Frequently asked questions about switching health insurer

Basic insurance

You can switch to Sanitas basic insurance with effect 1 January. If you have chosen an insurance model with the lowest deductible (adults: CHF 300, children: CHF 0) and free choice of doctor, you can also switch with effect 1 July. Are you new to Switzerland? You’ll find all the information you need about taking out insurance here.

Supplementary insurance

If you don’t yet have supplementary insurance or you want to keep your existing insurance cover, you can take out supplementary insurance with Sanitas at any time. If you want to terminate your current supplementary insurance and switch to Sanitas, please note your current insurer’s deadlines for termination.

Switching health insurer with effect 1 January: 

Your current health insurer must receive your notice of termination by 30 November or the last working day in November at the latest.

Switching health insurer with effect 1 July:

If you have an insurance model with your current provider with the lowest deductible (adults: CHF 300, children: CHF 0) and a standard model with free choice of doctor (not a family doctor, network or telemedicine model), you can switch health insurer with effect 1 July. Your current health insurer must receive your notice of termination by 31 March or the last working day in March at the latest.

Termination form for basic insurance

You can take out and terminate supplementary insurance plans independent of basic insurance.

Deadlines for termination vary depending on the health insurer. Please check the deadlines with your current health insurance provider and only cancel your current supplementary insurance when you have received confirmation of acceptance from Sanitas.

Termination form for supplementary insurance

No. Insurance must be terminated in writing. All health insurers accept notice of termination by post. Some health insurers also accept notice of termination by email.   Please contact your current health insurer for more information. In every case, the letter of termination must include the handwritten signature of all persons of legal age affected by the termination.

Termination form for basic insurance

Termination form for supplementary insurance

The date on which your notice of termination is received by the health insurance company is decisive. To be sure that your notice of termination arrives on time, we recommend that you give notice early at least two weeks before expiry of the termination deadline.

You can send the notice of termination using A or B post. It is important that the notice of termination reaches the insurer in good time. In order to have proof of timely cancellation, we recommend that you send the cancellation by registered mail.

Termination form for basic insurance

Termination form for supplementary insurance

Yes, in the online premium calculator, you have the option of choosing the free termination service for your basic and supplementary insurance. Please note that Sanitas is also obliged to observe the statutory periods of notice. Please therefore only use this service no later than two weeks before the deadline. Forgotten to choose the termination service in the premium calculator? Don’t worry. Simply contact the Sanitas customer service team on: 0844 150 150 (Monday to Friday: 9 am to 6 pm).

Yes. You can take out and terminate supplementary insurance plans independent of basic insurance. Simply note your wish on the termination letter to your health insurance company.

If you want to switch your basic insurance to another health insurer, the Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG/HIA) requires that all premiums, cost shares and any interest on arrears and debt enforcement costs must be paid by the date of departure. And your current health insurer must have received confirmation of insurance from your new health insurer. If these conditions are not met, we are obliged to continue your basic health insurance cover.

Sanitas recommends that its policyholders continue to sign the notice of cancellation and send it by registered mail due to its increased probative value.

For persons reaching legal age, health insurance invoices are owed exclusively by their parents until the end of the month in which they reach legal age. These persons cannot be held liable for these invoices even after they have reached legal age; any debt collection proceedings initiated for this purpose are null and void. From the month following their 18th birthday, these persons are responsible for paying their own health insurance bills. 

Only terminate your old insurance once you have received confirmation of acceptance from Sanitas. Sanitas recommends that its policyholders continue to sign the notice of cancellation and send it by registered mail due to its increased probative value.

Yes, if the health insurance company increases or decreases the premium of your supplementary insurance, the notice period will be adjusted. You can then cancel, for example, to the end of the year or within one month from the time of notification. Please check with your health insurance company about the exact deadlines.