans (e.g., Aditya Birla Chronic Management)
Aditya Birla Active Health with chronic Management Programme
This plan from Aditya Birla Active Health covers diabetes & hypertension with minimal waiting period if actively enrolled.
What You Need to Qualify for Day-One PED Coverage
- Select specialized health plans: Not every insurance plan covers your pre-existing conditions. The waiting period is often between 1-4 years. Make sure your insurer recommends you some specialized plan that covers pre-existing disease from day one or minimal waiting period.
- Ready to pay higher premium: If you choose to cover pre-existing disease from day one in your plan, You need to be prepared to pay a higher premium.
- Transparency in medical history: If you choose such a plan, always provide your entire medical history to your insurer to avoid issues during a medical emergency. After all, you are paying an extra premium for such a policy, so be open and transparent.
- Go for government medical schemes: Some government policies like (Ayushman Bharat) cover pre-existing disease from day one even for low-income groups.
If you’re searching for a health insurance plan that covers pre-existing diseases from day one or comes with the shortest possible waiting period, look no further than Insurance Mart.
Whether you need expert medical consultation or help choosing the right policy as per your needs, Insurance Mart is your trusted partner in making informed, stress-free decisions.
