Material Facts
What it means, and what it does to a claim.
Anything an insurer would want to know when deciding whether to cover you and on what terms — your medical history, habits, occupation and existing policies.
Why it matters
The proposal form is a legal declaration, and this is the standard it is judged against. A claim can be declined years later for a fact left out at the start, even one that had nothing to do with the illness being claimed for. If you are unsure whether something counts, the safe answer is always to disclose it.
The legal definition
Material Facts means all relevant information sought by the Company in the Proposal Form and other connected documents to enable it to take informed decision in the context of underwriting the risk.
Quoted verbatim from an IRDAI-filed policy wording. Definitions are standardised across insurers, but the limits attached to them are not — always read your own policy schedule.
Related terms
- Disclosure of information norm — The clause stating that the policy is void, and premiums forfeited, if information was misrepresented, mis-described or withheld.
- Notification of Claim — Telling the insurer or their TPA that a claim is coming, through any of the channels the policy recognises.
- Pre-existing disease (PED) — Any condition you were diagnosed with, or got medical advice or treatment for, in the years before the policy started.
Disclaimer: Figures shown here are compiled from IRDAI annual reports and public grievance disclosures, and from insurer public disclosures and policy wordings. Claim settlement ratios and complaint volumes are three-year averages for FY 2024–26. Premiums are indicative illustrations for the stated profile, not quotes — your actual premium depends on your age, health, city, habits and underwriting. Scores are Myinsurancebro's own assessment. Always read the official policy document and speak to an advisor before buying. Myinsurancebro is an IRDAI-licensed insurance advisor — we do not manufacture or underwrite any insurance product.