Swiss premium regions: why your premium depends on where you live

Same benefits, different premium: the role of your place of residence

Basic insurance (OKP under the KVG) is compulsory for everyone living in Switzerland, and its benefits are identical by law at every insurer. Even so, not everyone pays the same: the premium depends on five factors — place of residence (canton or premium region), age (child up to 18, young adult 19–25, adult from 26), deductible, insurance model and accident cover.

Your place of residence is the factor you can influence least: the official premiums approved by the FOPH differ by canton and premium region, and the differences between regions are large. Since the benefits are identical everywhere, comparing premiums in the right model almost always pays off for basic insurance.

Moving within Switzerland: the contract stays, the premium changes

If you move within Switzerland, your basic insurance continues — you don't need a new contract. Notify your insurer of the move: it adjusts the premium to the new premium region. Depending on the region, the premium can rise or fall — the benefits do not change.

Important to know: a move alone does not give you an extraordinary right of cancellation in basic insurance. The ordinary dates also apply at your new place of residence — you can still switch as of 1 January and, with the standard model and the ordinary deductible of CHF 300, also as of 1 July. It is different only if you have to leave the insurer because of the move, for example because it does not operate at the new place: your insurance then ends with the move (Art. 7 para. 3 KVG).

Deadlines you can use after moving

Because premium differences between regions are large, a new comparison almost always pays off after a move — in the new region, the order of insurers by premium can look quite different. These dates count:

• Ordinary switch as of 1 January: the cancellation must reach your current insurer by the end of November — what counts is receipt, not the postmark (recommended: by registered mail, on the last working day of November at the latest).
• Switch as of 1 July: possible with the standard model and a CHF 300 deductible, with three months' notice (receipt by the end of March). The new insurer credits the deductible and co-payment already charged in the same calendar year (KVV Art. 103 para. 4) — keep your cost-sharing statement.
• Special right of cancellation if your premium rises (Art. 7 para. 2 KVG): the cancellation must arrive one month before the new premium takes effect — so for the usual increase as of 1 January, by 30 November.
• New premiums: the FOPH publishes the following year's premiums at the end of September or beginning of October each year.
• Prerequisite for these switches: amounts you received a reminder for up to one month before the notice period ends are paid in full, including debt collection costs, by the end of the notice period (Art. 64a para. 6 KVG; Art. 105l KVV).

Model and hospital cover: two points linked to where you live

If you are insured in a family doctor or HMO model, you have committed to a specific family doctor or group practice as your first point of contact. After moving, check whether this treatment pathway remains practical from your new place of residence — if you bypass it, you risk a reduction in benefits. You can change your model with your own insurer: another model or the standard model applies from 1 January, and the notification must reach the insurer by the end of November (Art. 100 para. 3 KVV). From the standard model, on the other hand, you can switch to a cost-saving model at any time (Art. 100 para. 2 KVV).

For hospitals: basic insurance usually covers the general ward of a listed hospital in your canton of residence. After moving to another canton, your new canton of residence counts — if you continue to be treated at the familiar hospital in your old canton without medical necessity, basic insurance pays at most the tariff of your new canton of residence (reference tariff); you bear the additional costs yourself, or hospital supplementary insurance for the general ward throughout Switzerland (“Allgemein ganze Schweiz”) does. In emergencies and where there is medical necessity, on the other hand, basic insurance pays in full.

Moving to another canton: reapply for premium subsidies

The individual premium reduction (IPV) is a matter for your canton of residence: the application, requirements and amount differ from canton to canton. If you move to another canton, the procedure starts again — an existing decision does not automatically move with you. The cantonal compensation office (Ausgleichskasse) or the tax office of your new canton of residence is responsible.

Template: ordinary cancellation after moving

If the comparison at your new place of residence shows a cheaper insurer, the safe order applies: first register with the new insurer — acceptance is guaranteed without a health check — then cancel. A simple template for ordinary cancellation as of 31 December (receipt by the insurer by the end of November, ideally by registered mail):

“[First name Last name], [New address] — to: [Health insurer], [Address]. Subject: Cancellation of basic insurance as of 31 December [year], insured person number [number]. Dear Sir or Madam, I hereby cancel my compulsory basic insurance with due notice as of 31 December [year]. Please confirm receipt of this cancellation to me in writing. Yours faithfully, [Place, date, signature]”

If you switch via easyall, you don't need to worry about this: the cancellation letter is created automatically with your application. The comparison is free of charge.