Switching health insurers: Terminate basic insurance on time

Every year in October, health insurers announce their premiums for the following year. In 2026, these increased by an average of 4.4 percent. 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?

Generally, you can switch your health insurer on January 1 of any year. Under certain circumstances, you can also switch on July 1 with a standard plan. There are fixed deadlines for canceling basic insurance.

• 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.

Here’s a practical overview of the key dates for switching your health insurer.

How do I meet the deadline?

The date on which your cancellation arrives at your health insurer – not the postmark – is used to determine whether your cancellation meets the deadline and is valid. Many health insurers accept email cancellations. The most secure way, however, is still through the post office. The following general rule applies: Finish the cancellation well in advance and send it to your health insurance in good time.

Which cancellation deadlines apply to supplemental insurance?

The cancellation deadlines for supplemental insurance depend on your insurance. They are different from the deadlines for basic insurance. Deadlines generally expire three months before the end of the year. This means your provider must receive the cancellation by September 30 or the last business day in September for your supplemental insurance to end on December 31. Check with your insurer for the exact dates.

Please note that with supplemental insurance such as supplemental hospital insurance or supplemental outpatient insurance your new provider can ask for a medical exam and has the right to reject your application. For this reason, you shouldn’t cancel your existing supplemental insurance until you have received confirmation for your new coverage.

How do I cancel and switch my health insurance?

1. Compare premiums: Compare premiums, deductibles and plans from various health insurers so you can see right away where you’ll save the most. The free health insurer comparison from AXA lets you compare premiums with just a few clicks.
2. Purchase new basic insurance: Decide which basic insurance best meets your needs and make your purchase.
3. Cancel your existing basic insurance: Submit a written cancellation for your existing basic insurance before the 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 cancel my health insurance before I've found a new policy?

Yes, generally you can. The most important thing to remember is the two deadlines: The deadline for canceling your current health insurance is November 30, and the deadline for applying for your new insurance is December 31. However, please remember that the health insurance switch is not valid until the new health insurer officially accepts you. If this doesn’t happen by the end of the year, you will remain insured with your current health insurer. To ensure things go smoothly, we recommend that you first take out new basic insurance and then cancel your current health insurance.

It’s good to know that:

• Health insurers are not allowed to reject your application for basic insurance. Basic health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland, and every application must be accepted regardless of age or health.
• Exception: If you have not fully paid outstanding premiums, cost contributions, default interest or collection costs, you may not switch health insurers.

How do I switch my insurance plan or deductible?

Do you want to stay with your health insurer but want to switch health plans in order to save on your health insurance premiums? If you wish to switch out of a savings plan – such as canceling basic insurance – you can do this before November 30. You must send the cancellation in writing. However, you can switch to a savings plan at any time.

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.