Two cancellation cases
LAMal distinguishes two cases. Ordinary cancellation: leave your insurer on 31 December each year, provided you send the cancellation letter (registered mail with receipt) before 30 November. Extraordinary cancellation: if your insurer raises premiums mid-year, you have a right to cancel with 1-month notice from the announcement. In both cases, you must join another insurer without any coverage gap — basic health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland.
What the cancellation letter must contain
The letter must include: your name, date of birth, insured number, address, and policy number. It must be hand-signed (or qualified electronic signature), sent by registered mail, and received before November 30 — not just sent. Keep the receipt as proof. Some insurers now accept online-account cancellation — verify, and print the confirmation. With Polia, the insurer switch can be initiated in minutes: fill in the form and the partner broker handles the paperwork.
Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)
Three classic mistakes. 1 — Sending after November 30: if your letter arrives December 1, the cancellation is rejected and you stay 12 more months. 2 — Forgetting dependent children: parental cancellation doesn't auto-cover children — each family member must cancel separately. 3 — Joining the new insurer too late: your old insurer may demand proof of new affiliation before validating the exit — start the new contract before sending the cancellation.
Ideal timeline: September → January
September: compare 2027 premiums via Polia as soon as new rates are published (typically early October). October: choose the new insurer and sign the enrollment form — effective date will be January 1. Before November 30: send the registered cancellation to your old insurer. December: receive confirmation from both insurers. January 1: new coverage starts automatically. With Polia, steps 2-4 can be handled by the partner broker, at no cost.
