The increasing demand for health insurance in India has led to a corresponding rise in the number of insurance companies operating there. The portability policy enables individuals to switch to a new health insurance provider without forfeiting the benefits accrued from their current insurer if they are dissatisfied with their current plan.
Health insurance portability is a regulatory provision enabling individuals to transfer their existing health insurance policy to another provider. Porting refers to transferring a phone number from one service provider to another. This is typically done in response to poor service quality, the need for additional coverage, or other similar reasons.
In 2011, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority introduced the notion of health insurance portability. Individual policyholders can transfer their health insurance coverage from one insurance company to another or switch to a different plan within the same insurance company. Transferring health insurance coverage to another plan within the same insurance provider is only possible in a group health insurance policy.
When should you port?
Porting an insurance company may appear perplexing, but it can be streamlined by considering certain key factors.
- The current health insurance provider is providing unsatisfactory service. If the service quality promised by your health insurance provider is not delivered, initiating a porting process may be necessary.
- Hidden clauses refer to contractual terms or conditions that are not explicitly stated in a contract but are implied or inferred. These clauses can have significant legal implications and can impact the rights and obligations of the parties involved in the contract. It is important for parties to carefully review and understand all terms and conditions of a contract, including any hidden clauses, before signing. In emergencies, it is advisable to prioritise transparency and avoid providers with undisclosed terms and conditions.
- If your current health insurance plan does not adequately cover your specific needs, it may be advisable to consider switching to a provider that offers comprehensive coverage.
- If experiencing delayed or untimely reimbursement of medical expenses, it is recommended to take appropriate action.
- A superior product in the market provides greater advantages than your current health insurance plan.
Health insurance portability guidelines
- To guarantee a seamless portability policy, you must communicate your intention to switch to the new insurance company no later than 45 days before the upcoming policy renewal. If the new insurer is not informed within 45 days, they may reject your application for portability. This rejection will be due to their liability.
- It is possible to transfer individual or family policies.
- It is impossible to transfer or migrate your policies at any given time. The option to transfer health insurance coverage to a new policy is only available during the renewal period of the existing policy.
- Insurance providers must acknowledge applications for portability within a maximum of three days.
- Policyholders have the option to renew their policies without experiencing any lapses. If an insurer’s delay causes a policy discontinuity, the discontinuity will not be considered as such, and portability may be maintained.
- Policyholders have the option to transfer their policies from one general or specialised insurance company to another general or specialised insurance company.
- To be eligible for porting, a policyholder must ensure that they have not missed any premium payments and that there are no gaps in their current policy.
- Upon submission of the application form along with all required documentation, the prospective insurer is expected to respond within 15 days. If the company fails to respond within 15 days, it forfeits its entitlement to decline the application and is obligated to accept it regardless.