Want Better Hospital Coverage? Consider Porting Your Policy

My current health insurance policy has a room rent capping, and it's up for renewal in July.

- Shilpa Arora

My advisor has suggested that I consider porting the policy to another insurer that doesn't have such a cap. I wanted to understand what porting means. If I choose to port, will it affect my future claims? I have diabetes and have already made one claim under this policy, during which I realized the impact of room rent capping and had to pay a significant amount from my own pocket.

—Name withheld on request

Health insurance porting is a valuable right granted by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai).

It legally allows individuals to switch their health insurance policy from one insurer to another without losing accumulated benefits. Porting is designed to empower policyholders to make better choices as their health needs and financial priorities evolve, without being penalized for changing providers.