Q. I’ve been covered under a basic health insurance plan for the last few years. I feel it no longer meets my needs, especially when it comes to comprehensive benefits, chronic illness cover, and flexibility in usage. I am considering porting my policy to a new insurer. What should I keep in mind when porting a health insurance policy? – Meera
A. Porting your health insurance policy can be a smart decision when you feel your current coverage fails to meet your evolving healthcare needs. The good news is that regulatory provisions ensure you don’t lose out on key benefits you’ve earned over time, provided you follow the process carefully. Portability allows you to switch to a better plan without sacrificing continuity, making it easier to access broader protection, enhanced benefits, and chronic illness support.
One of the aspects during porting is continuity of waiting periods. When you move to a new insurer, the credit for time served under waiting periods (for pre-existing conditions, maternity cover, or specific illnesses) is carried forward. This ensures you don’t restart the waiting period clock from zero. Similarly, your accumulated no-claim bonus (NCB) is transferable, which can give you an enhanced cover amount with no additional premium load if you’ve maintained claim-free years. Make sure the new insurer confirms exact treatment of NCB and waiting periods.
While evaluating new plans, focus on comprehensive coverage that goes beyond hospitalisation. Look for add-ons or plans that include chronic illness management, outpatient consultations, and wellness benefits, which can be important for long-term healthcare security. Plans under the “comprehensive” category often provide features like higher sum insured options, worldwide emergency cover, day-care procedure coverage, and preventive health check-ups. Some also offer tailored chronic condition programmes, with structured disease management and proactive support for illnesses like diabetes or heart disease.
A good strategy is to compare different categories of plans — basic indemnity plans, comprehensive plans, and disease-specific or top-up covers. This way, you can balance affordability and breadth of coverage. Check the insurer’s hospital network strength because a wide cashless network ensures ease of access. Also, pay attention to lifetime renewability and claim settlement ratios as these factors impact long-term peace of mind.
Finally, plan your porting process in advance. Ideally, submit your portability request at least 45–60 days before policy renewal. This gives the new insurer adequate time to review your proposal and ensures a seamless transfer without coverage gaps. Porting your health insurance is not just about changing the insurer; it’s an opportunity to upgrade to broader, more flexible coverage that safeguards you against both current and future health risks. By aligning your plan with your health goals and making sure rights like NCB and waiting periods are protected, you can secure a more comprehensive safety net without losing the benefits you’ve already earned.
The author is Head Products and Operations , ManipalCigna Health Insurance
Published on September 20, 2025
