If you don't renew your health insurance policy before the due date, it will expire. This means that you are no longer covered by your insurer and that your insurer will not cover any costs you incur for your hospitalisation or treatment after your plan has expired.
What Happens to Your Coverage Under a Lapsed Health Insurance Policy?
With an expired health insurance plan, you are left without any health insurance coverage. If you are hospitalised during this lapse period, you are going to pay all the expenses out of your pocket.
Cashless treatment at network hospitals stops: Cashless treatment will no longer be available in case of an expired health insurance plan.
Cover for pre- and post-hospitalisation costs stops: All medical expenses related to the tests, consultations, medications, and pre- and post-hospitalisation become uncovered.
Day care and health check-up benefits stop: You lose access to benefits for day care procedures as well as preventive health check-ups available under your health policy.
Loss of accumulated policy benefits: With the expiration of your health insurance policy, all the accumulated policy benefits may become unavailable. Your no-claim bonus, waiting period credits on pre-existing diseases and moratorium period become unavailable.
What is the Grace Period in Health Insurance Renewal?
A grace period in health insurance is the extra time your insurer gives you to renew your health insurance policy after the premium due date. You can renew the policy during this period without losing important benefits.
If you pay your premium once a year, the grace period is usually 30 days.
If you pay your premium every month, the grace period is usually 15 days.
As long as you renew your policy within the grace period, your waiting periods and accumulated no-claim bonus (if applicable) will continue without interruption.
Note:
The grace period helps you maintain continuity of your policy benefits. However, in India, health insurance policies generally do not cover claims for illnesses or hospitalisations that occur during the grace period, unless the premium has already been paid and the policy has been renewed.
Can You Renew Health Insurance after it has expired?
Yes, it is possible to renew your health insurance even when it has already expired. If you pay the premium during the grace period, the policy is usually renewed as normal. You keep benefits such as your no-claim bonus and waiting period credit.
If you miss the grace period, your policy will lapse. You may then have to buy a new policy or check with your insurer to see if the old one can be reinstated. If reinstatement is allowed, you may need to complete a few extra formalities, such as a medical check-up or submitting additional documents.
Should You Reinstate or Buy New Health Insurance?
In most cases, reinstating health insurance is a better option. It allows you to retain valuable benefits. Buying a new policy is usually considered only when the insurer does not allow reinstatement or when you want to switch to a different plan.
Option | What you keep | What it costs you |
|---|---|---|
Reinstate the lapsed policy | Your waiting period credit and no-claim bonus, if approved | Fresh medical tests and a possible fee. |
Buy a new policy | Nothing from the old policy | Waiting periods start again, fresh underwriting, often a higher premium |
How Do You Check If Your Health Insurance Has Expired?
The exact process may vary slightly between insurers, but you can check your policy status online in a few minutes. Follow these steps:
First, log in to your insurer’s website or mobile application. Go to your policy page and check policy validity and renewal date.
Find out the date on which your policy needs to be renewed to determine if your health insurance policy is valid or not.
Contact customer support if needed. If you can't access your account, call your insurer's customer care and keep your policy number handy.
Search for any renewal alerts. Most of the insurers provide alerts via SMS or email regarding policy renewal.
Mark the renewal date. It is better to set up a reminder on your smartphone a few days prior to the renewal date.
How Can You Avoid Gaps in Health Insurance Coverage?
To avoid a gap in your health insurance coverage, renew a few days before the due date, not on the due date. A few small habits keep you covered without effort. Some of the steps include:
Turn on auto-pay so the premium is deducted on time.
Set a reminder a month before renewal, not a day before.
Choose a multi-year policy, so you renew less often.
Keep your phone number and email updated with the insurer.
Review your renewal notice early so you have enough time to arrange the premium and avoid missing the due date.
Key takeaways
Your health insurance coverage stops when the policy expires, and medical expenses incurred after that may not be covered.
The grace period is a short renewal window. Renewing within this period helps you retain continuity benefits.
If the policy lapses, you may lose accumulated benefits, including your no-claim bonus and waiting period credits.
Renewing your policy before the due date is the best way to avoid a coverage gap. You can set auto-pay and renewal reminders to help you stay on track.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your insurer's rules. Some insurers allow you to revive a lapsed health policy for a limited period after the grace period ends. However, a revival often requires fresh medical tests, additional documentation, or a fee.
Usually not. To carry your benefits to a new insurer through portability, you have to apply before the health policy expires, not after.
If you buy a new health insurance policy after your previous one has lapsed, the insurer will assess your current age, health condition, and other risk factors before deciding the premium. As a result, the premium may be higher than what you paid earlier.
Yes, if you renew within the grace period, you can keep your no-claim bonus and waiting period credits. However, if the policy lapses, you may lose these continuity benefits, and your no-claim bonus may be reset.
Normally, the policy number, an identity proof, and unpaid premiums are needed. However, the insurance company may require additional documents.
About the authors
Neviya Laishram
Written by · Senior Editor – Health, Life and Group Health Insurance Content at ACKOWith a journalism background, she brings 9 years of experience in strategising and editing health, life, and group health insurance content. Having written for magazines and digital publications, she combines research and editorial expertise to create credible, useful content for readers.
Dr Nitin Kumar Gupta
Reviewed by · SVP – Health Underwriting & Claims at ACKO General InsuranceWith 20+ years of experience in digital transformation and growth, he is a leader specialising in health, life, accident, and disability insurance. Backed by an MBBS degree and insurance designations (FLMI, FALU, FLHC, ACS, ARA), he combines expertise with leadership.
