Health Insurance Portability: Switch Your Policy Without Losing Benefits, Here's How It Works

In today’s world of skyrocketing medical expenses, health insurance has become an essential safeguard for every individual. However, not everyone ends up with the right policy. Many people buy health insurance in haste or due to limited awareness and later realize that their plan doesn’t fully match their healthcare needs. For such policyholders, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has introduced a game-changing facility known as Health Insurance Portability.

This feature allows policyholders to transfer their existing health insurance from one insurer to another while retaining the accumulated benefits such as waiting periods and coverage for pre-existing conditions. In simple words, you can shift to a new insurance company for better services, wider hospital networks, or lower premiums—without losing the advantages you already earned under your old plan.

Key Benefits of Health Insurance Portability

Retention of Waiting Periods
One of the biggest advantages of portability is that the waiting period already served under your current plan will be carried forward. For example, if you had a waiting period of two years for certain illnesses and have already completed one year with your old insurer, only the remaining one year applies under the new insurer.

Flexibility and Choice
Policyholders can switch insurers for better coverage, a simpler claim process, or access to more hospitals in the network. This gives consumers the power to choose without being locked into one provider.

No Additional Charges
As per IRDAI regulations, insurers cannot charge extra fees for policy porting. However, the premium for your new policy will depend on your age, health profile, and the level of coverage you select.

Joint Benefits with Better Coverage
If your family needs extended coverage or you are dissatisfied with claim settlement services, porting ensures you don’t have to compromise. You can continue enjoying your accumulated benefits while upgrading to a better plan.

How to Port Your Health Insurance Policy

Health insurance portability can only be done at the time of renewal. If you are planning to switch insurers, you must start the process at least 45 to 60 days before your renewal date. This ensures smooth verification and approval by the new insurer.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

• Step 1: Submit a portability request to the new insurer along with your existing policy details and claim history.

• Step 2: The new insurer will fetch your data from IRDAI’s central portal and assess your risk profile.

• Step 3: Based on the evaluation, the insurer will approve the portability request and issue a new policy with the carried-over benefits.

Important Things to Know Before Porting

• Portability does not mean you automatically get all features of the new plan. Certain new add-on benefits may come with fresh waiting periods.

• Always compare premiums, claim settlement ratios, and hospital networks before finalizing a switch.

• Portability is most useful if you are unhappy with your insurer’s services, shifting to a new city, or seeking more comprehensive coverage.

Why Health Insurance Portability Matters

For many policyholders, dissatisfaction arises due to delayed claims, limited network hospitals, or expensive renewals. In such cases, portability provides a consumer-friendly solution—you get to enjoy better services and coverage without starting from scratch.

With portability, health insurance becomes more flexible and customer-centric, ensuring that individuals can secure the best possible protection for themselves and their families.

As medical costs continue to rise, making the right choice in health insurance is no longer optional—it’s crucial. And with the portability option, policyholders finally have the power to switch insurers smartly while safeguarding the benefits they have already built over time.

✅ Bottom Line: If your current health insurance isn’t meeting your expectations, don’t settle. With health insurance portability, you can switch providers seamlessly, retain your old benefits, and enjoy improved coverage—all while ensuring peace of mind for your future healthcare needs.