Health Insurance Portability Rules 2026: How to Port Without Losing Cover
Last updated: 13 October 2026
Quick answer: Health insurance portability lets you move your policy to another insurer at renewal while keeping credit for waiting periods already served. Apply to the new insurer between 60 and 30 days before renewal. Your old insurer shares data through the IIB portal within 72 hours, and the new insurer decides within 5 days. Credit applies up to your old sum insured plus bonus; any extra cover starts fresh waiting periods.
Last updated: 13 October 2026 Quick answer: Health insurance portability lets you move your policy to another insurer at renewal while keeping credit for waiting periods already served. Apply to the new insurer between 60 and 30 days before renewal. Your old insurer shares data through the IIB portal within 72 hours, and the new insurer decides within 5 days. Credit applies up to your old sum insured plus bonus; any extra cover starts fresh waiting periods. Key takeaways Window: apply 30 to 60 days before renewal; insurers may consider a request up to 15 days before if there is no break. Credit: PED and specific-disease waiting periods, and moratorium months, carry over. Limit: credit covers the old sum insured plus accrued bonus; extra cover has new waiting periods. Not a right: the new insurer can underwrite, load the premium or decline. No fee: insurers cannot charge for porting in or out. Golden rule: never let the old policy lapse while porting is pending. Most people stay with a health insurer they dislike for one reason: fear of losing the years of waiting period they have already served. A 45-year-old with diabetes who has finished a three-year pre-existing disease (PED) wait does not want to start again. Portability exists precisely so that you do not have to. This guide explains health insurance portability rules in India as of October 2026: the IRDAI timelines, what credit carries over, how a higher sum insured is treated, group-to-individual moves, documents, and the mistakes that leave people uninsured on renewal day. What is health insurance portability? Health insurance portability is the right to transfer your indemnity health policy from one insurer to another at renewal, with credit for the continuous cover you already have. The "credit" is the important part. Time already served under waiting periods, for pre-existing diseases, for specific illnesses and the initial 30-day wait, counts towards the same waiting periods in the new policy. The rules now sit in IRDAI's Master Circular on Health Insurance Business (IRDAI/HLT/CIR/PRO/84/5/2024, dated 29 May 2024), issued under the IRDAI (Insurance Products) Regulations, 2024. Portability applies to individual and family floater indemnity policies from general and standalone health insurers. Personal accident and travel policies cannot be ported. Two related terms often get confused: Porting means moving to a different insurer. Migration means moving to a different product with the same insurer, with similar credit. If an insurer withdraws a product, it must offer you migration to a suitable alternative. Health insurance portability vs migration vs new policy comparison When should you apply to port your health insurance? Timing is where most porting attempts fail. The portability window and processing timelines, as summarised in insurers' current portability notes based on the 2024 circular: Step Timeline Who acts Apply to the new insurer Not earlier than 60 days and at least 30 days before renewal You Late request The new insurer may still consider it up to 15 days before renewal, if there is no break in cover New insurer (discretion) Data request on IIB portal Raised by the new insurer after receiving your proposal New insurer Policy and claim history shared Immediately, and within 72 hours of the request Old insurer Decision on your proposal Within 5 days of receiving the old insurer's data New insurer Porting charges None, in or out Both Health insurance portability process and timelines Older rules required at least 45 days' notice, and some insurer web pages still say so. Our practical advice: start 55 to 60 days before renewal. It gives time for medical tests, queries and comparison of the new insurer's offer, and still leaves a buffer. What if the new insurer has not decided by renewal date? Do not let the old policy lapse. Renew it, or pay within the grace period. Under the 2024 rules, annual policies have a 30-day grace period, and cover applies during it if the policy is renewed. A lapse breaks continuity, and with it all your accumulated waiting-period credit. If porting succeeds later, you can port at the next renewal, or cancel the renewed policy and claim the refund for the unexpired period, which IRDAI now allows at any time. What carries over when you port, and what does not? What health insurance portability carries over: waiting periods, moratorium and bonus The new insurer must credit the time you have served under: the pre-existing disease waiting period (under 2024 rules, PED waiting periods are typically capped at 36 months); specific disease waiting periods , such as for cataract, hernia or joint replacement; the initial 30-day waiting period ; the moratorium period . After 60 months of continuous cover, counting ported and migrated years, no claim can be contested for non-disclosure or misrepresentation except proven fraud. Your accrued no-claim bonus counts in the credited sum insured. Underwriting details and claim history move with the policy through the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB), so the new insurer sees your past claims. What does not carry over: the old policy's features. Room rent limits, co-pay, sub-limits, consumables cover, restoration benefits and the list of specific-disease waits all follow the new product's wording. A port to a product with a 20% co-pay is a downgrade even with full credit. How does a higher sum insured affect portability credit? Credit applies only up to the sum insured of your old policy, plus