Health Insurance Portability Rules in India IRDAI 2025 Guide
- Ajit Mane
- Sep 29
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 29
Table of Contents
What is Health Insurance Portability?
IRDAI Rules Governing Portability
Eligibility for Porting a Health Insurance Policy
Step-by-Step Portability Process
Key Benefits of Health Insurance Portability
Limitations and Caveats
Best Practices Before Porting
Detailed FAQs on Health Insurance Portability Rules
Final Thoughts
1. What is Health Insurance Portability?
Health insurance portability rules were introduced by IRDAI to empower policyholders to switch their health insurance provider without losing accumulated benefits like the waiting period for pre-existing conditions or time-bound exclusions.
For example, if you’ve served two out of four years of waiting period for a chronic condition under your existing policy, and you port to another insurer, the new insurer must give credit for those two years.
This ensures fair treatment, better customer satisfaction, and enhanced competition among insurers.
2. IRDAI Rules Governing Portability
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) lays down specific rules for portability. Here are the highlights:
Portability can only be done at the time of renewal of your policy.
You must apply for portability at least 45 days before the expiry of the existing policy.
Applies to individual and family floater plans.
The new insurer must respond within 15 days.
Portability can be done between any registered general or health insurer.
If the new insurer delays issuing the policy, the old insurer must provide continuity coverage for up to 30 days.
The new insurer must honor continuity benefits up to the extent of the sum insured under the old policy.
3. Eligibility for Porting a Health Insurance Policy
You can port your policy if:
You hold an active health insurance policy (individual or floater).
You have had no lapse in renewal.
You apply within the IRDAI-defined notice period (45–60 days before renewal).
You are porting to a similar policy type (e.g., individual to individual).
You are ready to undergo medical underwriting if required.
Even group insurance policies (employer-provided) can be ported to an individual policy, though with additional scrutiny.
4. Step-by-Step Portability Process
Here’s how to port your policy smoothly:
Step 1: Compare Health Plans
Use online comparison tools to evaluate insurers based on premium, features, network hospitals, and claim settlement ratios.
Step 2: Apply for Portability
Inform the new insurer at least 45 days before renewal and fill the portability form + proposal form.
Step 3: Submit Documents
Provide:
Copy of previous policy and renewals
Health declaration
ID/address proof
Claim history (if any)
Step 4: Medical Underwriting
Depending on your age and claim history, the new insurer may ask for medical tests.
Step 5: Policy Issuance
If accepted, the new insurer will issue the policy along with the retained continuity benefits as mandated by IRDAI.
5. Key Benefits of Health Insurance Portability
Benefit | Details |
Continuity of Waiting Periods | Retain benefits related to waiting periods for pre-existing conditions |
No Claim Bonus Retention | Your NCB is carried forward |
Policy Upgrade | Switch to better features or higher coverage |
Service Improvement | Shift from poor claim service or limited hospital network |
Fair Pricing | Escape unfair premium hikes or restricted policies |
6. Limitations and Caveats
Limitation | Explanation |
Fresh Underwriting | New insurer may reject or load premiums |
Waiting Period on Extra Coverage | New coverage above old sum insured will have fresh waiting period |
Coverage May Differ | Benefits and exclusions differ between insurers |
Medical Tests May Apply | Especially for senior citizens or large coverage |
7. Best Practices Before Porting
✔ Start early (45–60 days in advance).
✔ Don’t allow any break in coverage.
✔ Be transparent in health declarations.
✔ Compare policy wordings in detail.
✔ Review network hospital list and cashless facility.
✔ Read exclusions, co-pay clauses, and room rent limits.
9. Final Thoughts
The health insurance portability rules in India offer much-needed flexibility for policyholders who want to upgrade their coverage, get better service, or access broader hospital networks without sacrificing past benefits.
With proper planning and awareness of IRDAI’s guidelines, you can port your policy smoothly and make your health insurance work better for you. Always read the fine print, compare plans carefully, and port with transparency for best results.
FAQs on Health Insurance Portability Rules
1. What are health insurance portability rules in India and why were they introduced?
Health insurance portability rules are regulations framed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to protect policyholders when they switch their health insurance from one insurer to another. Before these rules existed, people who changed insurers had to restart waiting periods for pre‑existing diseases and lost accumulated bonuses. This discouraged customers from leaving poor service providers.
The current rules make your policy “portable” much like mobile number portability. You can change your insurer but retain benefits such as the credit of waiting periods for pre‑existing conditions, time‑bound exclusions, and no‑claim bonuses you have built up. The new insurer is required to process the request within 15 days and cannot arbitrarily reject it without written reasons. These protections encourage fair competition, improve service standards, and empower customers to move to plans with better pricing, wider hospital networks, or richer features without losing what they’ve already earned.
2. When and how can a policyholder apply for health insurance portability?
Under health insurance portability rules, a policyholder can apply only at the time of policy renewal. You cannot port mid‑term. IRDAI requires that you inform your new insurer of your intent to port at least 45 days before the expiry date of your current policy.
The process is straightforward: fill out the IRDAI portability request form and the new insurer’s proposal form. The new insurer then retrieves your policy and claim history from IRDAI’s central Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Service (HIPA) portal. If the new insurer delays the decision beyond renewal, your current insurer must extend cover for up to 30 days to ensure no break in coverage. Submitting your request late or with incomplete documents may result in rejection. Following these timelines is the easiest way to ensure that the benefits under the health insurance portability rules carry over smoothly to your new policy.
3. Will my waiting period for pre‑existing diseases reset if I switch insurers?
No. One of the key benefits of the health insurance portability rules is the ability to retain credit for waiting periods already served under your old policy. For example, if your existing plan has a four‑year waiting period for diabetes and you’ve already completed three, your new insurer must credit those three years so that only one year remains. This ensures that policyholders are not penalised for moving to a better plan.However, if you choose a higher sum insured or additional riders with the new insurer, the continuity benefit applies only to the previous sum insured. The enhanced portion will be treated as new coverage and will have fresh waiting periods. Understanding this distinction is essential to making the most of the portability facility.
4. What documents are required to port a health insurance policy?
To successfully transfer under health insurance portability rules, you should have the following ready:
IRDAI portability request form
Proposal form of the new insurer
Copy of your existing policy and renewal receipts
Certificate of insurance and policy schedule
ID and address proof
Medical reports or claim records (if any)
Declaration of pre‑existing conditionsSubmitting these documents at least 45 days before renewal allows the new insurer to retrieve your data from IRDAI’s portal and issue the new policy on time. Missing paperwork or late submission can result in rejection or loss of portability benefits.
5. Can I increase my sum insured while porting my health insurance policy?
Yes. Health insurance portability rules allow you to request a higher sum insured or additional benefits when moving to a new insurer. However, only the previous sum insured qualifies for continuity benefits. The increased coverage is treated as new, with fresh waiting periods for pre‑existing diseases and time‑bound exclusions on the enhanced portion.
For example, if your old policy had ₹5 lakh coverage and you upgrade to ₹10 lakh at the new insurer, the first ₹5 lakh will retain continuity benefits but the additional ₹5 lakh will go through new waiting periods. Understanding this rule helps you plan upgrades without unpleasant surprises.
6. Is there any extra charge or penalty for availing health insurance portability?
No. IRDAI’s health insurance portability rules clearly state that insurers cannot charge an extra fee or penalty solely for porting. You only pay the regular premium for the new policy as determined by the insurer’s underwriting.
Some insurers may require medical tests for higher sums insured or senior citizens. The cost of such tests may be borne by you or by the insurer depending on their policy, so always clarify upfront. But there is no additional “portability fee” for switching insurers.
