How to link existing insurance policies to Bima Sugam account online India

Introduction:

Why linking your policies to Bima Sugam–ready account matters

• As an Insurance Advisor, I can see how the entire Indian insurance industry is moving towards one unified digital ecosystem—Bima Sugam. IRDAI’s vision is clear: every policyholder should be able to buy, renew, service, and claim all types of insurance—life, health, motor, and more—from a single online account, rather than juggling separate logins and paper documents.
• The backbone of this shift is the electronic Insurance Account (eIA) and mandatory digital issuance of policies, which is already in force. When you link your existing life, health, motor, and other policies to your e‑Insurance Account, you are essentially preparing your portfolio to work seamlessly on Bima Sugam as and when all transaction features go live. In this article, I will walk you step by step—exactly the way I explain it to my clients—on how to link existing insurance policies to your Bima Sugam–ready account online in India

Step 1: Understand Bima Sugam and the role of e‑Insurance Account (eIA)

Bima Sugam is a unified digital marketplace backed by IRDAI, Life Insurance Council and General Insurance Council, designed to be an “Amazon‑like” one‑stop platform for all insurance needs. It aims to allow policyholders to:

• Compare and buy policies from multiple insurers.

• Maintain all policies in digital form in one place.

• Handle endorsements, renewals and, in later phases, claims through a single interface.

The regulatory ecosystem supporting this includes:

• Mandatory electronic policies and e‑Insurance Account linking for new policies from April 1, 2024 under IRDAI’s “Protection of Policyholders’ Interests, Operations and Allied Matters Regulations, 2024.”​

• Existing e‑Insurance Account infrastructure through IRDAI‑approved repositories such as CAMS (Bima Central), NSDL/NIR, Karvy (KIR), and CDSL.

So, when we talk about “linking existing insurance policies to Bima Sugam account online,” what you practically do today is:

1. Open or use your existing e‑Insurance Account (eIA).

2. Convert or link each existing policy into that eIA in electronic form.

3. Use this eIA login as your single “insurance account”, which Bima Sugam will integrate with for unified access.

Step 2: Open your e‑Insurance Account (if you do not already have one)

If you do not yet have an e‑Insurance Account, you must create one with an IRDAI‑authorised insurance repository. Common options include:

• CAMS Insurance Repository – “Bima Central”.​

• NIR – NSDL Insurance Repository (NDML).

• Other IRDAI-approved repositories supporting eIA and policy conversion.

Online process to open eIA (example: CAMS / Bima Central)

Most repositories follow a similar digital process:

1. Sign up on the repository portal

   • Visit the repository’s website (for example, CAMS Bima Central).

   • Register using your mobile number or email ID.​

2. Complete e‑KYC

   • Provide your PAN or Aadhaar and address proof.

   • Upload scanned copies or use Aadhaar‑based e‑KYC, as provided on the portal.

3. Submit online eIA application

   • Fill the online e‑Insurance Account opening form with personal, contact and bank details.

   • Some repositories also allow offline forms submitted through Approved Persons or insurer branches.

4. Verification and account creation

   • Your documents are verified by the repository or Approved Person.

   • On approval, you receive a unique 13‑digit e‑Insurance Account (eIA) number via SMS/email, along with login credentials.

Once your eIA is active, you can start linking all existing insurance policies to this account.

Step 3: Gather details of your existing insurance policies

Before you go online to link policies, list out all the policies you or your family have, across life, health, motor and other segments:

• Policy number.

• Name of insurer.

• Type of policy (term, endowment, ULIP, health, motor, personal accident, etc.).

• Policyholder name and DOB (exactly as on the policy).

This makes the online linking smoother, especially when the portal asks for multiple policies at once.

Step 4: Link existing policies to your e‑Insurance Account online

Once your eIA is open, you have two main ways to link or convert policies:

Method A: Through the insurance repository portal (e.g., NIR, CAMS)

Many repositories now offer online policy conversion or Add Policy options after login. The typical steps are:​

1. Login to your eIA portal using the eIA number and password.

2. Go to “Add Policy / Convert Policy / Link Policy” section on the dashboard.​

3. Enter policy details:

   • Choose insurer name from the dropdown.

   • Enter policy number and policy type.

   • Confirm policyholder details (name, DOB, etc.).​

4. Submit online request to convert the physical policy into an e‑policy (electronic form) linked to your eIA.

5. Repository and insurer verification:

   • Insurer validates the request; they may ask for additional documents in some cases.

6. Receive confirmation via SMS/email once the policy is successfully linked and appears in your eIA list.

Platforms like NSDL’s NIR and CAMS Bima Central also allow policy conversion requests through online forms plus KYC verification, so you often do not need to visit any branch.​

Method B: Through insurer branch / Approved Person (semi‑online)

If you prefer, or if your insurer does not support direct online linking yet, you can use a semi‑online route:

1. Download Policy Conversion Form from your chosen repository’s website.

2. Fill the form with:

   • e‑Insurance Account number.

   • Policy number and insurer name.

   • Policyholder details.

3. Attach self‑attested KYC copies if required.

4. Submit the form to:

   • Nearest branch of the insurer for that policy, or

   • Approved Person / Point of Service of the repository.

