Porting your health insurance without losing what you've earned

We meet a lot of people stuck with a policy they've lost faith in, staying put because they assume switching means starting from zero. It doesn't. Portability exists precisely so you aren't trapped.

What you actually carry over

When you port, the waiting periods you've already served move with you. Three years into a four-year pre-existing wait, you don't restart, you carry those three years to the new insurer. Accumulated no-claim bonus can often move across too, so the cover you've built up isn't lost.

What doesn't automatically transfer

• If you increase your sum insured while porting, the increased portion may carry a fresh waiting period.
• Benefits the new policy simply doesn't offer can't be ported into existence.
• Acceptance isn't guaranteed. The new insurer underwrites you afresh, and can decline or apply terms based on your health and claims history.

Timing is the whole thing

Portability has to be initiated well before your renewal date, commonly at least 45 days ahead. Leave it late and you'll be forced into another year with your current insurer, or risk a gap in cover. This single deadline is why most porting attempts fail.

When porting is worth it

Genuine reasons: a poor claims experience, room rent or co-payment terms you've outgrown, a weak hospital network in your city, or premiums drifting well above comparable plans. A slightly cheaper premium alone usually isn't worth the underwriting risk of switching.

If you're considering a move, talk to us a couple of months before your renewal. We'll tell you honestly whether porting helps, and sometimes the answer is that your existing policy is better than you think.

This guide is general information to help you understand your options, not financial or tax advice. Please consider your own circumstances and consult a qualified professional where needed.