# Health Insurance Portability: How to Switch Insurers > Health insurance portability in India: when to apply, the 72-hour and 5-day IRDAI timelines, which credits carry over, and a step-by-step porting plan. - **Published**: 2026-10-18 - **Modified**: 2026-10-18 - **Category**: health-insurance - **URL**: https://www.tldr.money/articles/health-insurance/health-insurance-portability --- This guide is part of our [health insurance in India](/health-insurance) hub. **Health insurance portability** lets you change insurers without starting your waiting periods again. Here is how it works, what IRDAI requires, and how to do it without a gap in cover. ## What portability means Portability is the right to move your health policy, including every family member on it, from one insurer to another at renewal and carry over the credits you have built up. IRDAI's 2024 product regulations make it available on **all indemnity health policies**, individual and group, subject to the new insurer's board-approved underwriting policy. The same idea within one insurer is called **migration**: moving to a different product from the same company with the same credits. Fixed-benefit products, such as a critical illness plan that pays a lump sum, are not covered by these portability rules. ## Why people port Common reasons: - **Premium increases** at renewal. See [why health insurance premiums go up at renewal](/articles/health-insurance/health-insurance-premium-increase-renewal). - **Poor claim experience**, such as slow cashless approvals or deductions you could not get explained. - **Restrictive terms** such as room rent caps, co-pays or sub-limits you can get rid of elsewhere. - **Wanting a higher sum insured** or better benefits than your current insurer offers. Before you port for premium alone, compare the full terms. A cheaper plan with a room rent cap can cost far more at claim time. Our [room rent and proportionate deduction guide](/articles/health-insurance/room-rent-capping-proportionate-deduction) shows the maths. ## What carries over IRDAI's health master circular says you can transfer credits for: - **Sum insured** - **No-claim bonus** - **Specific waiting periods** - **The pre-existing disease waiting period** - **The moratorium period** All of these carry over "to the extent of" what you had in the old policy. If you move from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, the first Rs 5 lakh (plus any no-claim bonus) keeps its credits, and the extra Rs 10 lakh starts fresh waiting periods with the new insurer. ### Worked example: a PED credit You started your first policy on 1 November 2026 and declared asthma. The PED wait is 36 months. You port on 1 November 2028, after 24 months. - The new insurer also has a 36-month PED wait. - Your 24 months carry over, so **12 months remain**. - Asthma-related claims are covered from **1 November 2029**, the same date as if you had stayed. More on how the clocks interact in our [waiting periods guide](/articles/health-insurance/health-insurance-waiting-periods) and [pre-existing disease guide](/articles/health-insurance/pre-existing-disease-health-insurance). ## The porting timeline IRDAI's Protection of Policyholders' Interests master circular (2024) sets the window: - Apply to the new insurer **at least 30 days before, but not earlier than 60 days from**, your renewal date. - Insurers are free to consider applications made **within 15 days of the renewal date**, but must ensure there is no break in cover. - You must port **the whole policy with all family members**. - **No charges** may be levied for porting in or out. Once you apply, IRDAI's health master circular requires: - the **existing insurer to share your underwriting and claim history** through the Insurance Information Bureau's portal within **72 hours** of the request, and - the **new insurer to decide and tell you within 5 days** of receiving that information. ### Worked example: your dates Your policy renews on **15 January 2027**. | Step | Date | |---|---| | Earliest date to apply (60 days before) | 16 November 2026 | | Latest date in the standard window (30 days before) | 16 December 2026 | | Late applications at the insurer's discretion (15 days before) | Until 31 December 2026 | | Renewal date | 15 January 2027 | Aim to apply in the second half of November so there is time for medical tests and a decision. ## Step-by-step: how to port 1. **Shortlist plans** using the [buying checklist](/articles/health-insurance/health-insurance-checklist) and compare insurers on our [all health insurance companies](/health-insurance/insurers) page. 2. **Apply to the new insurer** within the window. Fill in the proposal and portability forms, and declare all medical history fully, including anything diagnosed since you first bought your policy. 3. **Share your current policy documents**: policy schedules for previous years and claim history. The new insurer also pulls data from your current insurer. 4. **Complete any medical tests** the new insurer asks for. 5. **Wait for the decision.** If it is accepted, check the new policy schedule shows your waiting-period credits and continuity date. 6. **Only then let the old policy go.** If the new insurer declines or the decision comes late, renew your existing policy, within the grace period if necessary, so you never have a gap. ## Pitfalls to avoid - **Letting the old policy lapse early.** If the port fails and you are past the grace period, you lose every credit. - **Hiding new conditions.** Anything diagnosed during your current policy must be disclosed on the new proposal. The moratorium credit carries over, but until you complete 60 continuous months a non-disclosure can still be used against you. - **Comparing headline premiums only.** Check co-pays, room rent, specific-illness lists and sub-limits. See [co-pay vs deductible](/articles/health-insurance/co-pay-vs-deductible). - **Porting during an open claim.** Settle or document any ongoing treatment first, and declare it. ## If your new insurer drags its feet If an insurer misses the timelines or treats you unfairly, complain to its grievance officer first. IRDAI requires grievances to be resolved within 14 days. If you are not satisfied, escalate through IRDAI's Bima Bharosa portal (bimabharosa.irdai.gov.in) or the Insurance Ombudsman. Our guide on [why health claims get rejected](/articles/health-insurance/health-insurance-claim-rejection-reasons) covers the escalation path. ## Sources - IRDAI, Master Circular on Protection of Policyholders' Interests (IRDAI/PP&GR/CIR/MISC/117/9/2024), 5 Sep 2024, Part B, portability of health indemnity policies: https://irdai.gov.in/en/document-detail?documentId=5625747 - IRDAI, Master Circular on Health Insurance Business (IRDAI/HLT/CIR/PRO/84/5/2024), 29 May 2024, Chapter I paras 11 and 12 (migration and portability): https://irdai.gov.in/en/document-detail?documentId=4942918 - IRDAI (Insurance Products) Regulations, 2024, Schedule III, para 10 (migration and portability): https://irdai.gov.in/consolidated-gazette-notified-regulations --- - [More health-insurance articles](https://www.tldr.money/articles/category/health-insurance) - [All articles](https://www.tldr.money/articles)