New Delhi, June 29 -- When buying health insurance, one of the most crucial steps is disclosing any pre-existing diseases (PEDs). Failure to do so can lead to a rude shock later, especially if a genuine claim is denied because of a past medical condition you didn't disclose.

So, what counts as a pre-existing condition, how far back must you go in your medical history, and are there any exceptions? Here's a detailed look.

The term 'pre-existing disease' typically refers to any condition, illness, or injury that an individual has been diagnosed with or treated for before purchasing the health insurance policy.

This includes chronic ailments like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, chronic kidney disease, heart-related issues, epilepsy...