What the law says about cancelling basic insurance
In Switzerland, compulsory health-care insurance (basic insurance, KVG/LAMal) is identical at every insurer: the reimbursed benefits are set by law. Only the premium differs from one insurer to another. You are therefore free to change insurer every year without losing any cover.
Cancelling basic insurance follows a simple rule: your letter must reach the insurer by 30 November at the latest for a change on the following 1 January. It is the date of receipt that counts, not the date of dispatch. A letter posted on 29 November but received on 2 December is out of time.
The conditions to meet before cancelling
Two statutory conditions frame a change of basic insurance and protect the insured person: you can never end up without cover.
Premiums paid and a new insurer found
Your change is only valid if your premiums are up to date: arrears can block your departure. Above all, your former insurer only releases you once your new insurer has confirmed your membership from 1 January. In practice: first sign up with the new insurer, then cancel the old one.
No reservations possible on basic insurance
An essential point: for basic insurance, no insurer may refuse you or impose a reservation, even with a chronic illness. The change is a right. This is not the case for supplementary insurance (VVG/LCA), which is subject to a health questionnaire.
The method in five steps
To avoid formal defects — the leading cause of refusal — follow this precise order. Our cancellation wizard generates the compliant letter automatically.
The mistakes that make a cancellation fail
A missing insured number, sending to the wrong address (the cancellation address often differs from the general one), a simple e-mail without proof of receipt, or sending too late: these are the four most common traps. Registered mail with proof of receipt removes any doubt.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel my basic insurance at any time?
No. Basic insurance is cancelled with effect from 31 December, with a letter received by 30 November at the latest. Exceptions exist (premium increase, moving abroad, death).
Do I need a new insurer before cancelling?
Yes. Your former insurer only releases you when the new one confirms membership from 1 January: you are never without insurance.
Is a cancellation by e-mail valid?
A simple e-mail guarantees neither the date of receipt nor the signature. Registered mail remains the safest route; some insurers accept a signed cancellation via their client portal.