How to Switch Health Insurance in Switzerland — Step-by-Step Guide

The November 30 Deadline

The most important date in Swiss health insurance is November 30. This is the annual deadline to cancel your current basic insurance policy for a change effective January 1 of the following year.

Your cancellation letter must be received by your current insurer by November 30 — not just sent, but actually arrived. This is why the standard practice is to send the letter via registered mail (Einschreiben / lettre recommandée) at least 5–7 days before the deadline. The postal receipt serves as your proof of timely dispatch.

New premiums for the following year are published by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG/FOPH) in late September or early October. This gives you roughly 6–8 weeks to compare the new rates, select a new insurer, receive confirmation from the new insurer, and send your cancellation letter to the old one.

Timeline reminder: Early October — new premiums published. Mid-October — compare and choose. Late October — apply to new insurer. Early November — receive confirmation. By November 25 — send registered cancellation letter. November 30 — deadline.

Calendar showing November 30 Swiss health insurance deadline

Step-by-Step Switching Process

Follow these five steps to switch your health insurer smoothly and save money from January 1.

Step 1: Compare Premiums

Once the new premiums are published (late September/early October), use a free comparison tool to see all available plans for your canton, age, and preferred deductible and model. Sort by monthly premium to identify the cheapest options. Remember that all basic insurance plans offer identical mandatory benefits, so the cheapest plan is genuinely the best deal for the same coverage. If you are also considering a model change (e.g., from standard to Telmed), compare across models for additional savings.

Step 2: Apply to the New Insurer

Once you have chosen a new insurer, submit your application. Most insurers accept applications online, by phone, or by mail. You will need to provide: your full name, date of birth, AHV number (social security number), current address, canton and municipality, desired deductible, insurance model, and whether you want accident coverage included. The new insurer is legally required to accept your basic insurance application — there are no health checks, no questionnaires, and no rejection possible.

Step 3: Wait for Confirmation

Your new insurer will send you a written confirmation of coverage (Versicherungsnachweis). This document confirms that your new policy begins on January 1. Do not send the cancellation letter to your old insurer until you have this confirmation in hand. If something goes wrong with your new application (extremely rare for basic insurance), you do not want to be without coverage. The confirmation typically arrives within 5–10 business days.

Step 4: Cancel Your Old Policy

Send a written cancellation letter to your current insurer. The letter must be sent via registered mail (Einschreiben) and must arrive by November 30. The letter should include your full name, address, insurance policy number, a clear statement that you are cancelling your basic insurance effective December 31, and your signature. Keep the postal receipt as proof. You do not need to give a reason for cancelling, and your insurer cannot refuse or delay the cancellation.

Step 5: Verify and Done

After sending your cancellation, your old insurer will send a written confirmation that your policy ends on December 31. Your new policy automatically begins on January 1. There is no gap in coverage — this is guaranteed by law. If your old insurer claims they did not receive your letter, the registered mail receipt proves timely dispatch. Starting January 1, your new insurer is responsible for all your basic insurance coverage. Remember to update your employer if applicable (for accident coverage coordination) and to provide your new insurance card to your GP and pharmacy.

Cancellation Letter Template

Use this template to write your registered cancellation letter. Adapt the details to your situation.

[Your full name]
[Your street address]
[Your postcode and city]
[Insurer name]
[Insurer address]
[Insurer postcode and city]
[City], [Date]
Cancellation of basic health insurance policy
Policy number: [Your policy number]
Insured person: [Your full name]
Date of birth: [Your date of birth]
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby cancel my basic health insurance (Grundversicherung/LAMal) with effect from 31 December [year].
I kindly request a written confirmation of the cancellation.
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your printed name]

Important: Send this letter via registered mail (Einschreiben / lettre recommandée / raccomandata). The registered mail receipt is your legal proof that the letter was sent on time. Keep a copy of the letter and the receipt. Post offices in Switzerland also offer tracked letters that provide delivery confirmation.

What Your Insurer Can and Cannot Do

Know your rights. Swiss law strongly protects your ability to switch.

