If you become unemployed or retire, review your health insurance. Compulsory basic insurance continues, but there are important differences in accident protection, premium reduction and ways to save. Failing to act in time risks unnecessary premiums or inadequate accident insurance.
When unemployed, Suva provides accident protection under certain conditions. After retirement, you normally need to include accident cover in your health insurance again.
A lower income can also mean you become eligible for premium reduction or other financial support.
This guide explains what happens to your health insurance if you lose your job or retire, which deadlines apply and how to reduce your health insurance costs.
Key points at a glance
- Basic insurance continues: unemployment and retirement do not change the general insurance requirement in Switzerland.
- Unemployed people entitled to unemployment benefits are generally automatically insured against accidents with Suva.
- Retired people without other UVG cover normally need to include accident cover in basic insurance again.
- 31-day extended cover: protection generally continues for 31 days after the relevant employment-based accident insurance ends.
- Check premium reduction: a lower income can create or increase entitlement.
- Review your deductible: if healthcare costs or financial resources change, another deductible may make sense.
- Compare health insurers: unemployed and retired people can also switch basic insurance.
What happens to health insurance if I become unemployed?
If you lose your job, your compulsory basic insurance remains unchanged.
You remain insured with your existing health insurer and retain access to statutory medical benefits.
You therefore do not need to take out new health insurance solely because you are unemployed.
Your deductible and insurance model also generally stay the same.
Who pays health insurance premiums when unemployed?
You must continue to pay your health insurance premiums yourself.
Unemployment insurance does not automatically pay your ordinary health insurance premiums.
In Switzerland, basic insurance premiums are not directly linked to your income.
If you paid CHF 450 a month before becoming unemployed, for example, that premium generally stays the same unless another change, such as a tariff change, takes place.
However, your reduced income may make you eligible for individual premium reduction.
Enquire with the relevant cantonal office as early as possible.
Accident insurance when unemployed: am I still insured?
This is one of the most important questions after losing a job.
As an employee, you are generally insured through your employer against occupational accidents. If you work at least eight hours a week for the same employer, you also have compulsory non-occupational accident cover, including leisure accidents.
After losing your job, your continued accident protection depends on entitlement to unemployment benefits.
Unemployed and entitled to unemployment benefits
If you meet the requirements for unemployment benefits, you are generally automatically insured against accidents with Suva.
This insurance also covers leisure accidents.
Cover applies during recognised waiting periods, benefit suspension days and days exempt from job-search monitoring, provided the relevant statutory conditions are met.
Part of the premium for this accident insurance is deducted directly from unemployment benefits.
You therefore normally do not need additional accident cover through basic health insurance.
Important: actual entitlement to unemployment benefits is decisive. Registering with the Regional Employment Centre (RAV) alone does not guarantee insurance cover.
Can I exclude accident cover from health insurance?
Yes. If you have full UVG cover, you can ask your health insurer to suspend accident cover.
This generally also applies while you have the corresponding Suva cover when unemployed.
To exclude it, you must apply to your health insurer and prove your full UVG cover.
Suspension begins on the first day of the month after your application at the earliest.
Your health insurance premium is reduced accordingly.
Unemployed without entitlement to unemployment benefits
The situation is different if you are not entitled to unemployment benefits.
This can happen if you do not meet the requirements or your entitlement has already been exhausted.
In this case, unemployment insurance provides no automatic accident cover.
Check whether you still have other accident protection, such as extended cover from your previous employer or interim accident insurance.
Without full UVG cover, you generally need accident cover in your health insurance.
Further reading: Exclude accident cover from your health insurance: how to save on premiums
How long am I insured against accidents after losing my job?
After employment with compulsory non-occupational accident insurance ends, cover generally continues for 31 days.
The period starts after the day on which entitlement to at least half your salary ends.
This extended-cover period matters if you do not immediately start a new job or your entitlement to unemployment benefits has not yet been established.
What is interim accident insurance?
Interim accident insurance extends your existing compulsory non-occupational accident cover by up to six additional months.
It must be taken out and paid for before your existing extended cover expires.
This can be useful if you take a longer career break or are waiting for a decision from the unemployment fund.
Interim accident insurance provides different benefits under UVG cover from the accident cover in basic health insurance. In particular, covered accident treatment involves no deductible or co-payment.
What happens when unemployment benefits run out?
