Short answer
A client can move an indemnity health policy to another insurer and carry over credit for sum insured, no claim bonus, waiting periods and the moratorium. The existing insurer must share the details within 72 hours through the IIB portal, and the new insurer must decide within 5 days of receiving them.
What moves with the policy
Item 12 of the IRDAI health circular lets the policyholder transfer credits to the extent of:
- sum insured and no claim bonus
- specific waiting periods, and the waiting period for pre-existing disease
- the moratorium period
Who has to do what, and when
| Step | Who | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Share underwriting details and claim history through the Insurance Information Bureau portal | Existing insurer | Immediately, and within 72 hours of the request |
| Decide on the proposal and tell the policyholder | Acquiring insurer | Immediately, and within 5 days of receiving the information |
The new insurer decides, so a port can be refused. Do not promise a client it will go through.
When to start
The circular we read gives no "apply so many days before renewal" window, so this guide does not quote one. Ask the acquiring insurer, and leave room before the renewal date. If the policy is renewed within grace, its credits stay protected (item 8).
Portability, migration and renewal
| Word | Means | Circular |
|---|---|---|
| Portability | Moving to another insurer | Item 12 |
| Migration | Moving to another policy with the same insurer, keeping the same credits | Item 11 |
| Renewal | Carrying on with the same policy. It cannot be refused because of a claim, and there is no fresh underwriting unless the sum insured goes up. | Item 10 |
Why the moratorium matters
After 60 months of continuous cover, a policy or claim cannot be contested for non-disclosure or misrepresentation, except for established fraud. Credits from a ported or migrated policy count toward those 60 months (item 13). Keep the first date of continuous cover in your records.
What this guide does not cover
Items 11 and 12 speak of indemnity policies. A newer revision of the circular may exist: the copy read was marked Version 1 of 29-05-2024. Premium for the new policy is the insurer's to set, so neither this guide nor Bima Diary gives one.
Common questions
Do waiting periods restart when a health policy is ported?
No, not for the credits the circular covers. Time served on specific waiting periods and pre-existing disease waiting transfers to the new insurer, to the extent of the previous sum insured.
How long does the insurer have to decide on a port?
The new insurer must decide within 5 days of receiving the information. The existing insurer must share it within 72 hours of the request.
How many days before renewal should I apply?
The circular read for this guide does not give a window. Ask the acquiring insurer.
Can an insurer refuse to renew because of a claim?
No. Item 10 of the circular says renewal cannot be denied because a claim was made in earlier policy years.
Sources
- IRDAI Master Circular on Health Insurance Business, 29-05-2024 The IRDAI text, read from a copy marked "Version 1", not from irdai.gov.in. A later revision was not checked. Opened again on 08-11-2026.
- Business Today on the revised grace-period rules for health insurance, 31-05-2024 Press report.
Last checked 08-11-2026. General information for agents, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change: the insurer's documents and the regulator's current text decide.
