The correct way to cancel and switch supplemental insurance policies
Cancelling supplementary health insurance: how and when can you do it? Comparis shows you the deadlines and offers tips on how to switch policies.
09.09.2025
iStock/bymuratdeniz
1. General information on cancelling supplemental insurance
You can usually cancel supplemental insurance once a year.
The ordinary notice period for most health insurers is three months. You can often only cancel the policy at the end of the calendar year. This means you usually need to give notice before 30 September. However, depending on the insurance provider, the notice period may vary. Check the conditions in your policy.
Most insurance policies can be cancelled after just one year. If this is not the case for you, you can cancel the contract after the third year at the latest (Art. 35a Insurance Policies Act (IPA)).
It’s best to send the notice of cancellation by registered post to the health insurer. You can then use Swiss Post's tracking services to check whether the letter has arrived.
Important: in the case of policy cancellations, the date of receipt by the health insurer is decisive, not the post mark. This means that you should send the letter in good time.
Good to know
Unlike basic insurance, health insurers don’t have to accept your application for supplemental insurance. It’s therefore a good idea to take out a new supplemental insurance policy before you cancel your old supplemental insurance.
2. Switching supplemental insurance: deadlines from health insurers
The minimum terms and notice periods for supplemental insurance policies vary from health insurer to health insurer. The table (last updated: September 2025) provides an overview.
Important: depending on the product, the deadlines may vary within a health insurer. Make sure you check your insurance conditions.
| Health insurer | Minimum contract period | Notice period |
|---|---|---|
| Agrisano | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Aquilana | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Assura | 3 years | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Atupri | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Concordia | 1 year, 3 years for supplemental hospital insurance | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| CSS | Depends on the policy | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| EGK-Gesundheitskasse | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Einsiedler Krankenkasse | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Galenos | - | 3 months to the end of June or the end of the calendar year |
| Glarner Krankenversicherung | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Groupe Mutuel (AMB, Avenir, Easy Sana, Mutuel Assurance, Philos, Supra) | 3 years | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Helsana | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| KK Visperterminen | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| KPT | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Krankenkasse Birchmeier | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Krankenkasse Luzerner Hinterland | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Krankenkasse Steffisburg | Depends on the policy | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Krankenkasse Wädenswil | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| ÖKK / KV Flachland | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Rhenusana | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Sanitas | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| SLKK | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Sodalis | 3 years | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Sumiswalder KK | Depends on the policy | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Swica/Provita | 1 year | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Sympany | 1 year; for insurance policies taken out with Kolping, it depends on the policy | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Visana Group (Sana24, Visana, Vivacare) | Depends on the policy | 3 months to the end of the calendar year |
| Vita Surselva | - | 3 months to the end of June or the end of the calendar year |
Information in accordance with the general insurance conditions of supplemental insurance. All information is provided without liability.
Good to know: cancellation after three years
Do you have a contract with a minimum term of more than three years? If so, you can cancel it at the end of the third year, subject to a notice period of three months (Art. 35a IPA).
3. When can I cancel supplemental insurance?
You can cancel your supplementary insurance ordinarily or extraordinarily. However, you can only submit an extraordinary cancellation in very specific cases. See below for an overview:
Health insurers are free to define their own notice periods for supplemental insurance. However, the deadline must be the same for you and the health insurer (Art. 35a IPA).
Most supplemental insurance policies require three months’ notice. As a rule, the cancellation must take place at the end of the calendar year. The deadline for cancellation is therefore 30 September.
However, some supplemental insurance policies have longer minimum terms or notice periods. The notice periods are usually stated in the general insurance conditions. Check the date by which you need to cancel your supplemental insurance policy.
If your health insurer announces a premium increase, you usually have a special right of cancellation. This means that you can often also cancel at short notice.
For many insurers, this also applies if the insured benefits change or become less favourable. This is usually stated in the general terms and conditions. The notice period in this case depends on your insurance policy. It may be:
By the end of the year
By the end of November
Within one month of the announcement of the premium change
Do you have multiple supplemental insurance policies with the same insurer? Different rules may apply to each policy depending on the insurer. Some insurers only allow you to cancel the policy affected by the premium change. Other insurers allow you to cancel all supplemental insurance policies.
Exceptions to the right to cancel in the event of a premium increase
If the premium increases due to personal circumstances, you cannot cancel the policy extraordinarily. This includes a premium increase due to moving address or entering another age group, for example.
In addition, you can’t cancel if the premium increases due to changes you have requested, such as the inclusion of additional cover.
According to Art. 42 of the Insurance Policies Act (IPA), you can cancel supplementary insurance after each claim for which the insurance has provided benefits. You must cancel at the latest by the time the payout is made.
However, a health insurer is not allowed to cancel the supplemental insurance policy in the event of a claim. The right to cancel in the event of a claim only applies to the insured person (Art. 35a IPA).
If you move home, your notice period will depend on your health insurer. If the health insurer is available in the new place of residence, you may only cancel supplemental insurance ordinarily.
If your health insurer does not provide supplemental insurance at the new place of residence, the health insurer must cancel the contract. You will then have to look for new supplemental insurance, should it be necessary.
The same conditions apply as for a normal change of supplemental insurance policy. Each insurer is free to decide whether to accept or reject an application. You will also have to answer the health questions.
If your health insurer has breached its duty to provide information, you can terminate your contract extraordinarily (Art. 3a IPA). A breach of the obligation to provide information means that the health insurer failed to give you all the information you must have by law. This includes the term of the contract and notice periods.
4. Changing supplemental insurance: tips on how to proceed
Would you like to change your supplemental insurance? If so don’t just cancel your old insurance policy. This is because compulsory admission doesn’t apply to supplemental insurance. This means that a new health insurer is not obliged to accept your application. It’s best to follow these steps:
Compare the deals offered by the various supplemental insurance providers. Obtain several quotes in the supplementary insurance comparison tool.
Choose the right supplemental insurance policy for you and apply for it.
Fill out the insurance application and health questionnaire truthfully.
Wait for the confirmation of acceptance from the new insurer. Check the policy for any exclusions and restrictions.
Cancel your old supplemental insurance policy.
Further tips and useful information
Pay attention to the contract term of the supplemental insurance policy. Some health insurers offer discounts on multi-year contracts This can make switching supplemental insurance more difficult.
In the case of health risks, health insurers can specify an exclusion in the supplemental insurance policy. You’re not entitled to any benefits for the treatment of the illness listed in the exclusion.
Answer all questions on the insurance application form accurately and completely. If the information is incorrect or incomplete, the health insurer is permitted to cancel the contract (Art. 6 IPA). You may then have to pay back any benefits you have already received.
5. Cancelling supplemental health insurance: Frequently asked questions
As a rule, you cannot cancel supplemental insurance at any time. With most insurance providers, ordinary termination is only possible once a year with a notice period of three months to the end of the year. The exact notice period for your supplemental insurance policy is stated in the terms and conditions of your policy
The best way to do so is to use a template cancellation letter for supplemental insurance. It’s best to send the cancellation letter by registered post to the health insurer. You can then use Swiss Post's tracking services to check whether the letter has arrived.
Whether you are able to cancel your supplemental insurance by email depends on the respective insurance conditions. Not all insurance companies accept cancellations via email. The safest method is to cancel by registered post.
Important: ask the insurer to confirm the cancellation in writing.
This article was first published on 10.01.2022
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