Group Health Plan Ending? Port to Individual in 4 Steps

If your employer's group health insurance is ending or you're switching jobs, IRDAI rules let you port to an individual plan without losing your waiting period credit. Here's how it works and what to do.

Here's what happened: IRDAI regulations allow group health insurance policyholders to port their coverage to an individual or family floater plan when they leave employment or the group scheme ends.. Portability preserves your accumulated waiting period credit — meaning pre-existing conditions already served under the group plan don't restart their waiting clock on the new individual policy.. You must apply for portability at least 30 days before your group policy expiry or resignation date; missing this window can mean losing all accumulated benefits..

What you should do: Check your current group policy's expiry date and set a reminder 45 days before to begin the portability application process with your chosen insurer.. Compare individual health plans on coverage amount, room rent limits, and network hospitals before porting — don't just pick the cheapest premium.. Request a portability form (Form P1) from your new insurer and ask HR for your group policy certificate showing years of continuous coverage and claims history..

Pro tip: Even if your employer continues your group cover after resignation for a grace period, IRDAI still counts that period toward your continuity benefit — so port before it fully lapses, not after.