accrued bonus. If you port a ₹5 lakh policy to a ₹10 lakh policy, the first ₹5 lakh gets credit, and the extra ₹5 lakh is new cover with full waiting periods. Worked example. Anjali, 41, in Baner, has a ₹5 lakh individual policy since October 2023. She declared type 2 diabetes, which had a 36-month PED wait, now fully served. At her October 2026 renewal she ports to a ₹10 lakh policy with another insurer. If she is hospitalised for a diabetes-related condition in the first year after porting, the new insurer covers up to ₹5 lakh. The extra ₹5 lakh becomes available for that condition only after its own 36-month wait. For a new illness unrelated to any PED, the full ₹10 lakh applies after the initial wait on the extra cover. Health insurance portability waiting period credit on ported and increased sum insured For many people, a cleaner route is to port at the same sum insured, then add a super top-up plan (/insights/super-top-up-health-insurance) for higher cover. Top-ups are cheaper, though they too carry their own waiting periods. Can the new insurer refuse to accept your port? Yes. Portability is a right to apply with credit, not a guarantee of acceptance. The new insurer can: ask for a fresh proposal form and medical tests, depending on age, health history and any increase in sum insured; accept with a premium loading or exclusions allowed under its underwriting policy; decline, giving reasons. Disclose every condition honestly on the new proposal, even those the old insurer already knows. The new insurer gets your claim history through IIB, and a mismatch is the quickest route to a rejected claim later. Your moratorium months carry over, but non-disclosure on a fresh proposal creates a new problem. Can you port a group (employer) health policy to an individual policy? Employees leaving a job often ask this. Group mediclaim usually covers pre-existing diseases from day one, so there is no "waiting period served" in the usual sense. Many insurers allow a member leaving a group policy to move to an individual policy with the same insurer, or port to another insurer, with some continuity credit. However, availability and the extent of credit depend on the insurer and its underwriting, so do not assume it. If you plan a job change, a sabbatical or early retirement, the safest move is to buy an individual policy while still employed, so its waiting periods run alongside your group cover. Our guide on health insurance for corporate employees (/insights/health-insurance-for-corporate-employees-pune) covers this in detail, and our 90-day plan for laid-off IT professionals (/insights/laid-off-money-plan-it-professionals) covers the gap after a job loss. How to port your health insurance: documents and checklist Compare the new product line by line. Room rent, co-pay, sub-limits, restoration, PED and specific-disease lists, network hospitals in your city, and claim service. A higher premium for better wording can be worth it; a cheaper premium with a co-pay often is not. Apply 55 to 60 days before renewal with the proposal form and the portability form. Attach copies of current and previous policy schedules, claim documents if you have claimed, or a no-claim declaration. Complete medical tests if asked, and disclose all conditions. Read the acceptance letter. Check the credited sum insured, waiting periods shown as served, and any loading or exclusion. Pay the premium only after acceptance , and make sure the new policy starts the day after the old one ends. Keep the old policy until the new one is issued. Port the whole family floater together; the entire policy moves, including all members. Is porting worth it? When to switch and when to stay Situation Port? Why Repeated claim cuts, slow cashless approvals Strong case Service is the product; credit protects you Old policy has room rent caps or co-pay Often yes Modern products remove these; compare carefully Premium jumped after an age band Compare first Other insurers' age bands rise too; check like-for-like Recent serious diagnosis or ongoing treatment Usually stay New insurer may load or decline; a claim mid-port is messy Want much more cover Consider super top-up Cheaper than porting to a higher base cover Senior parents with PED served Only if clearly better Rejection risk is higher; keep current cover safe For parents, read health insurance for parents and senior citizens (/insights/health-insurance-for-parents-senior-citizens) before switching. Before choosing the new insurer, our guide to claim settlement ratios (/insights/claim-settlement-ratio-explained) explains which numbers matter. And once you have switched, how to file a cashless or reimbursement claim (/insights/health-insurance-claim-cashless-reimbursement) covers IRDAI's one-hour and three-hour claim rules. Your health premium remains deductible under section 126 of the Income-tax Act, 2025 (the old section 80D) in the old tax regime, whichever insurer you choose; see our section 80D guide (/insights/section-80d-health-insurance-deduction) . Related reading How to file a cashless or reimbursement claim (/insights/health-insurance-claim-cashless-reimbursement) Super top-up health plans (/insights/super-top-up-health-insurance) Health insurance for parents and senior citizens (/insights/health-insurance-for-parents-senior-citizens) Critical illness cover: who needs it (/insights/critical-illness-insurance-guide) Health insurance advisor in Pune (/insights/health-insurance-advisor-in-pune) Frequently Asked Questions How many days before renewal should I apply for health insurance portability? Apply to the new insurer not earlier than 60 days and at least 30 days before your renewal date, as described in insurers' portability notes under IRDAI's 2024 health master circular. An insurer may still consider a request up to 15 days before renewal if cover does not break. Starting about 55 to 60 days ahead leaves time for tests and queries. Do I lose my waiting period if I port my health insurance? No, as long as cover is continuous. The time you have served