Switching health insurers: Terminate basic insurance on time

Every year in October, health insurers announce their premiums for the following year. In 2026, premiums will increase by 4.4 percent on average. If your basic insurance is too expensive, it’s worth terminating and switching to another health insurer. But when can you switch health insurers and what deadlines apply?

Every basic health policy offers the same benefits, but the insurers themselves decide on the amount of the premiums. Premium differences between providers are sometimes significant. You can save a lot of money by regularly comparing different quotes and switching health insurers. In this blog, you’ll find out what you should do to terminate your basic insurance and what deadlines you need to observe for switching your health insurer.

What’s the deadline for terminating and switching health insurance?

You can terminate or switch your health insurance every year. However, to ensure that switching health insurers runs smoothly, certain notice periods must be observed:

• The ordinary notice period for mandatory basic health insurance is November 30, or – if it falls on a weekend or a public holiday – the last working day in November. 
• If you have chosen the standard model of basic health insurance (choose your own doctor) with the lowest deductible of 300 francs, you can also switch your health insurer with a period of notice of three months to July 1. The notice of termination must reach the health insurer by the last business day in March.

In the rare event that the basic health insurance premiums change during the course of the year, a special right of termination applies. You can then switch health insurers during the year.

How to meet the deadline

For your notice of termination to be legally binding, it is essential that you comply with the health insurer’s notice period. The decisive date is the date on which the health insurer receives your notice of termination – not the postmark. Many health insurers accept notice of termination by email. However, the safest way is still by post. The following general rule applies: Make sure you terminate your insurance well in advance and send your termination letter to your health insurer on time.

We recommend that you send the notice of termination as a registered letter. This way, if in doubt, you can prove that the notice of termination was delivered on time. If there is insufficient time, you can take the notice of termination personally to your insurer and have it confirmed.

Terminate supplemental insurance

Your notice periods for supplemental insurance depend on your provider. They are different from the deadlines for basic health insurance. As a rule, a deadline of three months to the end of the year applies. Notice of termination must be received by September 30 or the last business day in September. Ask your insurance provider for the exact deadlines.

How do I terminate and switch my health insurance?

• Step 1: Compare the premiums, franchise amounts and models of different health insurers. This way you can see immediately where the greatest savings potential lies. With AXA’s free health insurer comparison, you can compare premiums with just a few clicks.
• Step 2: Choose the health insurer that best meets your needs and take out your new basic insurance there.
• Step 3: Terminate your current basic health insurance in writing by the given deadline.

Our tip: As an AXA Healthcare customer, you benefit from our practical switching service. Simply select your new basic insurance – we take care of terminating your current insurance and the entire switching process for you.

Can I terminate my health insurance before I find a new one?

Yes, this is possible in principle. An application for a new basic insurer at the start of the year must be submitted by December 31. It is therefore possible to terminate your current health insurance before you have submitted an application to the new one. However, it should be noted that the health insurance switch can only be made after the new insurer has officially approved your application. If the new insurer does not approve your application by the end of the year, you will continue to be insured with your current insurer. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, we recommend taking out new basic insurance first and then terminating your current policy.

It’s good to know that:

• The new basic insurer cannot deny your application for coverage. Basic insurance is compulsory in Switzerland, and every application must be accepted regardless of age or state of health.
• Exception: You cannot switch your health insurer until outstanding premiums, cost contributions, default interest and debt collection costs have been paid in full.

How do I change my insurance plan or deductible?

Would you like to stay with your basic health insurance, but switch your insurance plan in order to save on health insurance premiums? Terminating your basic insurance and changing your model are both possible until November 30. The notification must be made in writing.

Changing your deductible is also not a problem. If you want a lower deductible, the same reference date applies: November 30. For a higher deductible, your insurer must receive written notification by December 31.

You can find more information on the various insurance plans and deductibles in our blog article on the Healthcare system in Switzerland.