In case you are not satisfied with the services and coverage of your senior citizen health insurance, you can think of porting the policy. The portability also results in waiving off the waiting period for pre-existing ailments with the new insurer. If you served the same number of years in the current insurance policy. Also, portability happens between the same insurance policies, like from one Mediclaim to another Mediclaim policy.
Here is the procedure that you would need to follow if you want to port your senior citizen health insurance policy from one insurer to another –
- Make sure, your application of porting the senior policy reach the new insurer 45 days prior to the renewal date of your current policy
- Once your request is received, the new insurer will give you a portability form along with details of various insurance products offered by the insurer
- Choose the senior citizen health insurance policy which meets your requirement, fill up the portability form and other documents and submit the same
- Once the insurer receives all the forms and details, it will approach your current health insurance company seeking details like claim history, medical records, etc.
- The data will be shared through a common platform, developed by IRDAI for all its insurers. It is necessary for the current insurance company to furnish all the details within the seven working days
- Once the new insurer has all the required information, it has 15 days’ time to underwrite your policy. If it fails to do so within this tenure, it will have to accept your application.
Read More: What should you consider while buying health insurance for senior citizens?
Remember, your senior citizen health insurance portability application can be denied if there is a break in your policy. Further, always maintain proper documentation, like renewal notices, previous insurance policy certificates, etc.; so that it will be easier for the new health insurance company to evaluate your proposal and underwrite your policy accordingly.
Note, even corporate health insurance policies, i.e., offered by employers, can port to individual health insurance policies. In case you bought the health insurance from a broker or agent, reach out to them as they will help you in porting your health insurance policy. Also, including a senior citizen health insurance plan.
Case
In 2010, Mr. Jayant Singh purchased a senior citizen health insurance policy for his mother from Insurer X. Now in 2016, he decided to port his policy when his mother was in the hospital. The insurer refused to pay the full claim as there were some sub-limits on room charges. And not aware of him decided to go with a new Insurer Y.
When there was a time of 45 days for the renewal of the current senior citizen health insurance policy, he approached the new insurer. The insurer asked him to submit some forms, including the portability form. Insurer Y gave a brief account of its current policies to Jayant. He closely examined all the available policy options and selected the one for his father.
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The new insurer approached the current insurer of Jayant’s father and asked for details like claim history, medical reports, etc. Insurer X had seven working days to respond back to Insurer Y. The current insurer shared all the details within four days.
Now Insurer Y had all the information about Jayant’s current senior citizen health insurance policy and health. The new insurer took ten days in underwriting a new policy for Jayant’s father.
In the previous policy, there was a waiting period of 2 years for a pre-existing ailment, Jayant’s father served successfully. As a result, the new insurer waived off the waiting period for pre-existing ailments in a new insurance policy. It means pre-existing ailments in a new senior citizen health insurance policy were covered from day 1.
About The Author
Mahesh
MBA Finance
With seven years of experience in the insurance industry, Mahesh is a seasoned expert in Senior Citizen Insurance. As a dedicated writer for SecureNow, they specialize in crafting informative blogs and articles that address the unique insurance needs of senior citizens. He is passionate about providing valuable insights and practical advice to help seniors and their families navigate the complexities of insurance coverage in their golden years. Their extensive knowledge and commitment to serving the senior community make Mahesh a trusted resource in the insurance landscape.
