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Health Insurance Portability

Having health insurance for financial protection during medical emergencies is vital. Even more important is choosing the right plan with adequate coverage. You can renew health insurance lifelong once you have bought one. If you have gone wrong in assessing your needs and made an incorrect choice initially, you can set it right during policy renewal. IRDAI permits health insurance portability i.e., to change insurance companies or insurance plans while retaining the benefits. Read on to understand how to port health insurance and the associated advantages and disadvantages.

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Health Insurance Portability

What is Health Insurance Portability?

Health Insurance Portability
April 23, 2025

Table of Content

 

Health insurance portability allows you to switch plans and insurance companies during renewal. You can opt for a health insurance migration with the same insurer or portability to other providers. This feature helps you scout coverage and competitive premium options. The premium that seemed within budget may become a burden when your financial commitments increase. Under such circumstances, you can port health insurance policy during renewal to an affordable plan that suits your requirements while retaining the existing benefits. The benefits you can carry forward are the accrued waiting period and no claim bonus earned for claim-free years.

How to Apply for Health Insurance Porting?

The health policy transfer process is simple. Follow the procedure given below to port health insurance policy:

  • Apply for the health insurance portability 60 days before the expiry of your existing plan but not later than 30 days before the expiry pf your existing plan.
  • The chosen insurance provider will dispatch the documents required for changing health insurance providers. You will receive the details of the various insurance plans available along with the premium allocation and the guidelines for the coverage.
  • Select the plan and the coverage required and submit the necessary documents.
  • The new service provider will review the information provided, such as medical history, pre-existing diseases, etc. They can check with the previous insurance company for the authenticity of the information or collect the data from regulated data-sharing platforms.
  • The new insurer will decide whether to approve the request or not after evaluating the information. The whole process takes about 15 days.

Benefits of Health Insurance Portability

You can transfer health coverage during policy renewal for a better deal. The following are the health insurance portability benefits:

  • Extended Coverage with Better Features

    • This is a distinct advantage of health insurance portability. When you review the various plans available for a better bargain, you come across plans with additional features and coverage for a nominal cost. You can then choose a plan or an insurance provider where you get the most for the price. 

  • Affordable Premiums

    • Renewing the existing plan may be more expensive than porting health insurance plan. You have the advantage of exploring new plans or insurance companies that offer additional benefits for a lower premium.

  • Retaining the Benefits

    • Apart from getting better features at a lower premium, health insurance renewal portability enables you to retain the benefits in the existing plan such as no claim bonus earned for claim-free periods and carrying forward the accrued waiting period.

  • Improved Service

    • If you are unhappy with the service and claim settlement procedures of the existing insurance company, switching health insurers helps you transfer the policy to an insurance company that is reputed for customer service, easy claim process and high claim settlement ratio.

Documents Required for Porting a Health Insurance Policy

Submit the following documents for health insurance portability:

  • Photo Identity Proof such as Aadhar Card, PAN, Driving Licence, Passport, etc.
  • Address Proof such as Driving Licence, Aadhar Card, Voter’s ID Card, Passport, etc.
  • Documents from the existing insurer:

- Policy documents of previous years.

- Renewal notice (latest) with a mention of health insurance continuity.

- Self-declaration from policyholders wherever claim-free years are involved.

- If claims have been filed, documents like discharge summary, hospital bills, investigation report, etc.

Common Reasons for the Portability of Health Insurance

Health insurance provides financial protection during medical emergencies. Individuals purchase health insurance for parents and themselves to be equipped for any mishap in the future. Sometimes, they feel that additional features are needed in health insurance plans to get the best from the investment. Apart from this, there are various other reasons to opt for health insurance transfer. They are:

  • Better Coverage Options

    • One of the main reasons to prefer health policy portability is better coverage options. You can customise your plans to suit your evolving needs. As you age, your health condition may deteriorate or you may develop issues that need constant medical attention. Under such circumstances, the coverage available in the existing plan may not meet your needs. Health insurance portability helps in mitigating this concern.

  • Cost-Effectiveness

    • When you explore the insurance market, you may find plans with similar or better coverage with additional benefits for an affordable premium. This is one of the health policy portability advantages. You can make your health insurance plan cost-effective.

