Switch Supplementary Health Insurance 2025: How to Cancel and Change Plans Safely

Switch supplementary health insurance in Switzerland only after you hold the new insurer’s written “yes.” If you cancel first and the new company later refuses you, you could be left with zero extra cover for dental work, semi-private rooms or treatment abroad. This article walks you through every deadline, explains the law in clear English, and gives you a five-step plan so you can change provider confidently and stay protected every day.

Quick Guide to Switch Supplementary Health Insurance

• 1. Why you must not cancel first
• 2. How Swiss health cover works
• 3. Notice periods & contract rules
• 4. Ordinary vs. extraordinary cancellation
• 5. The five-step switch checklist
• 6. FAQs

1. Why you must not cancel first

Your current policy already gives you valuable extras beyond the legal minimum. The moment you send a cancellation letter, those extras will end on 31 December. If the new insurer then rejects your application, you begin the new year with no extra benefits—exactly when you thought you had upgraded. Re-application later is even tougher, because insurers treat a previous refusal as a red flag.

Bottom line: apply first, wait for a written acceptance that shows the start date and any exclusions, and only then cancel the old contract.

2. How Swiss health cover works

Swiss healthcare is a two-layer system:

1. Mandatory health insurance (KVG / LAMal). Benefits are fixed by federal law and every resident is accepted, whatever their health.
2. Supplementary health insurance. This voluntary second layer is governed by private contract law. Each insurer sets its own rules, prices and medical questionnaire, paying for extras such as private rooms, higher optical benefits or worldwide cover. Before you upgrade, compare several supplementary health insurance offers side-by-side—price is only one factor.

The state forces insurers to accept everyone for the mandatory layer, but for the supplementary layer they may say yes, say yes with exclusions, or say no. That single difference is why you must secure the second layer before you release the first.

3. Notice periods & contract rules

Your cancellation rights are described in the policy wording you received when you signed up. Still, most contracts follow three core principles:

1. Three-month notice. Policies usually renew on 31 December, so your signed, registered letter must arrive by 30 September. Post it early in September—postal delays are common.
2. Multi-year escape clause. Even a five-year deal can be ended after the third insured year (Art. 35a VVG) if you still respect the three-month notice rule.
3. Written form. A handwritten signature on a registered letter is the safest method. Keep the tracking receipt. PDFs or e-mails lack a legally secure delivery date and are usually rejected.

For the full legal text, see the official Swiss Insurance Contract Act (VVG).

4. Ordinary vs. extraordinary cancellation

Ordinary cancellation is the normal exit route. You end the contract at its usual renewal date—31 December for most people—by sending a registered letter the insurer receives by 30 September. Once the deadline is met, the insurer must release you.

Extraordinary cancellation allows an earlier exit, but only when a special event listed in your policy happens. The three most frequent triggers are:

• The insurer raises your premium during the year. From the day you receive the price-increase letter, you usually have 30 days to cancel.
• You move abroad and no longer need Swiss cover. Provide proof of deregistration and the policy can end on your departure date.
• The insurer changes your contract after a claim—for example, by adding an exclusion. Swiss law then gives you 30 days to walk away.

Always check your own wording, because each insurer phrases the triggers—and the 30-day clock—slightly differently.

5. The five-step switch checklist

1. Contact Nexin for expert support. We compare offers from several insurers, explain small wording differences, and our advice is free.
2. Choose your new policy and apply. Fill in the medical questionnaire honestly. A forgotten back injury or asthma diagnosis can void the contract later.
3. Wait for written acceptance. Check the start date, the premium and any exclusions, then file the letter safely.
4. Send your cancellation. Write “Cancellation of supplementary health insurance contract no. XYZ,” sign by hand and send by registered post—preferably mid-September.
5. Keep both letters together. Your acceptance proves continuous cover; your cancellation proves you followed the rules. Doctors, hospitals or future insurers may ask for them when verifying your supplementary health insurance history.

Tip: Welcome discounts can be helpful, but long contracts lock you in. Make sure the benefits fit your future needs before signing.

6. FAQs – Switch Supplementary Health Insurance

Key takeaway: Secure your new supplementary policy first, respect the 30 September deadline, and cancel by registered post. Switching is painless when you know the rules. For independent, data-based guidance, contact Nexin—our help is free and impartial.