What Is Policy Porting in Health Insurance?

Ever purchased a health insurance plan, paid premiums, and even renewed it on time, only to find another plan that seems better tailored to your needs? Or perhaps, you came across a different insurance company with a simpler claim settlement process? Do you stop the plan then? What about your continuity benefits? It’s time for you to explore policy porting in health insurance and make the most of it!

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Policy Porting in Health Insurance

Policy porting in health insurance is the process of switching between insurance companies without losing the accrued benefits. It gives policyholders the freedom to move to a better health insurance provider, especially when they are unhappy or dissatisfied with the existing one.

In 2011, this dissatisfaction from consumer groups and policyholders prompted the IRDAI to implement policy porting in health insurance. The purpose of this facility was to give policyholders greater flexibility in choosing insurance providers while safeguarding them against interruptions and the loss of coverage for pre-existing conditions. This ensured that the waiting period did not restart while switching between insurers. In 2020, the IRDAI further expanded this facility to include all types of standard health plans, such as individual and family floater policies, making switching easier and retaining accrued benefits.

The IRDAI regulations ensure that when you port your policy:

The new insurer must honour the waiting period already completed with the previous insurer.
You are entitled to port to any individual or family health insurance policy of your choice, subject to underwriting.
The portability request must be submitted at least 45 days before the current policy’s renewal date.

Difference Between Policy Porting and Policy Migration

Whether you’re looking to change your insurer or upgrade to a better plan, chances are the terms policy porting and policy migration may cause some confusion. Here are some differences you should know about:

Policy Porting	Policy Migration

Transferring an existing health insurance policy to another insurer	Shifting from one health insurance plan to another within the same insurer
Waiting periods for pre-existing conditions and exclusions are transferred	Waiting periods reset only for newly added or upgraded benefits
Continuity of benefits is maintained	Benefits and coverage may change
Can only be done at the time of policy renewal	Can be done any time, usually during policy renewal
Follows IRDAI regulated process	Allowed by IRDAI but follows insurer-specific internal process
Premium changes depend on new insurer	Premium adjusted according to the new plan

In short, policy porting is about moving to a different insurer without losing benefits, while policy migration deals with changing plans within the same insurer with likely altered coverage and benefits.

Step-by-Step Process of Policy Porting in Health Insurance

Policy porting in India follows a structured process based on the guidelines stated by the IRDAI.

Step 1.svg

Apply to the New Insurer

Fill out the portability form along with the proposal form, and submit your request to the new insurance company, 45-60 days before the date of your current policy renewal.

Step 2.svg

Submit Required Documents

Share your existing policy details, previous claim history, if any, and renewal record with the new insurer.

Step 3.svg

Evaluation by New Insurer

The new insurer may evaluate your health status and claim history. They may accept, reject, or offer modified terms based on their underwriting.

Step 4.svg

Policy Approval and Activation

If the request is approved, your new policy is issued, and the benefits accrued from the old policy are retained.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Policy Porting

Waiting period for pre-existing conditions does not reset.

Option to upgrade to a plan with better benefits or higher sum insured.

Family floater policies can be ported together as a unit.

New insurers may reject or modify the application based on health or claim history.

Upgrades and features are subject to the new insurer’s approval.

Premium may be higher even for the same sum insured.

New add-on benefits may have their own waiting period.

Conclusion

Policy porting in health insurance is a consumer-friendly facility implemented to provide flexibility and ensure continued coverage, even when switching insurers. While it allows you to retain important benefits like waiting periods, it’s equally important to understand what may change, from premiums to add-on coverage. Before making the switch, take a moment to review the new plan’s features, compare policies, and make sure it aligns with your health and financial needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any fee involved in policy porting?

No, there is no additional fee charged specifically for policy porting. But the premium for the new policy may differ.

Does my no-claim bonus (NCB) get carried forward during porting?

Yes, the NCB or cumulative bonus is generally carried forward to the new policy, depending on the insurer’s terms.

Is policy porting allowed for senior citizens?

Yes, senior citizens can port their health insurance policies, but acceptance depends on the new insurer's underwriting guidelines.

How long does the porting process usually take?

As per the IRDAI guidelines, the process must be completed within 15 days of receiving all required documents by the new insurer.

What happens if the porting request is rejected?

If your request is rejected and your current policy has not lapsed, you can continue with the same insurer by renewing your existing policy.

Written by Roocha Kanade

2.5K Linkedin Followers

Reviewed by Dr. Harshita Dahiya

Health Insurance content enthusiast who turns complex topics into easy, binge-worthy reads—fueled by SEO, creativity, and way too much chai! Loves juggling multiple projects, cracking impossible deadlines, and sprinkling humor into the mix. When not geeking out over digital trends, you'll find her lurking on Quora and Reddit, planning the next getaway, or passionately decoding all things health and insurance!