How and When to Switch Health Insurers

The annual switch: November 30 deadline

Every autumn, insurers announce their premiums for the following year (usually in late September or October). You then have until November 30 to decide whether to stay or switch.

The timeline works like this:

• Late September/October: Your insurer sends you a letter with your new premium for the coming year. The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) publishes all approved premiums
• October–November: Compare premiums at priminfo.admin.ch or using our comparison tool
• By November 30: Send your written cancellation to your current insurer — it must arrive by this date (not just be postmarked)
• By December 31: Submit your application to the new insurer
• January 1: New insurance begins

How to write the cancellation letter

The cancellation must be in writing. Most insurers do not accept email or phone cancellations for KVG basic insurance. Here is what to include:

• Your full name and address
• Your policy number (Policennummer/numéro de police)
• Your date of birth or AHV number
• A clear statement: "I hereby cancel my basic health insurance (KVG/LAMal) effective December 31, [year]"
• Date and signature

Sample letter (German):

"Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, hiermit kündige ich meine obligatorische Krankenpflegeversicherung (KVG), Policennummer [XXXXX], per 31. Dezember [Jahr]. Bitte bestätigen Sie mir die Kündigung schriftlich. Mit freundlichen Grüssen, [Name, Datum, Unterschrift]"

Mid-year switching: when is it possible?

In most cases, you cannot switch insurers mid-year. However, there are exceptions:

• Moving to a new canton: If you relocate to a different canton, you can switch insurers effective from the date of your new cantonal registration. Contact both your old and new insurer
• Mid-year premium increase: If your insurer increases premiums mid-year (very rare for KVG), you have a special cancellation right. You must exercise it within 30 days of the notification
• Higher franchise switch: With some insurers, you can switch to a higher franchise (and therefore lower premium) mid-year, effective July 1. The cancellation deadline for this is June 30. Check your insurer's policy terms

Note: Switching down to a lower franchise mid-year is generally not possible. The standard annual deadline (November 30 for January 1) applies.

What to check before switching

Before you commit to a new insurer, verify the following:

• Premium comparison: Use priminfo.admin.ch to compare all insurers for your exact municipality, age group, franchise, and model combination
• Model availability: Not every insurer offers every model (HMO, Telmed, Hausarzt, Network) in every canton. Verify that your preferred model is available with the new insurer in your area
• GP network: If you use a Hausarzt or Network model, confirm that your current GP is accepted by the new insurer. If not, you may need to find a new GP
• Outstanding claims: Any outstanding claims (bills submitted but not yet reimbursed) will be handled by your old insurer. You do not lose reimbursement rights by switching
• No health check required: Every KVG insurer must accept every applicant for basic insurance. There is no health questionnaire, no rejection, and no waiting period for pre-existing conditions

Changing franchise and model at the same time

When you switch insurers, you can simultaneously change your franchise level and insurance model. In fact, the annual switch is the perfect time to reassess your entire setup:

• Franchise: Choose from CHF 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, or 2,500 (adults). Consider your expected healthcare usage — if you rarely see a doctor, a higher franchise saves money. See our franchise guide
• Model: Switching from Standard to Telmed or HMO can save 10–25% on premiums. See our models guide
• Combined savings: Switching insurer + model + franchise can easily save CHF 1,000–3,000 per year

Supplementary insurance: a separate contract

Your supplementary insurance (Zusatzversicherung/assurance complémentaire) is a completely separate contract from your KVG basic insurance. Important points:

• Different insurer allowed: You do NOT need to have supplementary insurance with the same company as your KVG insurance. Many people have different insurers for basic and supplementary
• Separate cancellation: If you switch your KVG insurer, your supplementary insurance does not automatically cancel. You must cancel it separately if you want to change it
• Different rules: Unlike KVG, supplementary insurers CAN reject applicants based on health. If you cancel your old supplementary insurance before securing a new one, you risk being uninsurable for certain conditions
• Different deadlines: Supplementary insurance cancellation deadlines vary by insurer (check your contract — typically 3 months before the end of the calendar year)

After switching: what to expect

Once your switch is confirmed:

• You will receive a new insurance card from your new insurer in late December or early January
• Your old insurer will send a final bill for December (or a refund if you overpaid)
• Inform your GP, pharmacy, and any regular healthcare providers of your new insurer and policy number
• Update your insurer information in any hospital or specialist records
• If you receive premium subsidies, notify your cantonal office of the insurer change — in most cantons this is handled automatically, but verify