Tips and tricks for health cover Terminating & switching basic insurance

Yes, basic insurance – or more precisely mandatory healthcare insurance (OKP) – is compulsory for persons who are resident in Switzerland. So if you decide to terminate your current health insurance, you must register with a new health insurance provider by the end of the year at the latest.

The benefits offered under mandatory health insurance are prescribed by law, which means they are the same no matter who you are insured with. The main differences relate to premiums and how long insurers take to reimburse you for your healthcare costs. Health insurance companies also offer different models, which differ in their provisions. Regularly keeping up to date on these points and looking into switching can allow you to make annual savings.

Insurance companies are relatively free in the choice and structuring of their models. This means there is a correspondingly large number of models. Which model you choose will depend on whether you prefer a lower premium or greater freedom of choice. You can switch model every January 1.

The most common models are:

Standard model

Under the standard model (also called the traditional model), you are free to choose any doctor you like, but you pay the highest premium. This model is offered with the same benefits by all mandatory basic insurers.

General practitioner model

As the name suggests, under the general practitioner model, you first contact your general practitioner’s office. Exceptions to this rule are gynecological preventive examinations, eye doctor checkups, and emergencies.

This is the model most frequently chosen by insured persons in Switzerland.

HMO model

An HMO practice consists of physicians, specialists, general practitioners, and therapists who provide medical treatment. Those insured under this model contact their HMO practice first, but benefit from lower premiums.

Telmed model

Under the Telmed model, your first point of contact is the telephone consultation hotline of your statutory health insurance provider. If necessary, they will refer you to a doctor’s office or a hospital. The Telmed model is one of the most affordable health insurance models.

Compare the premiums of your current health insurance provider with other providers. Check alternative insurance models and the potential savings you could make with a higher “franchise”, or excess. This way you’ll find out which is the most reasonable option for you. After that, what you need to do is find out what period of notice you need to give, terminate your existing insurance, and register with the new provider.

You can terminate your basic insurance by giving one month’s notice to the end of the calendar year. It’s sometimes possible to cancel to the end of June, but that’s unusual. Switching is easy because the new health insurance provider cannot reject you based on your medical history. You should note, though, that in order to switch, you need to have paid all outstanding bills.