under pre-existing disease, specific disease and initial waiting periods is credited by the new insurer, up to your old sum insured plus accrued bonus. Any additional sum insured you buy at the time of porting starts its own fresh waiting periods. Can I port my health insurance in the middle of the policy year? No. Porting happens only at renewal. If you are unhappy mid-term, you can cancel and receive a refund for the unexpired period, but buying a fresh policy elsewhere mid-year means restarting waiting periods. Plan the switch around your renewal date instead. Can the new insurer reject my portability request? Yes. The new insurer can underwrite your proposal afresh, ask for medical tests, load the premium or decline, depending on its underwriting policy. Portability guarantees the credit if you are accepted, not acceptance itself. Keep your existing policy renewed until the new one is actually issued. Is there any charge for porting a health insurance policy? No. Insurers cannot charge a fee for porting in or out. You simply pay the new insurer's premium, which is priced on its own product, your age and your health. The new premium may be higher or lower than your current one. Can I port a policy with an ongoing claim? You can apply, but the new insurer will see the claim through the IIB data and may load, exclude or decline. Practically, people undergoing treatment are usually better off renewing with the current insurer and revisiting portability once treatment is complete and the claim is settled. What is the difference between portability and migration in health insurance? Portability moves your policy to a different insurer. Migration moves it to a different product with the same insurer. Both preserve credit for waiting periods and moratorium months. If an insurer withdraws your product, it must offer you migration to a suitable alternative. Sources: New India Assurance, Note on Portability (https://www.newindia.co.in/assets/docs/know-more/health/NoteOnPortability.pdf) ; IRDAI Master Circular on Health Insurance (reference) (https://www.caclubindia.com/notice_circulars/master-circular-on-health-insurance-business-11292.asp) ; Deloitte alert on the IRDAI health master circular (https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/in/Documents/tax/in-tax-gbt-insurance-regulator-releases-new-guidelines-noexp.pdf) ; The Week, 30 May 2024 (https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2024/05/30/irdai-issues-new-master-circular-to-make-health-insurance-claims-process-more-seamless.amp.html) ; Arthgyaan summary of the 2024 circular (https://arthgyaan.com/blog/understanding-latest-irda-master-circular-on-health-insurance-2024.html) . Worked examples are Money n Wealth calculations. Thinking of switching your health insurer? A side-by-side comparison of policy wording can tell you whether porting is an upgrade or a trap. Talk to Money n Wealth for an insurance review (/contact) . This article is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Figures and examples are illustrative. Please consult a qualified financial adviser for guidance specific to your situation. Money n Wealth (Predics Fintech Services Pvt Ltd) is an AMFI-registered Mutual Fund Distributor (ARN-121995) and APMI-registered PMS Distributor (APRN07444); it is not a SEBI-registered investment adviser and may earn distribution commission on investments made through it. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days before renewal should I apply for health insurance portability?
Apply to the new insurer not earlier than 60 days and at least 30 days before your renewal date, as described in insurers' portability notes under IRDAI's 2024 health master circular. An insurer may still consider a request up to 15 days before renewal if cover does not break. Starting about 55 to 60 days ahead leaves time for tests and queries.
Do I lose my waiting period if I port my health insurance?
No, as long as cover is continuous. The time you have served under pre-existing disease, specific disease and initial waiting periods is credited by the new insurer, up to your old sum insured plus accrued bonus. Any additional sum insured you buy at the time of porting starts its own fresh waiting periods.
Can I port my health insurance in the middle of the policy year?
No. Porting happens only at renewal. If you are unhappy mid-term, you can cancel and receive a refund for the unexpired period, but buying a fresh policy elsewhere mid-year means restarting waiting periods. Plan the switch around your renewal date instead.
Can the new insurer reject my portability request?
Yes. The new insurer can underwrite your proposal afresh, ask for medical tests, load the premium or decline, depending on its underwriting policy. Portability guarantees the credit if you are accepted, not acceptance itself. Keep your existing policy renewed until the new one is actually issued.
Is there any charge for porting a health insurance policy?
No. Insurers cannot charge a fee for porting in or out. You simply pay the new insurer's premium, which is priced on its own product, your age and your health. The new premium may be higher or lower than your current one.
Can I port a policy with an ongoing claim?
You can apply, but the new insurer will see the claim through the IIB data and may load, exclude or decline. Practically, people undergoing treatment are usually better off renewing with the current insurer and revisiting portability once treatment is complete and the claim is settled.
What is the difference between portability and migration in health insurance?
Portability moves your policy to a different insurer. Migration moves it to a different product with the same insurer. Both preserve credit for waiting periods and moratorium months. If an insurer withdraws your product, it must offer you migration to a suitable alternative.
Thinking of switching your health insurer?
A side-by-side comparison of policy wording can tell you whether porting is an upgrade or a trap. Talk to Money n Wealth for an insurance review .