Terminate and Switch Supplementary Insurance: Instructions and Deadlines
When can I terminate supplementary insurance and what do I have to note for the switch? Compando explains deadlines, special situations and the correct process.
1. What you have to know about terminating supplementary insurance
Unlike mandatory basic insurance, supplementary insurance is a voluntary private contract under the Insurance Contract Act (VVG). There is no acceptance obligation: the insurer may accept an application with policy restriction or reject admission.
The ordinary notice period is at most insurers three months at year-end. The deadline thus falls on 30 September. Contracts with minimum term over three years are terminable at the latest after the third contract year (Art. 35a VVG).
Important: Send the termination by registered mail and at least one week before the deadline. Decisive is the receipt date at the insurer, not the postmark. A termination template with all mandatory information facilitates the process.
Before terminating the existing supplementary insurance, the comparison of several providers pays off. The insurers differ considerably in admission conditions, waiting periods and benefits. This way you make the choice on the basis of all options.
First new policy, then terminate old
For supplementary insurance, the new insurer does not have to accept you. Therefore conclude the new policy before terminating the existing one. This way you avoid a coverage gap.
2. Switch supplementary insurance: deadlines of the insurers
For most insurers, the standard notice period is three months at year-end. The minimum contract term varies between one and three years, depending on provider and tariff.
Important: Multi-year contracts are partly linked to premium discount but limit flexibility considerably. For contracts with minimum term over three years, the statutory right of termination applies at the end of the third contract year with three-month period (Art. 35a VVG). This period applies regardless of deviating contract conditions.
3. When can I terminate the supplementary insurance?
Besides ordinary termination, there are four special situations in which you can terminate the supplementary insurance extraordinarily. The overview shows the relevant cases:
4. Switch supplementary insurance: tips for the correct procedure
For supplementary insurance, no acceptance obligation applies. The new insurer may reject an application. Therefore never terminate the existing policy before the new admission is confirmed in writing. This order protects against a coverage gap:
- Check existing policy: Which benefits are currently covered? Are policy restrictions noted in the contract? This inventory shows which coverage the new policy must at least offer.
- Obtain market overview: Compare several supplementary insurance products and obtain offers.
- Submit application: When taking out a supplementary insurance, fill out application and health questionnaire truthfully.
- Wait for acceptance confirmation: Check policy for policy restrictions and waiting periods.
- Terminate old insurance: Only after definitive confirmation of the new policy, by registered mail.
Choose supplementary insurance by your needs
Minimum terms, waiting periods and benefits differ between providers. Compare supplementary insurance before terminating the existing policy. This way you make the choice on the basis of all options.
Further notes and frequent mistakes
- Multi-year contracts complicate the switch: Note the contract duration. Multi-year contracts sometimes offer a discount but block flexibility for up to three years.
- Policy restriction possible with health risks: The insurer may attach a policy restriction at admission. For the illnesses listed in the policy restriction, no benefit entitlement then exists.
- False information leads to retroactive termination: Answer all questions in the insurance application correctly and completely (Art. 6 VVG). With missing or false information, the insurer may retroactively terminate the contract and reclaim already rendered benefits.
- Declare earlier rejection: An earlier rejection at another insurer you must indicate in the new application.
