Switching health insurer in Switzerland: deadlines, steps and savings tips (LAMal)
Same benefits, lower premium: switching is your legal right. Key date: 30 November (arrival, not postmark!).
Every autumn, Swiss health insurers announce their new premiums, and hundreds of thousands of people discover their bill is going up again. The good news: switching is simple, and savings often reach several hundred francs a year, over CHF 1,000 for a family, for strictly identical basic benefits.
Why benefits are identical everywhere
Mandatory health insurance is governed by the LAMal act: the benefits catalogue is exactly the same at every insurer in Switzerland. Doctor, hospital, listed medicines, maternity, all identical. The only real variable is your monthly premium: between the most and least expensive insurer in your canton, the gap often exceeds CHF 100 per month.
The date to remember: 30 November
To switch on 1 January, your termination letter must reach your insurer by 30 November, receipt counts, not the postmark. Send it mid-November by registered mail.
| Situation | Deadline | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary termination (everyone) | Received by 30 November | 31 December |
| Standard model, CHF 300 deductible | 3 months' notice, received by 31 March | 30 June |
| Announced premium increase | Termination possible until end of November | 31 December |
Switching in 4 steps
- Compare from late September, new premiums are published by the FOPH.
- Sign up with the new insurer first, the duty to accept means they cannot refuse you.
- Send your termination by registered mail, name, date of birth, insured number, and "I terminate my mandatory health insurance (LAMal) as of 31 December".
- Check the transition, the law forbids any coverage gap: your old insurer only closes the contract once the new one confirms.
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Request my callback5 ways to (really) pay less
1. Adjust your deductible
Low medical costs (under about CHF 2,000/year): the CHF 2,500 deductible almost always wins. Regular treatment: stay at CHF 300.
2. Pick an alternative model
Family doctor, telmed or HMO: up to about 20–25% off for usually minimal constraints.
3. Suspend accident cover if employed
More than 8h/week with one employer = already covered by their LAA. One letter is enough.
4. Check your subsidy entitlement
Every canton subsidises premiums for modest and middle incomes, many households qualify without knowing. See our subsidies page.
5. Split basic and supplementary
Nothing forces you to keep both with the same insurer. Keep your LCA supplements and switch only the basic plan.
Special cases
Newcomers: 3 months from taking residence to join; effect (and premiums) retroactive. Cross-border workers: right of option within 3 months, essentially irrevocable. Details here.
FAQ
Can my insurer refuse my termination? No, if it arrives on time and premiums are paid.
Can I switch if I am ill or older? Yes, no restrictions: duty to accept, no health questionnaire.
Missed 30 November? Next window: 31 March (effect 30 June, standard model with CHF 300 deductible only), otherwise next 30 November.
Stop paying a single franc too much
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