Ported your policy and still rejected?

Credit carries over

• When you port to a new insurer, migrate to another product with the same insurer, or renew within the grace period, your credit for waiting periods carries over.
• That includes the pre-existing disease waiting period, specific-disease waiting periods and the 60-month moratorium.
• If you increased your sum insured, waiting periods start afresh only for the extra amount.

How porting works

• You can port any indemnity health policy, individual, family floater or group, at renewal.
• Apply at least 30 days, and not more than 60 days, before renewal.
• The old insurer must share your data through the industry portal within 72 hours, and the new insurer must decide within 5 days.
• There is no charge for porting. The new insurer may underwrite you under its own board-approved policy.

When the rejection is weak

• The rejection counts the waiting period only from the new policy’s start date.
• Your earlier policies were continuous, with renewals inside the grace period.
• The condition was disclosed, and the combined years of cover pass the waiting period.

What to do

1. Collect the schedules of every earlier policy, with start dates and sums insured.
2. Add up continuous cover and compare it with the waiting period the insurer applied.
3. Write to the Grievance Redressal Officer with the earlier schedules. The Ombudsman complaint form asks whether the policy was ported and for the previous insurer’s details, so keep them together.

Questions people ask

Does the waiting period restart when I port my health insurance?

No. Credit for the pre-existing disease and specific waiting periods carries over when you port, migrate or renew within the grace period. Only an increase in sum insured starts a fresh wait, for the increased part.

When should I apply to port?

At least 30 days and not more than 60 days before your policy renews.