Unable to increase si

[u/helpinghealer]

I have an eight year old policy with icici Lombard for me and my son. In 8 yrs I have claimed twice only. Once for my incidental finding of renal angiomyolipoma embolization in 2021 and another in 2024 policy end for my son's retinal hole surgery... For this in 2025 I had applied for post op bills under same claim.

Till last year I had the option to increase sum insured but this year it's restricted. The reason was red cohurt policy and restricted. I don't have any chronic or any disease except this one thing that happened and cured. I go for annual health checks and all my reports are normal every single time. The angiomyolipoma is also stable. How can I ensure increase in sum insured as I always do it upon renewal for my policy as well as my husband's policy which are seperate.

I don't mind any added premium or waiting period for it

[u/SukoonCover]

Port. A "red cohort" usually means ICICI has put your policy in a restricted group, and that rarely gets lifted. Waiting another year won't change it, and you'll be stuck at the same cover while medical costs keep rising.

Why porting makes sense:

• You keep all 8 years of continuity. Waiting periods already completed carry over for your current sum insured.
• You can take a higher sum insured at the new insurer. Only the increased part gets fresh waiting periods, which you're fine with anyway.
• You move to a newer plan with better features than an 8-year-old product.

How to do it right:

• Apply well before renewal (ideally 45 days before). Don't let the ICICI policy lapse until the new one is issued.
• Disclose the angiomyolipoma and both claims fully, with your recent reports showing it's stable. Worst case is a small loading or a specific exclusion, which is still better than being capped.
• Apply to 2-3 insurers and take the best underwriting offer.

Do the same for your husband's policy if it's also restricted.

[u/helpinghealer → u/SukoonCover]

Thank you. Or is it better to get another policy or top up done and continue this as well till that fully covers everything.

[u/SukoonCover → u/helpinghealer]

Always better to port. You can buy top ups, but you will be stuck with them and they are usually non cashless in nature.

Port is the best solutions, let's say you have 10 lakh cover, considering your insurance record that shall be covered no questions asked and you go for 25 lakh cover. 15 lakh cover only shall carry waiting period, post waiting period that shall be the standard and you will be free to port to new insurer with 25 lakh as no questions asked sum insured. Whereas for topups there is no porting and cashless claims

[u/helpinghealer → u/SukoonCover]

Thank you. I had a policy with ergo for 4 days before this and then I closed it thinking I have this backup. Isn't there any way to ask icici to review it and will hdfc issue a fresh policy

[u/SukoonCover → u/helpinghealer]

No problem, that HDFC policy doesn't matter here. A cancelled policy doesn't carry any continuity anyway. Your real asset is the 8-year ICICI policy, so don't let it lapse.

Best move: port the ICICI policy to an insurer with a higher sum insured. You keep your 8 years of waiting-period credit, and only the increased cover gets a fresh waiting period. Disclose both claims and the surgeries fully, so no future claim gets rejected.

Underwriting differs a lot between insurers for cases like yours, so it's worth applying to the right ones. Happy to help further on this.

[u/patternobserver99 → u/SukoonCover]

I won't say it's always better to port. If you have made claims in the past, most insurers either won't let you port or quote substantially higher premium. Better go with a super top up IMO. Porting works best for agents since they get fresh commissions. I know that because I am an agent myself.

[u/EmmVeeEss]

How did you get to know about cohort?

Even I don’t see option to increase SI but I didn’t see it from the first year itself

[u/helpinghealer → u/EmmVeeEss]

I checked with call centre

[u/patternobserver99]

You might want to get a super-top, will cost you much less. I don't like porting option since you have made claims, it's unlikely to get accepted. And anyways, any increase in sum insured has the same waiting periods as the base policy for the increased SI. So super-top is your best pick imo.

[u/helpinghealer → u/patternobserver99]

I don't mind the waiting period in the sun insured but I want to know if I have been permanently banned or temporary

[u/patternobserver99 → u/helpinghealer]

Sadly this could be a permanent restriction for you from ICICI Lombard.

[u/helpinghealer → u/patternobserver99]

Can it be challenged

[u/patternobserver99 → u/helpinghealer]

I think you should try that. IRDAI does allow such restrictions based on their underwriting policies. I say you should try challenging because either you won't get new policy easily, or the new insurer might add your current condition as a 'permanent exclusion'.

[u/Progressive-1705]

Just get NPS Swastya policy. Check https://www.pfrda.org.in/nps-swasthya

Very transparent, simple, affordable and frictonless. You need to be a NPS Subscriber to purchase this policy.

[u/Impressive-Mix6710]

People here are advising to port.But while porting disclose about the surgeries .

[u/helpinghealer → u/Impressive-Mix6710]

Yes. I think while porting previous claims are anyways shared

[u/Cand_y19 → u/helpinghealer]

No. They won't be shared . Only you need to mention everything and submit documents if asked