5. After processing, the insurer credits (links) the policy to your e‑Insurance Account. You receive confirmation and can view it online.

In both methods, you are essentially converting your physical policy into an electronic policy stored and visible in your eIA—this is what Bima Sugam will rely on for seamless digital servicing.

Step 5: Linking future policies directly to your Bima Sugam–ready account

For new policies, the process is even easier:

• If you already have an eIA, simply provide your eIA number in the proposal form or online purchase journey.

• The insurer issues the policy directly in electronic form and stores it in your eIA, as mandated by IRDAI from April 1, 2024.​

• No separate conversion is required later.

This means that once Bima Sugam’s full transaction features are operational, any new policy purchased through the platform or via insurers will automatically map to the same digital account.

Key benefits of linking existing policies to your Bima Sugam–ready eIA, How to link existing insurance policies to Bima Sugam account online India

Linking all your policies to your e‑Insurance Account prepares you for the Bima Sugam ecosystem and offers several practical advantages even today:

• Single view of all policies (life, health, motor, etc.) instead of multiple logins and physical files.

• Reduced risk of lost policy documents—everything is stored digitally in one secure place.

• Simplified servicing: change of address, nomination updates and other servicing can be streamlined via repository and, in future, via Bima Sugam.

• Faster claim support for nominees—family members can access policy details centrally in case of a claim.

As an advisor, I also find it much easier to review a client’s complete portfolio when their policies are consolidated in one digital account.

Common issues and tips when linking policies online

While the process is fairly straightforward, I see a few recurring issues:

• Name mismatches between policy and eIA (e.g., missing middle name or spelling changes) can delay linking. Always ensure your KYC and policy details are consistent.

• Outdated contact details: update your mobile number and email with insurers before requesting conversion, so you receive OTPs and confirmations smoothly.

• Multiple repositories: choose one repository as your primary eIA platform; do not open multiple eIAs as this complicates consolidation.

• Old traditional policies: some older policies may require manual verification or branch visits; start with these early.

FAQs: How to link existing insurance policies to Bima Sugam account online India

1. What is Bima Sugam and how does it relate to my existing policies?

• Bima Sugam is IRDAI’s unified digital insurance marketplace that aims to allow customers to buy, service and claim across all insurers from one platform. Your existing policies will be accessible there when they are held in electronic form inside your e‑Insurance Account, which acts as your Bima Sugam–ready digital account.

2. Can I link my existing policies directly to Bima Sugam today?

• As of early 2026, Bima Sugam’s full transactional features are rolling out in phases and backend integrations are still in progress. Practically, you should link your existing policies to your e‑Insurance Account with an authorised repository; this account will be used by Bima Sugam to display and manage your policies as integration deepens.

3. How do I open an e‑Insurance Account online in India?

• You can open an e‑Insurance Account by registering with an IRDAI‑approved repository such as CAMS Bima Central or NSDL’s NIR, completing e‑KYC with PAN/Aadhaar, and submitting the online eIA application form. Once verified, you receive a 13‑digit eIA number and login credentials.

4. How do I link existing insurance policies to my e‑Insurance Account?

• Log in to your repository portal, go to “Add Policy” or “Policy Conversion,” select the insurer, enter your policy number and policyholder details, and submit the request. After verification, your policy is converted into an e‑policy and appears in your eIA.​

5. Can I link life, health and motor policies all in one Bima Sugam account?

• Yes, the underlying e‑Insurance Account supports multiple policy types and insurers, and Bima Sugam is designed to serve as a unified marketplace for life, health, motor and other insurance classes. Once linked to your eIA, all these policies can be centrally viewed and, over time, serviced through Bima Sugam.

6. Is it mandatory to have an e‑Insurance Account for new policies?

• Yes, IRDAI regulations require that new insurance policies from April 1, 2024 onwards be issued in electronic format and linked to an e‑Insurance Account. This ensures your new policies are automatically compatible with the Bima Sugam digital ecosystem.​

7. Can I link policies from different insurers to the same Bima Sugam–ready account?

• Yes, that is the main advantage. Your e‑Insurance Account can hold policies from multiple insurers—life, health and general—under a single 13‑digit eIA number. Bima Sugam will use this unified digital repository to show and manage all your policies together.

8. What if I already have an e‑Insurance Account—how do I add new policies?

• If you already have an eIA, just enter your eIA number in the proposal form when buying a new policy, or choose the option to “Add Policy” / “Link Policy” in your repository login and provide the policy details. The insurer will issue and store the policy directly in your eIA.​

9. Is there any cost to open or maintain an e‑Insurance Account?

• As per current guidelines, opening and maintaining an e‑Insurance Account is generally free for policyholders; the cost is borne by insurers and the ecosystem. However, you should always check your chosen repository’s website for any updated charges or conditions.

10. Do I still need physical policy documents after linking them to my Bima Sugam–ready eIA?

• Once your policies are converted to electronic form and stored in your eIA, the digital policy is treated as a valid policy document for most servicing and claim purposes. Still, many advisors, including myself, suggest safely storing existing physical copies until you are fully comfortable with digital access and all Bima Sugam features are fully functional.

Note:-  If you share which insurers you and your family are currently insured with, I can outline a customized, step‑by‑step linking plan you can send to your clients as part of your advisory communication on Bima Sugam readiness.