A guide to switching health insurer before the deadline

Swiss basic health insurance covers exactly the same benefits everywhere in the country, and only the premium changes from one insurer to the next. That is precisely what makes it so worthwhile to optimise, and yet it is so often neglected.

Three levers, three savings

Before switching insurer, check first what you are paying for without needing it. Your deductible, called the "franchise", should match your real costs, high if you rarely see a doctor, low if you have regular treatment. An alternative model (family doctor, telemedicine) lowers the premium without reducing cover. And the insurer itself can be much cheaper for identical benefits.

The dates you must not miss

New premiums are announced in October. For basic insurance, your cancellation must reach your insurer before the end of November, and the new insurer is obliged to accept you without conditions. The window is short, so prepare ahead.

Careful with supplementary insurance

Supplementary insurance, on the other hand, requires a health questionnaire and can turn you down. Never cancel it before you have written confirmation of your new cover. Basic and supplementary insurance can also sit with two different companies.

• In October, the new premiums arrive. Compare them.
• The end of November is the last deadline to cancel basic insurance.
• Check your deductible, your model and your insurer, in that order.
• Only touch supplementary insurance once the new policy is confirmed.