  • Better Customer Service

    • If your existing insurer delays claim settlements, poses too many queries during the claim process, is non-responsive to your grievances, etc., you may prefer to have a health insurance plan with a company with better customer service. The portability of health insurance allows for the switching of insurance companies during renewal for improved support and a better claim settlement experience.

  • Network of Hospitals

    • An insurance company with a broader and technically upgraded hospital network provides access to better cashless treatment. If your existing insurer has limited hospital networks, your out-of-pocket expenses increase, causing inconvenience during medical treatments.

Disadvantages of Health Insurance Portability

The disadvantages of health insurance portability are:

  • Only Available at Renewal

    • The insurance portability rules permit the switch only when the current plan is due for renewal. The transfer is not allowed at any time during the policy term.

  • Potential for Higher Premiums

    • Health policy portability is a well-received facility. It is fine as far as it is cost-effective when compared to the existing plans and provides better coverage. Sometimes, for additional benefits of health insurance from a different insurance provider, you may have to pay higher premiums

  • Risk of Losing Benefits

    • You should check the benefits you carry over on health insurance portability. If you transfer the existing plan to another insurance company you may lose some of the benefits in the existing plan.

Things to Consider Before Porting a Health Insurance Policy

Before applying for health insurance portability, you should consider the following:

  • Verify the Incurred Claims Ratio (ICR), i.e., the net claims paid to the net premiums, and the claim settlement ratio of the insurance provider you have chosen for porting your policy.
  • Compare the waiting period, exclusions, co-pays, deductibles, sub-limits etc., of the new plan with your existing plan before transferring it.
  • You should also analyse the additional benefits of the new plan and how beneficial it is.
  • Read the terms and conditions of the new plan and check for any waiting periods, permanent exclusions, and limitations. Or else, you will be in for a shock during claim settlement.
  • Start exploring new plans and providers 3 months before the policy expiry so that you have sufficient time to look for the right plan that suits your changing needs.
  • If the premium for your existing plan is significantly high, the claim settlement ratio of the existing provider is low, and if there are restrictive clauses, it is better to switch the plan to a new provider instead of holding on to the no-claim bonus.

FAQs on Health Insurance Portability

Q. What is portability in health insurance?

Health insurance portability is a facility wherein you can switch to new plans with new insurance providers for better features, affordable premiums, improved customer service, etc., without losing the benefits available in the existing plan, like waiting period, no claim bonus, etc., 

Q. What are portability rules?

According to portability rules, you can port your insurance policy to another provider at the time of renewal without losing the benefits such as waiting period, no claim bonus, free health checkups, etc. However, you should inform the new service provider about the portability at least 30 days in advance.

Q. What are the disadvantages of porting a mediclaim policy?

The disadvantages of porting a mediclaim policy are:

  • It is permitted only at the time of renewal.
  • You may have to pay higher premiums for plans with additional benefits.
  • There might be some restrictive clauses or imposed waiting periods.
  • You may lose out on some benefits available in the existing plan.

Q. Is there a waiting period for pre-existing conditions when porting health insurance?

No. Pre-existing condition portability is permitted when you switch insurers. It means the accrued waiting period is carried over to the new plan and the waiting period does not restart when switching insurers. 

Q. Are there any additional portability charges?

No. Insurance companies do not charge any fee for health insurance portability.

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Francis Rodrigues Francis Rodrigues

Francis Rodrigues has a decade long experience in the insurance sector, and as SVP, E-Commerce and Digital Marketing, HDFC Life, manages the online sales channel, as well as digital and performance marketing. He has had hands-on experience in setting up sales channels and functional teams from scratch over a career spanning 2 decades.

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Vishal Subharwal Vishal Subharwal

Vishal Subharwal heads the Strategy, Marketing, E-Commerce, Digital Business & Sustainability initiatives at HDFC Life. He is responsible for crafting and ensuring successful implementation of the overall organisation strategy.

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1. Annual Premium amount ₹ 1869 for Male aged 35 years, Base Benefit, 10 years term, Regular Pay option, Sum Assured=10 lakhs, excluding Taxes & levies as applicable.

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