When entitlement to unemployment benefits ends, for example when benefits run out, the corresponding Suva accident insurance generally continues for 31 days.
This cover then ends unless there is another basis for UVG cover.
You can take out interim accident insurance in good time under the statutory conditions.
Otherwise, make sure accident cover in your health insurance is active again.
Our tip: clarify accident insurance before your unemployment benefits end. This helps avoid unnecessary gaps in cover.
Premium reduction when unemployed: am I eligible?
If unemployment reduces your income, your entitlement to individual premium reduction may change.
Premium reduction helps people on modest incomes with the cost of compulsory basic insurance.
Requirements differ between cantons.
Is premium reduction adjusted automatically?
Not necessarily.
Some cantons assess eligibility automatically using existing tax data. In others, you must apply yourself.
After a sudden loss of income, previous tax data may no longer accurately reflect your current financial situation.
When assessing eligibility, cantons must consider current income and family circumstances, including on request.
Inform the relevant cantonal office about your changed situation and ask about the requirements for recalculation.
Example: health insurance premium with premium reduction
Suppose your health insurance premium is CHF 450 a month.
Because your income has changed, you receive a premium reduction of CHF 180 a month.
| Without premium reduction | With premium reduction | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly basic insurance premium | CHF 450 | CHF 450 |
| Premium reduction | CHF 0 | CHF 180 |
| Payable by you | CHF 450 | CHF 270 |
| Annual relief | – | CHF 2'160 |
This example is hypothetical. Eligibility for premium reduction and its amount depend on statutory and cantonal requirements.
Further reading: Premium reduction
Should I change my deductible when unemployed?
When unemployed, considering your financial capacity is particularly important.
If your income falls, a high deductible can become a problem.
With the highest deductible of CHF 2'500, you must initially pay up to that amount yourself if you become ill. A co-payment of generally up to CHF 700 is added.
The maximum regular cost-sharing is therefore CHF 3'200 a year, excluding any hospital contributions and special statutory rules.
With the lowest deductible of CHF 300, the maximum regular cost-sharing is CHF 1'000.
However, a lower deductible also means higher monthly premiums.
The right choice therefore depends on expected healthcare costs, premium savings and your financial reserves.
Can I change my deductible immediately?
No. An ordinary deductible change is generally only possible at the start of a calendar year.
If you become unemployed during the year, you normally cannot reduce your deductible immediately.
Check in autumn which deductible makes sense for the following year.
What happens to health insurance when I retire?
When you retire, your compulsory basic insurance generally remains unchanged.
You do not need a special senior insurance policy or automatically have to change health insurers.
Your existing medical benefits also remain covered within the statutory scope.
The most important change often concerns accident insurance.
While you may have been insured as an employee against work and leisure accidents through your employer, that cover generally ends when you stop working.
Must I inform my health insurer that I am retiring?
Yes, particularly if you previously excluded accident cover from basic insurance.
Inform your health insurer in good time when your existing UVG cover ends.
Also check whether you want to adjust your deductible or insurance model.
Retirement itself does not require changing basic insurance.
Accident insurance after retirement: what applies?
If you stop working completely, you normally no longer have accident insurance through an employer.
After any extended cover expires, make sure you remain insured against accidents.
The 31-day extended cover on retirement
If you had compulsory non-occupational accident insurance before retirement, it generally continues for 31 days after your entitlement to at least half your salary ends.
Your previous protection then ends unless you have another corresponding insurance policy.
Include accidents in health insurance again
If you no longer have full UVG cover, accident cover in basic health insurance must be active again.
If it was suspended, accident cover resumes by law when UVG insurance ends.
However, you must inform your health insurer.
If you fail to notify them, unpaid premium portions can be claimed together with late-payment interest.
How much does accident cover cost after retirement?
Many health insurers reduce basic insurance premiums by up to 7 % when accident risk is excluded.
If your previous UVG cover ends, this discount no longer applies.
Example with a 7 % discount:
| Monthly premium | |
|---|---|
| Previous premium without accidents | CHF 465 |
| Premium including accidents | CHF 500 |
| Additional monthly cost | CHF 35 |
| Additional annual cost | CHF 420 |
These amounts are a hypothetical example. Actual premiums depend on the insurer and tariff.
Can I remain insured against accidents through my employer when retired?
Yes. If you continue working after the AHV reference age, compulsory accident insurance through your employer may remain in place.
