Suspend Insurer: Conditions and Deadlines at a Glance
Under certain conditions, health insurance or accident coverage can be suspended. Compando explains when you can pause the insurer for military service, departure abroad or UVG insurance via the employer.
1. What does suspension at the insurer mean?
Suspension is the temporary pausing of insurance coverage. During this time, the insurer provides no benefits; in return, the premium obligation lapses fully or partially. In the Swiss health insurance system, suspension is only allowed in clearly defined situations under Art. 3 Para. 3 KVG.
Situation | Suspension |
|---|---|
Military service over 60 days | Yes, basic insurance |
Departure abroad | Yes, termination instead of suspension |
World trip with CH residence | No |
Employment ≥ 8 hrs/week | Yes, accident coverage |
The confusion of these regulations frequently leads to rejected applications or to continued due premiums despite existing alternative coverage.
Save even without suspension
Even without suspension, you can save at the insurer. The premiums for basic insurance differ considerably between providers, models and deductibles. Compando compares all Swiss insurers for your place of residence and your profile.
2. Suspension during military service: how you pause basic insurance
During military service, insurance protection exists via the military insurance against illness and accident; basic insurance is not necessary. The KVG allows suspension for more than 60 consecutive days of service. The health insurance premiums for basic insurance lapse fully during this time.
Important: The registration is made at least eight weeks before the start of service in writing with proof (call-up) to the insurer. A short-term notification frequently leads to the rejection of the application. For young adults in first service, timely planning pays off particularly.
For supplementary insurance, there is no legal right to suspension. Some insurers allow pausing or offer a premium reduction for longer service periods. With low income, you can additionally apply for a premium subsidy in the canton of residence.
Template for military suspension
The template for suspension during military service is available for download, with all mandatory fields and legally secure wording.
3. Suspension for departure and world trip: what you need to know
Whether the insurer can be suspended for a stay abroad depends on the official place of residence. If the residence remains in Switzerland, the insurance obligation continues. A suspension of basic insurance is not possible, even for a stay abroad of several months.
With departure abroad, the insurance obligation lapses on the other hand, and basic insurance can be terminated as of the departure date. The mere deregistration from the municipality does not suffice. Abroad, a new residence must be established (ZGB Art. 24).
On return to Switzerland, a re-affiliation obligation exists within three months; otherwise a retroactive premium obligation threatens. Before re-registration, a new insurer comparison pays off.
For supplementary insurance, each insurer regulates the suspension via its general insurance conditions (AVB). Many providers allow pausing from a stay abroad of more than three months, often against a suspension premium. Without supplementary travel insurance, medical emergency costs abroad can arise fully privately.
4. UVG suspension: exclude accident coverage at the insurer
In Switzerland, accident coverage is contained by default in basic insurance. For insured persons who are insured against accident via the employer, the accident coverage at the insurer can be excluded. In technical language, the process is called suspension of accident coverage.
Prerequisite is an employment of at least eight hours per week at a Swiss employer. With this, you are insured under the Accident Insurance Act (UVG) against occupational and non-occupational accidents. If the working time lies below or you are self-employed, the accident coverage in health insurance remains. In case of termination or job change, you must include the accident coverage at the insurer again within 30 days. For the transition period, an agreement insurance offers itself, which extends accident protection for up to six months.
The deductible, the chosen insurance model as well as the cost participation remain unchanged during suspension. You save around 7 percent of the monthly basic insurance premium, on average CHF 30 to 35 per month or CHF 360 to 420 per year.
Template for UVG suspension
The template for the suspension of accident coverage is available for download, with all necessary fields and legally secure wording.
