Definition
Any medical condition you had, or were diagnosed or treated for, before buying a travel insurance policy, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. Many overseas policies exclude PED-linked claims or cover them only in life-threatening emergencies.
Why PED matters for Indian travellers
Many Indian travellers over 50, and plenty younger, live with diabetes, hypertension or thyroid conditions. If a claim abroad is linked to a condition you didn't declare, the insurer can reject it. For a parent admitted to hospital in London or New Jersey, that rejection can run into lakhs of rupees.
How travel policies treat PED
- Full exclusion: the cheapest policies cover nothing linked to a PED.
- Life-threatening emergencies only: many policies cover a PED only when it causes a life-threatening situation, often up to a sub-limit well below the main sum insured.
- Declared PED cover: some insurers cover declared conditions for a higher premium, sometimes after a questionnaire or medical tests for older travellers.
Example
A Kolkata couple in their 70s plans a two-week Europe tour. The father has hypertension controlled with medication. They pick a policy that covers PED in life-threatening emergencies and declare his condition. In Venice he has a hypertensive crisis and is admitted overnight. Because the condition was declared and the policy covers emergencies, the claim is paid, less the deductible.
Had they bought the cheapest plan without declaring, a bill of €2,000–5,000 (about ₹2–5 lakh) would have come out of their pocket.
Practical advice
- Declare every condition honestly, including those under control.
- Read the PED clause and its sub-limit, not just the brochure.
- Carry prescriptions, a doctor's letter and medicine for the whole trip plus a week, in hand luggage.
- Routine check-ups and refills abroad are not covered by any travel policy.
Senior citizens should buy early and compare policies through our travel insurance service.