Evaluate the pros and cons of portability feature introduced in health insurance policies in India.

Portability is the right accorded to the policyholder to transfer the credit gained by the pre-existing conditions and time bound exclusions from one insurer to another insurer or from one plan to another plan of the same insurer. It is the right conferred on a policyholder who decides to move from one general or health insurer to another or to another plan of the same general or health insurer. Portability is not applicable to fixed benefits payable under Health insurance policies issued by a Life Insurer. The advantage of portability is the carry forward of the credits accrued on account of having a policy with previous insurer Request for portability should be given by filling up a portability form to the existing insurer, earlier than 45 days but not before 60 days from the date of expiry. Portability form should be submitted to the old insurer who shall send it through a portal to the new insurer. New insurer may request the claims history and other details from the previous insurer who shall submit the required details within a period of 7 days from the date of receipt of request. An insurer may reject the request for portability if the policyholder approaches 60 days before or within 45days of the date of expiry of the insurance policy. However, an insurer may at their option consider the request for portability even outside the above period. New insurer is under obligation to accept or reject within a period of 15 days from the date of receipt of the portability form. If the new insurer does not convey any decision within the aforesaid 15 days he is deemed to have accepted the request for portability. No charges for portability can be levied either by the previous insurer or the new insurer No commission shall be paid to any agent or intermediary for the policy which is ported from one insurer to another insurer.