Health Insurance Portability Rules, Benefits & Process

Insurance portability makes it possible to port your existing health insurance policy from one insurance company to another or even from one health insurance plan to another. It can be done without having to sacrifice the benefits earned by you during the tenure of your existing insurance policy. In India, this provision has been made by IRDAI and is applicable to all individual as well as family floater plans for health insurance coverage.

Whether your current plan is not working for you or simply found a better plan elsewhere, portability lets you port your health insurance policy without starting from scratch. Let us discuss portability, health insurance portability guidelines, and how to port health insurance policy.

Health or medical insurance portability can be described as a feature where you are free to switch insurers or switch insurance policies offered by the same insurer without affecting continuity. Portability, which was introduced by IRDAI, meant that a waiting period and other benefits could be carried over when you switched between insurance policies. It's worth noting that portability applies to your individual health policies and family floater plans. Group health insurance policies issued through employers generally do not qualify for portability under the same rules.

Unexplained premium hikes, unreliable customer support, poor CSR, and a limited network of hospitals are some practical reasons why you should port your health insurance policy. Keep scrolling through to know in detail:

• If your insurer has a history of delayed or rejected claims, it's a reasonable trigger to look elsewhere.
• You may find another insurer offering higher coverage at the same or lower cost.
• Some insurers have great cashless hospital networks, which matters a lot during emergencies.
• Things like your no-claim bonuses, restoration benefits, OPD cover, or mental health cover vary significantly between insurers.
• If your premium has been increased at the health insurance renewal date but your benefits haven't improved, portability is a sensible option to explore.
• Long response times, unhelpful support, or complicated claim processes are all valid reasons for you to switch.

The process to port your health insurance policy is very easy. Follow the steps below:

Start early (At least 45 days before renewal)

As per IRDAI regulations, you must start the process of portability at least 45 days before your existing plan gets renewed. A delay can lead to losing the portability request window offered by your insurer.

Research and shortlist a new insurer

Check out different plans of insurance companies and compare their sum assured, premiums, CSR, network hospitals, and other health insurance benefits. You can also compare objectively using the IRDAI website

Fill out your form with the new insurer

Go ahead and fill in the proposal form and portability form for your chosen insurance company.

Submit the required documents

You are now required to share information about your existing coverage, claims, and medical history, if applicable. The new insurer will contact your existing insurer. Once you submit your request, the new insurance company should collect your details from your current insurer via the IRDAI website within 7 working days.

Underwriting and decision process

Your new provider will evaluate your application. You might be asked to undergo a medical examination based on your age and medical history. They need to give you their decision within 15 days after receiving all your information.

Policy issuance

Once approved, your new policy will be issued with continuity of benefits from your previous insurer. Pay the new premium, and you're done. You can initiate portability online through the new insurer's website, or directly visit a branch or authorised agent. Most major insurers in India now support the entire process digitally.

Keeping all necessary medical reports, policy documents, previous claim records, and government identification cards with you before starting the application process will help you save time. Essential documents for porting a policy include:

• Copy of your existing health insurance policy
• Renewal notice from your existing insurance company
• Your claims record for previous years
• Schedule of previous policies (each year)
• Proposal form from your new insurance company
• KYC documents (PAN, Aadhaar card, and passport)
• Passport-sized photographs
• Medicine prescription (if any)
• Bank account details for making premium payments

The new insurer may request you to submit additional documents depending on your health profile and the level of sum insured you're applying for.

You can port your health insurance policy in order to get superior benefits like better coverage, no-claim bonus, wider network of hospitals, a better cashless experience, improved customer support, and claim experience.

• Continuity of waiting period credits: You retain the waiting period already served for pre-existing disease coverage, and you don't have to start from zero with a new insurer.
• Access to better coverage: Porting gives you the freedom to move to a plan with a higher sum insured, better features, or a lower premium.
• No-claim bonus retention: Your accumulated NCB may be honoured by the new insurer, subject to their terms.
• Better claim settlement experience: You can move to an insurer with a higher claim settlement ratio and a smoother process.
• Wider cashless hospital network:Switch to an insurer whose network includes more hospitals near you.
• Improved customer service

If your current insurer's support has been poor, portability lets you find one that actually responds.

These are regulations and guidelines to keep a check on the process of health insurance portability. You should be aware of the following health insurance portability rules:

• You can apply for a portability application before the policy renewal date.
• Application for portability should be made at least 45 days before the expiry date of your current policy.
• The new insurance company should collect your details from your previous insurer within 7 days.
• The new insurance company should notify you about its decision within 15 days of receiving your documents. Failure to do so is treated as acceptance.
• Continuity is available for waiting periods that you have already served, and the new insurer cannot force a new waiting period on you for conditions that are already covered under the old policy.
• You are allowed to port between an individual and a family floater plan.
• Your new insurance company can’t deny portability just because there have been claims to the previous insurance company.

The rules regarding portability stipulated by IRDAI are only applicable to IRDAI-insured policies issued in India. Top-up plans are also eligible for porting.

Porting health insurance presents you with an opportunity to choose the right plan with an intensive network of hospitals, optional riders for added benefits, along with co-payment options to optimise your policy based on your needs and use case.

• Look at the network hospital list to ensure your preferred hospitals, as well as those near your place, are covered in your cashless facility.
• Check out the sub-limits and exclusion clauses, as there might be limits on your room rent, procedure fees, and even diseases.
• Opt for the top-up rider because if your entire sum insured gets exhausted, this rider can restore it for other illnesses in the same year.
• Evaluate the no-claim bonus structure as some plans increase your sum insured by 10–50% for every claim-free year, and that compounding benefit is worth factoring in.

For any conditions that are not covered under portability, check how long your new waiting period will be. Premium should not be your only deciding factor because the quality of insurance coverage, insurer goodwill/ reputation, and claims history carry equal weight.

Can I switch health insurance policy in India?

Yes. You can switch your individual or family floater health plan to another insurance provider during renewal. However, this can only be done if you start the process at least 45 days prior to the due date of your policy.

What does portability of health insurance mean?

Porting your health insurance means transferring your health insurance policy from one insurer to another. This also carries forward the benefits, such as the waiting period that you have already completed for any pre-existing disease or illness to be insured.

Can I port my existing mediclaim policy?

Yes, you can port your existing mediclaim or indemnity health insurance plan. You can migrate a health insurance policy to any individual, family floater, or mediclaim plan.

How many days before we can port health insurance?

You should make an application for portability 45 days prior to the expiry of your ongoing plan. It may result in a renewal of your plan with the current company if you fail to do so or submit it late.

Can I port my health insurance policy if I have pre-existing conditions?

Yes. Pre-existing medical conditions do not prevent you from opting for portability. If your old policy had a 3-year waiting period and you had fulfilled 2 years of it. Then the new insurer can only ask you to fulfil the remaining 1 year before covering pre-existing conditions.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this blog is intended solely for general awareness and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider for personalised recommendations and care.