Cancel, compare and switch health insurance

In Switzerland, it is possible to switch health insurance after cancelling your previous policy. Different terms apply when switching basic insurance and supplemental insurance. You can cancel basic insurance every year by the end of November. Read on to find out how it's done.

• Compare and switch health insurance
• Cancelling basic insurance
• Cancelling supplemental insurance

Compare and switch health insurance

• Compare health insurance premiums and cover in our health insurance comparison and check out how much you could save each year.
• Find out whether choosing a different deductible for your basic insurance would pay off for you and whether an alternative insurance model might be an option. You can save considerably on your premiums by choosing the right deductible or an alternative insurance model.
• Request one or more quotes from the health insurance providers of your choice. Requesting quotes is easy and can be done directly online in our health insurance premium comparison.
• Check the quotes received and apply to a new insurer using the application form provided. The health insurers are obliged to accept you for basic insurance without any restrictions. To be accepted for supplemental insurance, however, you need to complete a health questionnaire first. The health insurers are not obliged to accept you.

How to cancel your health insurance policy

Cancelling basic insurance

How to cancel your basic insurance policy by 29 November 2019

1. Compare health insurers, models and deductibles using the health insurance comparison at comparis.ch.
2. Request free, no-obligation quotes directly.
3. Cancel your basic insurance policy by 29 November 2019 (as per date of receipt by the insurer) by completing our cancellation form and sending the letter by registered post.
4. Take out a new basic insurance policy by 30 December 2019.
5. Your basic insurance is switched on 1 January 2020.

Please note that your existing insurer must receive your notice of cancellation by 29 November. You can also give notice on your basic insurance before having received confirmation of acceptance from your new provider. Your state of health is not relevant for basic insurance – you can even switch insurance if you are already in the process of receiving medical treatment.

Switching insurance with effect from 1 January

The insurance companies must notify you of their new premiums by 31 October at the latest. They must inform you of your right to cancel at the same time. You have until 29 November to cancel your existing policy. So if you wish to cancel your basic insurance policy, your current insurer must receive your notice of cancellation by 29 November at the latest. It doesn't matter whether the premium is being raised or whether you have chosen an alternative insurance type (e.g. healthcare network, HMO, family doctor model, medical helpline, higher optional deductible, bonus insurance). What is important is that your health insurer notifies you of the new premium – approved by the Federal Office of Public Health – by 31 October.

Note: the cancellation letter must reach your insurer before the cancellation deadline. It is the date on which the insurer receives the letter that counts, not the one on the postmark. The cancellation deadline is met if the notice is received by the insurer by the last day of the statutory period (31 March or 29 November) during regular office hours. Registered mail deposited in a P.O. box is considered to be delivered as soon as it is picked up from the post office. Since delays cannot be ruled out, we recommend you send the cancellation letter by registered post by mid-March or mid-November as required, so that you can prove you have given notice in good time.

Switching insurance with effect from 1 July

Holders of a basic insurance policy with a standard deductible (adults 300 francs / children 0 francs per calendar year) and free choice of healthcare provider have the option of cancelling their health insurance with effect from 30 June by giving three months’ notice. In other words, your existing health insurer must receive your notice of cancellation by 31 March. You are not permitted to cancel your insurance mid-year if you have a basic insurance policy with a higher deductible (adults 500 to 2,500 francs / children 100 to 600 francs per calendar year) or with a limited choice of healthcare providers (healthcare network, HMO, family doctor model, medical helpline) or with bonus insurance.

Policyholders whose premiums are increasing mid-year must be notified of this by their health insurer by the end of April. In this case, you have until the end of May to cancel the policy and then switch to another insurer as of 1 July.

If you have a bonus insurance policy with your current provider

You may only cancel bonus insurance five years after taking it out and by giving three months’ notice to the end of the calendar year. Should premiums rise, the period of notice is reduced to one month, though the five-year rule for policy length still applies.

Note: if you have any outstanding monthly premiums, a switch to a different insurer may be refused.

Street survey on basic insurance

Cancelling supplemental insurance

How to cancel your supplemental insurance 2019

1. Compare health insurers and cover using the health insurance comparison at comparis.ch.
2. Request free, no-obligation quotes directly.
3. Check the period of notice required by your existing supplemental insurance provider (usually 30 September 2019).
4. Don't cancel your existing insurance policy until you have received confirmation of acceptance from the new insurer.
5. Cancel your supplemental insurance policy by 30 September 2019 (as per date of receipt by the insurer) by completing our cancellation form and sending the letter by registered post.

The insurance companies are free to determine the cancellation periods for supplemental insurance. The cancellation periods are often longer than for basic insurance (e.g. three months to the end of the year, so the deadline is the end of September). If you wish to take out supplemental insurance with a cheaper provider, make sure you wait until your new provider confirms your acceptance, as insurers are not obliged to accept all applicants for supplemental insurance. If you cancel your basic insurance policy, but wish to keep your supplemental insurance with your existing provider, you must point this out very clearly. The best way to do this is to include a statement in your cancellation letter to the effect of: “This cancellation only applies to my basic insurance policy. My supplemental insurance will remain with your company.”  

Cancellation periods if premiums rise

The terms stated in the general conditions of insurance apply (e.g. one month’s notice from notification of the premium increase or to the end of the year). It also possible to cancel your policy if your premiums increase because you enter a higher age group.

Cancellation periods if premiums remain unchanged

The cancellation periods for supplemental insurance vary. Some supplemental insurance policies have a minimum duration of several years and a notice period of six months. The cancellation periods for supplemental insurance are stated in the general conditions of insurance of the supplemental insurance policies.

Tips

• Don’t cancel your current supplemental insurance until you have received an unconditional confirmation of acceptance from your new insurer. Otherwise, you are only advised to cancel your basic insurance.
• Health insurers may impose temporary or permanent exclusions on a supplemental insurance policy if they consider an applicant's state of health to be an unfavourable risk. This means that the policyholder is not entitled to insurance cover for any treatment relating to the illness stated in the exclusion.
• Answer the questions in the application form accurately and completely. Health insurance providers have the right to make retroactive exclusions if it is later determined that false or incomplete information was provided on the application form.