How to Change Your Mandatory Swiss Health Insurance

Changing your Swiss mandatory health insurance is quick and simple, and can often save you hundreds of francs per year. Just follow this checklist to change your mandatory health insurance. 

1. Get informed about insurance models and deductibles

Before you compare offers, you should first get to understand both the standard model, and managed care models like the family doctor, HMO, Telmed, and hybrid models. The most important difference is: With the standard model, you can visit any doctor or specialist of your choice. With a managed care model, you first have to consult a predefined gatekeeper before getting further medical care.  

If you are healthy, have anticipated medical expenses below 1800 to 1900 francs per year, and are ready to pay more out of your own pocket, then you can greatly lower the cost of mandatory health insurance by using the highest possible deductible (2500 francs). The disadvantage: If you do end up incurring high medical expenses, you will have to cover 2500 francs out of your own pocket.

You can find detailed information in the guides to health insurance models and health insurance deductibles.

2. Compare health insurance premiums

Use the interactive health insurance comparison on moneyland.ch to find the cheapest mandatory health insurance based on your place of residence, your year of birth, your preferred deductible, and whether or not you need accident cover.

A quick look at comparison results shows you how much you could save by changing from your current health insurance.

3. Choose the offer that best suits you

Once you find the cheapest offer, take the time to check if it meets all your criteria. If you already have a preferred doctor, be careful when using managed care models: Always check whether your doctor is included in the list of eligible doctors. You should also check if there are limitations on which pharmacies you can buy medicines at.

4. Apply for the new health insurance offer

Once you have found the best offer for you, the next step is to sign up for the coming year. You can apply for the new health insurance offer right on moneyland.ch. 

Important: Every health insurance provider that offers mandatory health insurance in your place of residence is required to accept you as a customer for mandatory insurance without restrictions or exclusions. The insurance company cannot ask questions about your health or require a health examination.

5. Send in your notice of termination on time

Send in your notice of termination for your old mandatory health insurance. If you have both mandatory and supplementary health insurance at your old insurer, make sure that you only give notice on the mandatory insurance. Ask your old insurance provider to send you a confirmation that your mandatory insurance policy will be terminated.

Your letter of notice has to reach your old insurance provider by November 30, at the latest. Remember that it is not the date on which you post the notice that counts, but the date on which the insurance provider receives it. The federal government recommends that you send your letter of notice by mid-November, at the latest. If there is not enough time for your letter to make it by mail, go by the insurance company’s nearest branch office to submit the notice in person and get a confirmation.

6. Get a confirmation from your new insurance provider

Once you have signed up for the new mandatory health insurance, your new health insurance provider will send you a confirmation of insurance. Your old insurance provider will also be informed.

After that you have nothing more to worry about. The process is legally regulated so that the transition from your old mandatory insurance to your new one happens seamlessly.

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