How to Port Health Insurance Policy Without Losing Benefits?

10 min read Posted on 23Jul 2025

Health insurance plays a critical role in safeguarding individuals and families in India against the financial burden of escalating medical expenses. However, policyholders may find their existing insurance policies inadequate due to limited coverage, high premium costs, or suboptimal customer service.

To address these concerns and enhance consumer flexibility, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has established specific guidelines that facilitate health insurance portability, allowing individuals to transfer their policies between insurers without forfeiting accrued benefits. Although actual coverage is lower, existing health insurance systems may cover 70% of the population, almost 95 crores people. This part of the law lets consumers port a health insurance policy without losing any benefits they've already earned, ensuring their people get the care they need.    
 

Understanding Port Health Insurance Policy

Insurance portability lets people move their current health insurance policies from one company to another, keeping perks like

• Waiting period credits for pre-existing conditions: The new insurance must consider the waiting period already met by the old policy.
• No-claim bonus (NCB): Any NCB that has already been earned is passed over to the new policy.
• Cumulative bonus: You keep any total bonus you earn.

Individual and family floater indemnity health insurance plans can use this service. 

You can keep these helpful benefits if you know how to port health insurance policy.    

When Should You Consider Porting?

If any of these things happen, you might want to consider moving your health insurance to make sure your coverage fits your current medical needs and financial goals:

• Inadequate Coverage: If your current health insurance plan doesn't cover everything, like having a low sum insured, no pregnancy or critical illness benefits, or no pre- and post-hospitalisation costs, it might be time to switch plans. Upgrading to a better policy will protect you enough from rising medical costs.
• High Premiums: As newer, more competitive plans come out, you may be able to find one with the same or better features at a lower cost. Porting helps find a good mix between price and coverage.
• Poor Service: Excessive wait times for claim handling, not getting help while in the hospital, or bad customer service can all worsen your experience. You can bring peace of mind by switching to an insurance company with higher ratings for customer happiness.
• Limited Network Hospitals: You can only get care at several network hospitals without paying cash. Moving to an insurance company with a bigger network of hospitals makes things easier and gives you more access.
• Extra Benefits: Newer policies may give coverage for OPD, wellness rewards, yearly check-ups, or mental health support, all of which are reasons to switch.

Step-by-Step Guide to Porting Your Health Insurance Policy

It may look hard to port your health insurance, but it's very easy if you do it right. This step-by-step porting guide will help you through each stage so that the change goes smoothly and you don't lose any benefits:

1. Start Porting Early

• You must apply for portability at least 45 days before the renewal date of your existing policy.
• Tell your current insurance company in writing that you want to switch to a different company, and include the new company's name.

Don't wait; make sure you fill out the portability form 2025 correctly. 

2. Choose a New Insurer

• Compare the coverage, premiums, network hospitals, and other benefits of different insurance plans.
• Make sure that the new policy meets your health care needs.

3. Complete Portability and Proposal Forms

• Get the proposal form from the new insurance company and the portability form 2025 from your present insurance company.
• Give correct information about your current insurance, your medical history, and any claims you've made.

4. Provide Required Documents

Get the following papers ready and turn them in:

• A filled-out and signed transfer form 
• A copy of the current health insurance policy 
• Proof of identity and address 
• Medical records and claim history, if needed

5. Await New Insurer Decision

• The new insurance company will use the IRDAI site to ask the old insurance company for information about your policy.
• You will hear back about the result of your application in 15 days. 
• This step is an important part of the step-by-step moving guide to ensure everything goes smoothly.

6. Continue Without Breaking

• Ensure that coverage doesn't drop while the transfer process continues.
• If the decision from the new insurer is still pending, you can ask your present insurer for a short-term extension.

If you follow this step-by-step guide to moving, you will be sure to keep all your benefits.

Key Considerations During Porting

Knowing the terms and consequences of porting your health insurance policy is important before you decide to do it. Knowing about certain conditions can help make the change go smoothly without losing important benefits:

• Waiting Periods: One of the best things about moving is getting credit for time spent in waiting periods. For example, if you've already been without health insurance for two years out of the three years needed by law because of a pre-existing condition, the new insurer must consider that and only apply for the last year.
• Sum Insured: This means that the new insurance company has to offer at least the same coverage as the old policy. However, you should carefully look over any changes to your coverage because they might come with new waiting periods or higher premiums.
• Premiums: Even though porting guarantees continuation, the price of the premium may still change. This is because each insurance company has its own pricing and underwriting models based on things like age, medical background, and the number of claims the company has seen.
• Medical Underwriting: The new insurer may require health check-ups or updated medical reports before allowing the policy transfer. This depends on your age, medical condition, or the type of coverage you want.

Making wise choices is made easier by understanding the dilemma of port vs renew health policy. Porting gives you options and freedom, while renewing might feel safer but be less flexible.

How RenewBuy Facilitates Seamless Health Insurance Portability?

When you want to port health insurance policy, RenewBuy makes the process easier by:

• Access to Many Insurers: Look at plans from different insurers to discover the best one for you.
• Digital Comparison Tools: To compare insurance features, premiums, and benefits, use online tools.
• Help from a POP Advisor: Get professional advice throughout the moving process.
• Seamless Claims Support: Get help with claim payments from start to finish.

Find a health insurance plan that fits your needs and keeps your continuity benefits after porting by looking through our selection.