A. Pre-existing disease means any condition, ailment, injury or disease: a) That is diagnosed by a physician in the 48 months prior to the effective date of the policy issued by the insurer or its reinstatement, or b) For which medical advice or treatment was recommended by, or received from, a physician in the 48 months prior to the effective date of the policy issued by the insurer or its reinstatement. This also means that a condition is considered a pre-existing disease if the customer is aware of the ailment. Insurers typically don’t cover pre-existing conditions from day one and have a waiting period for such cases, which could go up to four years.