Stuck with an insurer because you're afraid of restarting your waiting periods? You don't have to be. Here's exactly how IRDAI's portability rules work, the step-by-step process, the timeline you can't miss, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Before 2011, switching health insurers in India meant starting from zero — every waiting period (initial 30-day, specific disease, pre-existing condition) would reset, even if you'd already served years of them with your previous insurer. This effectively locked policyholders into their existing insurer regardless of poor service, rising premiums, or declining claim experience.
IRDAI's portability regulations changed this. Portability is your right — not a discretionary courtesy — to move your health insurance policy to a different insurer (or to a different plan within the same insurer) while carrying forward the continuity benefits you've earned, most importantly, credit for time already served on waiting periods.
This matters enormously in practice. If you're 3 years into a policy with a 4-year PED waiting period, and you're unhappy with your current insurer's claim settlement experience, premium hikes, or network hospital coverage — portability lets you switch without losing those 3 years of waiting period progress. Without it, you'd either be stuck, or you'd switch and restart a 4-year wait on your existing conditions.
Important distinction: Portability protects your waiting period continuity. It does NOT guarantee the new insurer will accept you — they still underwrite your application based on your current health and claims history. Portability removes the "waiting period penalty" for switching; it doesn't remove underwriting altogether.
Understanding exactly what's protected helps you negotiate confidently with the new insurer.
| Element | What Happens on Porting |
|---|---|
| Initial 30-day waiting period | Carried forward — you don't serve this again if already completed |
| Specific disease/procedure waiting periods | Time already served is credited (e.g., 1 year served of a 2-year wait = 1 year remaining with new insurer) |
| Pre-existing disease (PED) waiting period | Credited up to your previous policy's sum insured — fully protected if disclosed honestly from the start |
| Cumulative Bonus / No Claim Bonus | New insurer must honour accumulated bonus from previous insurer, per IRDAI guidelines |
| Sum insured increase | Allowed, but the increased portion carries fresh waiting periods — only the original SI gets full continuity |
| Maternity waiting period (if applicable) | Credited similarly to specific disease waiting periods, if previously applicable and served |
| Premium / pricing | NOT guaranteed to carry over — the new insurer prices based on its own rate card and your current age/health |
| Approval / acceptance | NOT guaranteed — subject to fresh underwriting by the new insurer |
In short: portability is about preserving time you've already "paid" through waiting periods — it's not a guarantee of identical pricing or automatic acceptance. Going in with this realistic expectation avoids frustration during the process.
The single most important number in this entire guide is 45 — the number of days before your renewal date by which you must apply.
Most commonly, you submit a "Portability Form" to the new insurer you wish to move to, at least 45 days before your current policy's renewal/expiry date. The new insurer then requests your claims and policy history from your existing insurer via the IRDAI portability portal.
You'll fill a fresh proposal form with the new insurer — including full, honest disclosure of your medical history, current conditions, and any past claims. This is the single most important step to get right (see "Common Mistakes" below).
The new insurer evaluates your application — including a pre-policy medical check-up if required for your age/sum insured. They confirm what waiting period credit applies based on your previous insurer's records.
If the insurer doesn't communicate a decision within the IRDAI-prescribed window, the application is deemed accepted on the terms applied for. If accepted with modified terms (e.g., a loading or sub-limit), you can choose to accept those terms or not proceed.
Once accepted, pay the premium for the new policy. Crucially, do not let your old policy lapse before the new one is issued — a gap in cover (even a day) can complicate the portability protection and create a coverage gap.
Check the new policy schedule explicitly states the carried-forward waiting period start dates and any honoured cumulative bonus — don't assume; confirm in writing.
Don't wait until the last week. Underwriting, medical check-ups and document verification take time. Starting at the 45-day mark is the legal minimum, not a comfortable buffer — we recommend starting 60-75 days before renewal if possible.
Repeated unjustified deductions, slow settlements, or poor cashless support
Your current plan lacks restoration benefit, has high co-pay, or limited network hospitals
Your insurer's renewal premiums have risen far faster than the market
Your family composition has changed and a different insurer's floater structure suits better
A new insurer's underwriting on a recent serious diagnosis may be tougher than staying put
If you're months away from a 4-year PED wait completing, weigh the disruption carefully
A slightly cheaper premium isn't worth a weaker claims experience — compare holistically
You may not have enough runway to complete the process safely — talk to us first
Not sure which camp you're in? This is exactly the kind of decision we help with — message us your current policy details and we'll give you a straight, no-obligation opinion on whether porting makes sense for your situation.
Quick, straight answers to what people ask us most.
Portability is governed by IRDAI regulations — these official sources have the latest circulars and guidelines.
India's insurance regulator — health insurance portability regulations and circulars
Policyholder handbooks covering portability rights and process
File a complaint if a portability application is mishandled
Send us your current policy details on WhatsApp — we'll tell you honestly whether porting makes sense, what waiting periods you'd carry forward, and help you compare new options. Completely free, no obligation.