Good to know

The topic of health insurance in Switzerland can sometimes appear complex, given the various exceptions and special cases that it is useful to know. Let’s see below some curiosities that may interest you!

Can I have multiple subscriptions with several health insurance firms?

Not everyone knows that basic and supplementary insurance does not necessarily have to be taken out with the same health insurance company. However, if this is the case, the insured can easily change their health insurance fund for basic insurance. In some cases it is possible that the policyholder loses a discount on supplementary insurance, although it must be considered that the savings on premiums thanks to an exchange far compensate for the loss of the discount.

Exceptional cases exempt from subscription to the Swiss health insurance fund

There are also exceptional cases, consisting of individuals who are not obliged to take out a health insurance in Switzerland:

• Who has insurance similar to the Swiss one, stipulated in their country of origin and which is valid.
• Who is in Switzerland for study or research purposes.
• Anyone who is in Switzerland on behalf of a foreign company for a limited period of time.
• Anyone who is part of a diplomatic corps or government body of a foreign country.

Cancellation terms

→ If you have taken out basic insurance with an ordinary deductible (of CHF 300), you can cancel your insurance twice a year: for 30 June your cancellation must be notified by 31 March, while for 31 December you must notify us by September 30th.

→ If you have taken out basic insurance with a higher deductible or with a limited choice of service providers (health network, HMO model, family doctor), you can only cancel it for the end of the calendar year, usually with three months’ notice . This means that your insurer must be terminated by September 30th.

→ After the announcement of new premiums, you can cancel your contract and change the insurer by the end of the month preceding the entry into force of the new premium, whether the new premiums approved by the FOPH have increased or you have taken out special forms of insurance (HMO model, model based on the family doctor, model with medical teleconsultation or with optional deductible). The insurer is also obliged to announce the new premium to you at least two months before its application, informing you of your right to cancel.