Official wording — reproduced verbatim
What the standard text says
a) Expenses related to the treatment of a pre-existing Disease (PED) and its direct complications shall be excluded until the expiry of #### months of continuous coverage after the date of inception of the first policy with insurer.
b) In case of enhancement of sum insured the exclusion shall apply afresh to the extent of sum insured increase.
c) If the Insured Person is continuously covered without any break as defined under the portability norms of the extant IRDAI (Health Insurance) Regulations, then waiting period for the same would be reduced to the extent of prior coverage.
d) Coverage under the policy after the expiry of ##### months for any pre-existing disease is subject to the same being declared at the time of application and accepted by Insurer.
(Explanation: Subject to product design the number of months, not exceeding 48 months, shall be specified or a reference may be given to the policy schedule)
The hash marks appear in IRDAI's official template. Each insurer must replace them with the period used in that filed product or point to the policy schedule.
Source: IRDAI, Guidelines on Standardization of Exclusions in Health Insurance Contracts, page 6. Open the official PDF ↗
In plain English — our reading
What that means on the page
Treatment of a condition that existed before the policy began, and its direct complications, may have a policy-specific waiting period. Prior continuous cover can reduce that period under portability rules. The condition must also have been declared and accepted.
This explains the standard wording. Your policy schedule, endorsements and other clauses may change how the document applies to you.