Cancellation letter for a hospital insurance (supplementary LCA/VVG)

What hospital insurance is

Hospital insurance is an optional supplementary cover that funds comfort and free choice during a hospital stay: semi-private or private room, choice of doctor, sometimes cover throughout Switzerland. It falls under the Insurance Contract Act (LCA/VVG) and differs from basic insurance (KVG/LAMal), which already covers hospitalisation in the general ward in your canton of residence.

Cancelling this cover is a common budget choice, since its premiums rise with age. But because the insurer is not obliged to re-admit you, and may impose health reservations, the decision deserves thought.

Before cancelling, clearly distinguish your hospital insurance from your basic insurance: it is the basic cover (KVG/LAMal) that guarantees the medical care of the stay, while the supplementary cover only funds the comfort surcharge and free choice. Leaving the supplementary hospital cover therefore never leaves you without basic hospital cover.

Deadline and minimum term to check

The usual notice period for an LCA/VVG supplementary cover is 3 months before the annual expiry, which often sets the deadline at 30 September for an end on 31 December. Some hospital policies, however, provide for a multi-year minimum term: in that case you can only cancel at the end of that period. Your general conditions (CGA/AVB) state the exact expiry and notice period.

Also check whether an extraordinary cancellation is available, for example after a premium increase notified by the insurer: depending on the contract, you may then cancel outside the term within a short period after the notification.

Writing the hospital letter

Name the product precisely ('hospital insurance, semi-private room' or 'private') so the insurer cancels the right cover, especially if you have other supplementary covers with them. State your policy number, the effective date and sign. Keep a copy and preferably send by registered mail to have proof of receipt.

You can generate a letter already structured for a hospital supplementary cover here, to review, print and sign.