Your Insurer Cannot Refuse Cancellation

If your cancellation letter arrives by November 30, your insurer must process it. They cannot refuse, delay, or add conditions. The only exception: if you have outstanding premium payments, the insurer may temporarily withhold the cancellation confirmation until the debt is settled. However, this does not prevent the cancellation itself from taking effect. If you have unpaid premiums, pay them before sending your cancellation to avoid complications. Your insurer also cannot offer you a "retention deal" that locks you in — any such agreement would be non-binding under Swiss law.

Your New Insurer Must Accept You

Under the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG), every approved insurer must accept any applicant for basic insurance. No health questionnaire. No pre-existing condition exclusion. No waiting period. No age limit. This is the Aufnahmepflicht (acceptance obligation), a cornerstone of the Swiss system. The only information required is administrative: your name, address, AHV number, and insurance preferences. Your new insurer cannot charge you a higher premium based on your health status — community rating applies.

Your Insurer May Contact You

After receiving your cancellation, your current insurer may contact you with a counter-offer or ask you to reconsider. This is legal but purely commercial — you have no obligation to respond, and their offer cannot match the price of a cheaper competitor for the same basic coverage (since premiums are fixed by the FOPH). Some insurers may offer supplementary insurance discounts as an incentive to stay. Evaluate these independently, but remember: basic and supplementary insurance are separate products, and you can keep your supplementary insurance while switching basic.

Outstanding Invoices

If you owe your current insurer money (unpaid premiums, co-payments, or invoices), you are still legally entitled to cancel. However, the debt does not disappear — you must still pay what you owe. In some cantons, insurers report unpaid premiums to the cantonal authority, which can lead to enforcement proceedings. To ensure a clean switch, settle all outstanding invoices before cancelling. If there is a dispute about a specific invoice, document it in writing and handle it separately from the cancellation process.

Special Cases and Exceptions

Situations where the standard November 30 rule does not apply.

Mid-Year Premium Increase

If your insurer raises premiums mid-year (rare but possible through regulatory adjustment), you have a special right to cancel with effect from the date of the increase. You will be notified in writing, and you typically have 30 days to exercise this special cancellation right. This is separate from the annual November 30 deadline and applies only in specific circumstances defined by federal law.

Moving to a New Canton

If you move to a different canton, you can switch insurers effective from the date of your new cantonal registration. This is because premiums are canton-specific, and your current insurer may charge a different (possibly higher) rate in your new canton. You are not locked into staying with the same insurer after a move. Compare the new rates for your destination canton before moving, and switch immediately if a better option exists. Some insurers even offer different plans depending on the canton, so your current model might not be available.

July 1 Switching Option

Some insurers whose premiums are above the cantonal average allow a mid-year switch effective July 1. If your insurer qualifies, you would receive a notification and have the right to cancel by June 30 for a July 1 change. This option is less common and does not apply to all insurers or cantons, but it provides a second annual window for switching if you missed the November deadline.

Leaving Switzerland

If you leave Switzerland permanently (deregistration from your municipality), your basic insurance obligation ends on your departure date. Notify your insurer in writing with proof of deregistration. Your coverage remains active until the official departure date. If you move to an EU/EFTA country, coordinate with the social security authorities in your destination country to ensure continuous health coverage. Cross-border workers (G permit holders) have separate rules depending on the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and their country of residence.

Switching FAQ

If the letter arrives after November 30, your cancellation is invalid for the upcoming year. You remain with your current insurer until the next annual switching period. This is why registered mail sent at least 5–7 days before the deadline is essential. The postmark date alone may not be sufficient — the letter must be received by November 30.

You can switch basic insurance freely (with guaranteed acceptance). Supplementary insurance is a separate contract with different rules: your new supplementary insurer can reject you based on health questionnaires. Many people switch basic insurance to the cheapest provider while keeping their supplementary insurance unchanged. The two are fully independent products.

Your doctors will need your new insurance card (which your new insurer sends before January 1). It is good practice to inform your GP and pharmacy about the change. Under most models, your medical records remain with your doctor regardless of which insurer you use. The switch has no impact on your existing doctor-patient relationships.

Ongoing treatments continue without interruption. If you are in the middle of a treatment (e.g., physiotherapy series) that was approved by your old insurer, your new insurer takes over coverage from January 1. You may need a new referral depending on the insurance model of your new plan. In practice, the transition is seamless for patients.