Does Your Health Insurance Cover Ongoing Treatment If You Switch Insurers Mid-Treatment?

Switching your health insurance provider can help you access better benefits and services. However, if you are undergoing treatment, you should understand how the switch may impact your coverage and healthcare expenses. Keep reading to know more.

How Does Portability Work?

The health insurance sector in India is regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). Portability enables you to switch insurance companies without losing any of the benefits you've gained.

• You can carry forward the waiting period already served.


• You may transfer your no-claim bonus.


• You will be allowed to keep on with similar benefits.

Nevertheless, portability does not guarantee that continuous treatments will be financed at once.

Coverage Procedure for Ongoing Treatment Before Porting

When you are already being treated, the new insurer assesses your health conditions before granting you coverage. The ruling is based on underwriting principles and policy conditions. In this instance, different insurers may respond differently depending on their risk evaluation.

These are only some of the potential outcomes that you should be aware of before switching:

• You can permit coverage with some conditions.


• You can impose a waiting period on the condition.


• You can put a temporary exclusion on the treatment.

Therefore, you should not assume uninterrupted coverage during an ongoing treatment.

Impact of Pre-existing Conditions

The continuation of the treatment is normally associated with the underlying condition. When changing insurance companies, the new company looks carefully into your health history.

The way your condition is managed is affected by the following factors. These are some of the points that you should take into consideration when making a decision:

• The duration of your previous policy.


• The acuity of the diagnosed condition.


• The underwriting rules of the new insurer.

Portability does not automatically mean that the ongoing treatment should be approved.

Timing and Disclosure

You can schedule your transition so that you are not interrupted in your healthcare costs. Switching at the wrong time may lead to claim issues. These are the practices that you should engage in to have a smooth transition:

• You should avoid switching during major ongoing treatments.


• Portability should be initiated before renewal.


• You should complete treatment under your current insurer when possible.

You should be truthful about your medical condition. Failure to disclose may lead to cancellation of claims or termination of the policy.

Key Checks Before Switching Insurers

You should review important aspects before changing your insurer. A careful evaluation helps you maintain financial protection. The following checks can guide your decision. You should assess each factor thoroughly:

• You need to determine whether the new policy will cover your condition.


• You are to check the continuity of the waiting period.


• You need to check the network hospitals.


• You should assess the claim settlement ratio, which should be close to 100%.

Changing health insurance plans in the middle of treatment is more than an act of prudence; it is not merely the pursuit of superior benefits. The decision should always be timely and informed so that you will not have to worry about loopholes in the coverage that lead to loss of both health and money.