Learn about health insurance waiting periods.
A comprehensive guide to health insurance waiting periods
Health insurance portability is the right that lets you move from one health insurer to another without losing the benefits you have already earned. Granted by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), portability protects your waiting period credit, your No-Claim Bonus, your pre-existing disease cover, and your moratorium status when you switch insurers at renewal.
This guide explains what portability is, when you can use it, the documents you need, the timelines set by IRDAI, the latest rules under the IRDAI Master Circular on Health Insurance Products dated 29 May 2024, and how to port your policy to Zurich Kotak General Insurance.
What Is Health Insurance Portability?
Health insurance portability is the option to move your existing individual or family floater health insurance policy from one insurer to another, or from one product to another within the same insurer, while carrying forward your accrued benefits.
The framework is governed by:
IRDAI (Health Insurance) Regulations, 2016.
IRDAI Master Circular on Health Insurance Products dated 29 May 2024.
IRDAI Guidelines on Standardisation in Health Insurance, 2020.
Under these rules, your new insurer must give credit for:
Waiting period already served for pre-existing diseases (PED).
Waiting period served for specific named illnesses.
The initial 30-day waiting period.
The 8-year moratorium clock (continuous coverage protection).
No-Claim Bonus accumulated on the old policy.
Why Health Insurance Portability Matters
Portability protects the financial and medical value you have built up in your current policy. The most common reasons to port include:
Changing Healthcare Needs: Your family size or your health profile has changed and you need a higher sum insured, OPD cover, AYUSH cover, or maternity benefit.
Relocation: You have moved to a new city or state where your current insurer's hospital network is limited.
Better Claim Service: Your current insurer takes too long to settle claims, or has a low cashless approval rate.
Better Product Features: A new insurer offers a Restoration Benefit, lower co-pay, no room-rent cap, or wellness rewards that your existing plan does not provide.
Lower Premium for Similar Cover: A competing insurer is quoting a lower premium for the same sum insured and benefits.
Without portability, switching insurers would mean starting all waiting periods from zero, which is a serious problem for anyone with a pre-existing disease.
Key Benefits of Health Insurance Portability
Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
Continuity of Coverage | Your protection remains active without a break during the transition. |
Transfer of Waiting Periods | Waiting periods served for pre-existing diseases, specific illnesses, and the initial 30-day cooling-off period are credited. |
Retention of No-Claim Bonus | Any No-Claim Bonus earned for claim-free years is carried forward to the new policy. |
Access to Modern Plans | You can choose plans with higher sum insured (up to Rs. 1 crore or more), restoration benefit, OPD cover, AYUSH cover, and wellness rewards. |
Flexibility in Coverage | You can add riders or top-up cover and adjust the deductible to match your needs. |
Moratorium Protection | Once you complete 8 continuous years of cover, the moratorium clause applies; the insurer cannot contest claims on grounds of non-disclosure. The clock continues on portability. |
Regulatory Protection | IRDAI guidelines protect the policyholder from arbitrary rejection and ensure transparency in the process. |
Eligibility Criteria for Health Insurance Portability
You can apply for portability if all the following conditions are met:
You hold an existing individual or family floater health insurance policy with any IRDAI-registered insurer.
The policy has been continuously renewed without any break.
Your portability application is submitted at least 45 days before, but not earlier than 60 days before, the renewal date of the existing policy.
You apply only at the time of renewal, not mid-term.
You can port within the same insurer (from one product to another) or to a different insurer.
Special Case: Group Health Insurance
Group health policies cannot be ported as a group policy. However, members who leave or retire from a group scheme can port their accumulated waiting period credit and benefits to an individual or family floater policy of any IRDAI-registered insurer, provided the request is made before the group policy expires for them.
Step-by-Step Process to Port Your Health Insurance Policy
Review Your Current Policy: Note the sum insured, waiting periods served, claim history, No-Claim Bonus, and the renewal date.
Compare New Plans: Compare sum insured, co-pay, room rent limits, sub-limits, network hospitals, and premium between your current insurer and the prospective new insurers.
Submit the Portability Form: Fill the Portability Form (commonly referred to as Form 32G or the Portability Application Form) and the Proposal Form of the new insurer. Submit them at least 45 days, and not earlier than 60 days, before the renewal date.
Provide Supporting Documents: Existing policy schedule, previous renewal notices for the last 3 to 4 years, claim history records or no-claim declaration, ID proof (PAN, Aadhaar, passport, or voter ID), address proof, age proof, and medical reports for any pre-existing condition.
Existing Insurer Shares Data: Within 7 working days of receiving the portability request, the existing insurer must share the policy and claim history with the new insurer through the IRDAI portability portal hosted by the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB).
New Insurer Underwrites: The new insurer reviews the data and your health declaration. Underwriting may include a medical check-up depending on your age and sum insured.
Offer and Decision: The new insurer must communicate acceptance or rejection within 15 days. If no response is received within 15 days, the request is deemed accepted.
Pay the Premium: Once you accept the new policy terms, pay the premium before the old policy expires. A 30-day grace period is allowed only for renewal continuity, but portability itself must be applied for before expiry.
Continuous Cover Begins: The new policy starts the day after the old policy expires, with all waiting periods and accumulated benefits transferred.
