Porting means moving your health insurance policy from one insurance company to another while carrying forward key benefits like:

• completed waiting periods
• pre-existing disease (PED) credit
• continuity benefits

This right is protected under IRDAI Health Insurance Regulations.

What stays protected when you port

• ✔ Waiting period already completed
• ✔ PED waiting period credit
• ✔ Policy continuity (to the extent of old sum insured)

What does NOT automatically carry

• ❌ Higher coverage than your old policy
• ❌ New riders not present earlier
• ❌ Benefits above previous sum insured (they may get fresh waiting)

Migration means switching to a different plan within the same insurance company.

You are not changing the insurer — only the product.

Migration is useful when:

• your company launches a newer, better policy
• your old plan is outdated
• you want better features without restarting continuity

Example — Porting

Ramesh (age 42) has a ₹5L policy for 6 years. He ports to a new insurer.

• ✔ His 6-year PED waiting credit transfers
• ✔ New illnesses are covered immediately
• ❌ The extra ₹5L he adds gets fresh waiting period

Example — Migration

Sunita has an old plan with room rent limits. Her insurer launches a modern plan without sub-limits.

• ✔ She migrates
• ✔ Keeps waiting period benefits
• ✔ Gets better coverage without changing company

Porting makes sense when:

a) Claim experience is poor

• delays in approval
• frequent deductions
• weak hospital network
• difficult TPA experience

b) Premium increases sharply

If renewals keep rising without improvement in benefits.

c) Policy has restrictive clauses

• room rent caps
• heavy sub-limits
• mandatory co-pay

d) Better insurers exist for your profile

Different companies are stronger for different age groups and health profiles.

(Insurer explainers like HDFC ERGO and ICICI Lombard recommend porting when claim service or pricing becomes unfavorable.)

Migration is ideal when:

a) Your insurer launches a modern plan

Newer plans often include:

• OPD cover
• fewer sub-limits
• better room rent rules

b) You want fewer exclusions

Older policies tend to be restrictive.

c) You want a smoother upgrade

Migration usually involves fewer surprises than porting.

According to IRDAI guidelines:

Step 1: Apply 45–60 days before renewal

Porting requests must be made at least 45 days before policy expiry.

Step 2: Submit porting form

Includes:

• existing policy details
• claim history
• health declarations

Step 3: Data sharing through IRDAI portal

Your old insurer shares details with the new insurer.

Step 4: Underwriting by new insurer

They assess:

• age
• medical history
• past claims

Step 5: Acceptance / loading / exclusions

New insurer may:

• accept fully
• add premium loading
• impose specific exclusions
• or reject (rare but possible)

Step 6: Policy issuance

If accepted, your continuity benefits are preserved.

1. Request migration before renewal
2. Submit medical details
3. Insurer evaluates suitability
4. New plan issued with continuity

Migration usually has lower rejection risk.

• ❌ Applying too late (after renewal window)
• ❌ Hiding medical history
• ❌ Assuming higher sum insured carries full continuity
• ❌ Choosing cheapest premium instead of claim strength
• ❌ Porting without checking hospital network

These mistakes can lead to rejection or reduced benefits.

Continuity Benefit

Credit for time already spent under insurance.

Underwriting

Risk assessment by insurer before acceptance.

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Extra premium charged due to health risk.

Specific Exclusion

Conditions excluded even after the waiting period.

• Portability is a customer right
• Insurers must honour waiting period credits
• Data sharing between insurers is mandatory
• Porting cannot be denied without reason

(Source: IRDAI Health Insurance Regulations)

Ask yourself:

• Is my problem the company or the policy?
• Am I unhappy with claims or just features?
• Is my health stable enough to undergo underwriting?

Your answers guide the choice.

Winsure Health:

• evaluates your current policy health
• checks claim behaviour of alternative insurers
• estimates porting risk
• explains continuity vs fresh waiting
• helps choose safer migration or porting path

This avoids trial-and-error with your family’s protection.