IRDAI rule · Moratorium
Moratorium period in health insurance: what the 60-month rule protects
After five years of continuous cover, your insurer’s power to reopen your past is limited. Here is what that rule says in plain words.
By the MediclaimSaathi team Updated 8 November 20265 min read
Quick answer
The moratorium period in IRDAI’s 2024 rules is 60 months of continuous health cover. After it, an insurer cannot contest a claim on grounds of non-disclosure or misrepresentation, except for established fraud. Years with a previous insurer count if you ported. It is separate from waiting periods (a pre-existing disease can have a waiting period of at most 36 months) and it does not remove policy exclusions, sum insured limits or other valid terms.
The rule in simple terms
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long is the moratorium? | 60 months of continuous cover. |
| What does it protect against? | A claim being contested for non-disclosure or misrepresentation, except for established fraud. |
| Do ported years count? | Yes. Continuous cover with a previous insurer counts when you port. |
| Is it the same as a waiting period? | No. A waiting period delays cover for certain conditions. The moratorium limits contesting a claim for earlier non-disclosure. |
| Does it cover everything? | No. Valid exclusions, sub-limits and sum insured still apply. |
How to count your 60 months
- Add every policy year without a break. A lapse beyond the grace period can reset the count.
- Include years with your previous insurer if you ported, and keep the portability letter.
- Keep every renewal certificate and premium receipt as proof.
- If you increased the sum insured, ask how the insurer counts the added amount, as it may be treated differently.
Using it when a claim is rejected
- 1Check the stated groundIs the insurer alleging non-disclosure or misrepresentation?
- 2Prove your continuous coverSend the renewal chain and portability letter.
- 3Quote the ruleRefer to IRDAI’s Master Circular on Health Insurance Business (2024) in your grievance.
- 4Escalate if neededBima Bharosa and the Insurance Ombudsman after 30 days or a rejection.
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Check my letter freeFrequently asked questions
What is the moratorium period in health insurance?+
60 months of continuous cover, after which a claim cannot be contested for non-disclosure or misrepresentation except for established fraud.
Does the moratorium apply to a new insurer after porting?+
Ported years count. Check with the new insurer how it counts them, and keep proof from the old one.
Does the moratorium remove waiting periods?+
No. They are separate. The maximum waiting period for a pre-existing disease is 36 months.
Can an insurer still reject a claim after 60 months?+
Yes, on valid grounds such as an exclusion, or for established fraud. It cannot contest on non-disclosure alone.
Related guides
Policy Terms · Waiting Period
Health Insurance Waiting Period in India: New IRDAI 2024 Rules Explained
Rejected · Non-disclosure · Misrepresentation
Claim rejected for non-disclosure? How to challenge “you hid your medical history”
Complete guide
Health insurance claim rejected? Here’s exactly what to do
Sources
- IRDAI — Master Circular on Health Insurance Business (May 2024)
- IRDAI Bima Bharosa grievance portal
- Council for Insurance Ombudsmen
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; always check the current IRDAI circulars and your policy wording. MediclaimSaathi is a document-preparation platform, not a law firm, insurer or broker.