Key IRDAI Regulatory Timelines
Action | Timeline |
|---|---|
Portability request must be submitted | At least 45 days, and not earlier than 60 days, before the renewal date |
Existing insurer to share data with new insurer | Within 7 working days of receiving the request |
New insurer to accept or reject the application | Within 15 days of receiving complete data |
Grace period to renew policy without losing continuity | Up to 30 days from the policy expiry date |
Moratorium period (post which no claim can be denied for non-disclosure) | 8 continuous years of cover |
What to Compare Before Porting
Before you sign on with a new insurer, compare the following on a like-for-like basis with your current plan:
Sum insured and any restoration benefit.
Pre-existing disease waiting period (typically 36 months under 2024 IRDAI rules).
Specific illness waiting period (typically 24 months).
Initial waiting period (typically 30 days).
Co-payment percentage and the age slab at which it kicks in.
Room rent limit or any room category restriction.
Sub-limits on cataract, knee replacement, kidney stones, and similar treatments.
Cashless hospital network in your city.
Day-care procedure list.
AYUSH, OPD, maternity, and wellness add-ons.
Premium for your age band and sum insured.
Claim settlement ratio and Incurred Claim Ratio of the new insurer.
Potential Risks and Considerations Before Porting
While portability is a strong right, you should be aware of these caveats:
Premium May Change: The new insurer applies its own pricing. Your new premium can be the same, lower, or higher than the existing premium.
Underwriting Decision: The new insurer can reject the application or apply a loading on the premium based on age, health status, or claim history. Rejection must be communicated within 15 days with a reason.
Different Policy Terms: The new policy may have a different co-pay, sub-limit, room rent cap, or exclusion list. Read the policy wording carefully.
Sum Insured Increase Attracts Fresh Waiting Period: Credit for waiting period is granted up to the sum insured of the old policy. The additional sum insured will attract a fresh waiting period as per the new product's rules.
Documentation Errors Delay Portability: Incomplete or incorrect documents are the most common reason for delay. Submit all documents in one go.
Mid-Term Switch Not Allowed: Portability is permitted only at renewal, not in the middle of the policy term.
Port Your Health Insurance to Zurich Kotak
Zurich Kotak General Insurance offers Health Insurance plans with cashless treatment at a wide network of hospitals across India, IRDAI Reg. No. 152, transparent claim process, and dedicated portability support.
When you port to Zurich Kotak:
Submit the Portability Form online or at any branch at least 45 days before your existing policy renewal date.
Our underwriting team reviews your application within 15 days of receiving complete data.
Your accumulated waiting period and No-Claim Bonus are credited up to the sum insured of the existing policy.
The 8-year moratorium clock continues from where your previous policy left off.
Choose from plans such as Health Premier, Secure Shield, MediShield, Health Super Top-Up, and Accident Care.
Final Thoughts
Health insurance portability gives every policyholder in India a fair right to choose a better insurer without losing the value built up in the existing policy. The rules are clear, the timelines are short, and the IRDAI portability portal makes the data transfer easy. If you are unhappy with your current insurer's network, claim service, or pricing, or if your health needs have changed, portability is a tool worth using at the next renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What Is Health Insurance Portability?
Health insurance portability is the right to switch to a different health insurer or to a different product within the same insurer while carrying forward your accrued benefits, such as waiting period credit and No-Claim Bonus.
2. Can I Port My Health Insurance Policy After It Expires?
No. You cannot port after the policy has expired. The portability request must be made while the policy is still active, at least 45 days before the renewal date and not earlier than 60 days before it.
3. Are Group Health Insurance Policies Portable?
No. Group health policies cannot be ported as a group policy. However, members exiting a group policy can port their accumulated waiting period credit and benefits to an individual or family floater policy of any IRDAI-registered insurer.
4. Will My Premium Increase After Porting?
It may. The new premium is decided by the new insurer based on your age, health status, sum insured, and that insurer's pricing. It can be the same, lower, or higher than your existing premium.
5. What Documents Are Required for Portability?
You will need the existing policy schedule, previous renewal notices for 3 to 4 years, claim history records, ID proof, address proof, age proof, medical reports for any pre-existing condition, the Portability Form (Form 32G), and the new insurer's Proposal Form.
6. What Is the IRDAI Portability Portal?
It is a centralised online portal hosted by the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) that allows insurers to share your policy and claim history securely. The existing insurer must upload data within 7 working days of receiving the portability request.
7. Is There a Grace Period for Portability?
A 30-day grace period is available for renewing the policy without losing continuity. However, the portability request itself must be submitted before the policy expires and within the 45 to 60 day window before renewal.
8. Can I Port Mid-Term or Only at Renewal?
You can port only at the time of policy renewal, not mid-term.
9. Will My Pre-Existing Disease Be Covered Immediately After Porting?
Yes, if you have already served the full pre-existing disease waiting period (typically 36 months) with the previous insurer. The new insurer must give credit for the period already served.
10. Can the New Insurer Reject My Portability Application?
Yes. The new insurer can reject the application based on its underwriting standards. Rejection must be communicated within 15 days with a clear reason. If no response is received within 15 days, the application is deemed accepted.
11. Does the 8-Year Moratorium Continue After Porting?
Yes. As per the IRDAI Master Circular on Health Insurance Products dated 29 May 2024, the moratorium clock continues from where it stopped under the previous insurer.
12. What If My Portability Application Is Unfairly Rejected?
You can approach the Insurance Ombudsman through cioins.co.in or file a complaint on the IRDAI Bima Bharosa portal at bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in.
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