New Delhi, Feb. 6 -- When health insurance is purchased, coverage is expected to function smoothly when required. Before that protection begins, insurers study applicant details to decide the terms of the policy. As a buyer, this process directly affects premium, waiting periods, exclusions, and even whether a proposal is accepted. This process is known as underwriting. The sections below explain what it means and the factors that influence underwriting decisions.

Underwriting in health insurance is the process that insurers follow to understand the risk associated with an applicant's profile before offering medical coverage. Whenever a medical insurance policy is applied for, the insurer reviews certain parameters and, based on its eval...