Health Insurance Portability: Switch Insurers Without Starting Over

Are you stuck with a health insurance policy whose premiums keep rising, whose claim service is poor, or whose network hospitals don't suit you? Since 2011, IRDAI (Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India) has given policyholders the right to port their health insurance to any other insurer while retaining the most valuable benefits they have accumulated.

What is Health Insurance Portability?

Portability allows you to transfer from one health insurer to another — or between plans within the same insurer — while carrying forward your accumulated waiting period credits and no-claim bonus. Without portability, if you switch insurers, you would restart all waiting periods from scratch — meaning pre-existing conditions would not be covered for another 2–4 years.

What Transfers When You Port?

  • Waiting period credit: If you have completed 2 years of a 4-year PED waiting period, the new insurer credits you with those 2 years. You only wait 2 more years, not 4.
  • No Claim Bonus: Accumulated NCB transfers to the new policy, subject to the new insurer's terms.
  • Sum insured continuity: You can port to a higher sum insured, and the waiting period credit applies to the original amount. Additional top-up coverage may have fresh waiting periods.

Who is Eligible to Port?

Any individual or family floater policyholder can port, provided:

  • The current policy has been renewed without a break at least once (one year of continuous coverage)
  • The portability request is made at least 45 days before the renewal date
  • The policyholder applies to the new insurer — not the old one

Step-by-Step Portability Process

Step 1: Research the New Insurer

Compare plans, claim settlement ratios, network hospitals, premiums and coverage features of target insurers. Identify the plan you want to move to.

Step 2: Apply 45–60 Days Before Renewal

Approach the new insurer and fill out the portability proposal form. Mention that you want to port from your current insurer. Apply at least 45 days before your current policy's expiry date — if you apply too late, the new insurer may not be able to process it in time.

Step 3: Provide Required Documents

  • Portability form filled and signed
  • Copies of all previous policy documents
  • Claim history for the past 3–5 years
  • Medical reports if any claims were made
  • KYC documents (Aadhaar, PAN)

Step 4: New Insurer Requests Data from Old Insurer

The new insurer contacts your current insurer via the IRDAI portability portal to obtain your policy history. The old insurer must respond within 7 working days.

Step 5: Underwriting Decision

The new insurer reviews your health profile and claim history. They may accept at standard premium, load the premium for health conditions, or in rare cases decline. They must communicate their decision before your current policy lapses.

Step 6: Pay New Premium and Complete Port

Once accepted, pay the new premium and receive your ported policy. Ensure the policy document correctly records your previous insurer, policy number and the waiting period credit.

Common Portability Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying too close to renewal — the 45-day window is not optional
  • Allowing a gap in coverage — even one day's lapse can invalidate portability
  • Expecting to port to a lower sum insured (portability credits apply to original amount only)
  • Not carrying forward the claim history accurately, which can lead to claim rejection later

Is Porting Worth It?

Portability is valuable if your current insurer has poor claim service, rising premiums without commensurate coverage, or if a competitor offers significantly better benefits for the same premium. Use our comparison tool to evaluate whether the switch makes financial sense before you initiate the process.