Key idea
A new policy does not cover everything from day one. A set of waiting periods switch on cover in stages, and disclosure decides whether they ever pay.
Health policies come with waiting periods: spans during which certain claims are not payable. They exist so people cannot buy cover only after falling ill. Knowing them prevents an ugly surprise at claim time.
The waiting periods, in stages
| Type | Typical wait (IRDAI framework) |
|---|---|
| Accidents | Covered from day 1 |
| General illness (initial wait) | 30 days |
| 24 to 36 months | |
| Pre-existing diseases (PED) | Up to 36 months (capped) |
| Moratorium (non-disclosure protection) | 5 years / 60 months |
Two rules worth knowing
First, the maximum pre-existing-disease waiting period is now capped at 36 months (reduced from 48). A condition you had before buying, like diabetes or hypertension, is covered once that wait passes. Second, after five continuous years of cover (the moratorium), an insurer can no longer reject a claim for non- disclosure, except in cases of proven fraud.
The moratorium rewards staying continuously insured, and portability lets you carry your served waiting period to a new insurer, so you do not restart the clock. Figures follow current IRDAI norms; confirm the latest.
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