Switching health insurer: correctly and on time
You switch basic health insurance with effect from 01.01.2027. To do so, your notice of cancellation must reach your old insurer by 30.11.2026. Here you will find your deadlines, the three steps and a cancellation letter to fill in.
Monday: Cancel basic health insurance at the end of the year, switch from 01.01.2027
Your notice must reach the insurer by 30.11.; the postmark does not count. The switch takes effect on 01.01.
FOPH recommendation: send by registered mail or A-Post Plus by .
Source: Art. 7 para. 2 KVG; FOPH fact sheet “Changing health insurer”
Switching in 3 steps
Register with the new insurer
Choose an insurer in the premium calculator and fill in the application form. Every insurer must accept you for basic health insurance in its area of activity, without health questions.
Source: Art. 5 let. i KVAG
Cancel with your old insurer
At the same time, send your notice of cancellation to your old insurer, by registered mail or A-Post Plus. It must arrive by 30.11.2026. You can create the letter with the cancellation letter generator.
Source: Art. 7 para. 2 KVG
Wait for confirmation
Your old basic health insurance only ends once the new insurer has told it that you are insured without interruption. So you are never without insurance.
Source: Art. 7 para. 5 KVG
Unpaid bills? If you have not paid premiums or co-payments and debt enforcement proceedings were started against you, you can only switch insurer once everything has been paid. Source: Art. 64a para. 6 KVG
Tools and help
- ToolDeadlines for your situationChoose your model, deductible and what you want to do: you see every deadline with date, days left and legal article.
- ToolCreate a cancellation letterA letter to your health insurer as a PDF, with address and deadline. Your details stay in your browser.
- ToolCompare premiumsAll insurers and models where you live, with the premiums approved by the FOPH.
- AdviceRequest adviceFor supplementary insurance or the whole switch: FinanceRock GmbH, untied insurance intermediary (FINMA F01496799), contacts you through the channel you choose.
Reminder by email
We send you an email before the deadline: on 15.11. for cancellation, on 17.03. for switching on 30.06. and on 15.12. for a higher deductible. No account needed, with a confirmation link and one-click unsubscribe.
Frequently asked questions
By when can I switch health insurer?
You cancel basic health insurance at the end of the year. Your notice must reach the insurer by 30.11.2026; the postmark does not count (Art. 7 para. 2 KVG). The FOPH recommends sending it by registered mail or A-Post Plus by 15.11.2026.
Does the new insurer have to accept me?
For basic health insurance, yes: every insurer must accept you in its area of activity, without health questions (Art. 5 let. i KVAG). For supplementary insurance, unlike basic health insurance, there is no obligation to accept applicants: the insurer can reject you. It may ask health questions, which you must answer truthfully (duty of disclosure, Art. 4 of the Insurance Contract Act).
Am I insured while I switch?
Yes. Your old basic health insurance only ends once the new insurer has told it that you are insured without interruption (Art. 7 para. 5 KVG). If this notification does not arrive, you remain insured with your old insurer and keep paying there.
What happens to my supplementary insurance?
Nothing, as long as you do not cancel it yourself. Switching basic health insurance does not affect it, and your old insurer may not cancel it for that reason (Art. 7 paras. 7 and 8 KVG). If you want to switch supplementary insurance too: first get written acceptance from the new insurer, then cancel under the general terms and conditions.
Can I switch if I owe premiums?
No. If debt enforcement proceedings were started against you for outstanding premiums or co-payments, you can only switch insurer once premiums, co-payments, default interest and enforcement costs have been paid in full (Art. 64a para. 6 KVG).
Sources
- Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG), Art. 4, 7 and 64afedlex.admin.ch
- Health Insurance Ordinance (KVV), Art. 94 and 100fedlex.admin.ch
- Insurance Contract Act (ICA), Art. 4fedlex.admin.ch
- FOPH fact sheet “Changing health insurer” (23.09.2025, in German)bag.admin.ch