Your employment matters, not just your age.
If you work at least eight hours a week for the same employer, you generally also have non-occupational accident insurance under the UVG.
In this case, you can keep accident cover suspended in basic health insurance.
With fewer hours and no full UVG cover, however, you generally need accident cover through health insurance.
Does health insurance become more expensive after retirement?
Basic insurance does not become more expensive solely because you reach the AHV reference age or retire.
For adults, the same insurer, premium region, deductible, model and accident cover generally mean the same premium, whether someone is 35 or 75.
The insurer may not charge an individual age surcharge in compulsory basic insurance.
Your actual monthly premium can still rise, for example if you need to include accident cover again after retirement.
General annual premium adjustments also apply.
In 2027, health insurance premiums in Switzerland rise by an average of 5.0 %. The average premium is CHF 412 a month.
This is why regular comparison is worthwhile even after retirement.
Which deductible suits retired people?
Even after retirement, you can choose between the regular adult deductibles.
The lowest deductible is CHF 300 and the highest is CHF 2'500.
The cheapest deductible depends mainly on healthcare costs and actual premium savings.
Low deductible with regular healthcare costs
If you regularly need medication or often visit a doctor, the CHF 300 deductible can be financially advantageous.
You pay higher monthly premiums but contribute less towards treatment costs.
High deductible with low healthcare costs
Even in retirement, the CHF 2'500 deductible can be worthwhile if you rarely need medical care and have sufficient financial reserves.
Age alone is not a sufficient reason to choose a particular deductible.
Example: deductible 300 or 2'500?
Suppose you receive the following offers:
| 300 deductible | 2,500 deductible | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | CHF 500 | CHF 380 |
| Annual premium | CHF 6'000 | CHF 4'560 |
| Premium saving | – | CHF 1'440 |
With low healthcare costs, the high deductible is cheaper in this example.
If treatment costs are high, however, the lower deductible can be the better choice despite a higher annual premium.
Our tip: when choosing a deductible, consider not only premiums but the total expected annual cost of premiums, deductible and co-payment.
Further reading: Which deductible is right for you? CHF 300 or 2,500?
Premium reduction for pensioners: who is eligible?
Pensioners can also be eligible for individual premium reduction.
Financial circumstances and the rules of your canton of residence are decisive, not simply receiving an AHV pension.
If your income falls significantly after retirement, checking again can be worthwhile.
Which income is taken into account?
Depending on cantonal rules, relevant factors can include:
- AHV pension
- Occupational pension
- Other pensions and income
- Assets
- Marital status and household situation
- Taxable or other relevant income
Cantons determine how eligibility is calculated within federal requirements.
A person with a small AHV pension may therefore receive support, while another person’s additional income or assets may reduce or exclude entitlement.
Supplementary benefits to AHV: additional financial support
If your AHV pension and other income are insufficient to cover recognised living needs, check whether you are entitled to supplementary benefits (EL).
Supplementary benefits are statutory entitlements rather than discretionary social assistance.
Eligibility depends on factors including income, assets and recognised expenses.
Do supplementary benefits pay health insurance premiums?
The calculation of supplementary benefits also includes a legally recognised amount for compulsory health insurance.
This amount is governed by the applicable rules and is capped. It does not necessarily match your chosen premium.
Support for health insurance premiums is paid through the prescribed settlement procedures.
Are deductibles and co-payments reimbursed?
People entitled to supplementary benefits can also claim reimbursement of illness and disability costs under certain conditions.
These include health insurance deductibles and co-payments up to a statutory total of CHF 1'000 a year.
Certain dental treatments, aids or transport costs can also be reimbursed under the applicable conditions.
Detailed rules depend on the law and cantonal provisions.
Important: if money is tight in retirement, look not only for cheaper health insurance but also check possible supplementary benefits.
Can I change health insurers in retirement?
Yes. Compulsory basic insurance has a statutory acceptance requirement.
This means a health insurer must accept you regardless of age or health, provided you meet the statutory requirements.
You can therefore change basic insurance even at 70, 80 or 90.
An insurer may not reject you because of age or an existing illness.
What applies to supplementary insurance?
Different rules apply to supplementary insurance.
They are optional and governed by the Insurance Contract Act (VVG).
When taking out a new policy, an insurer can require a health assessment and reject the application under certain conditions.
Changing supplementary insurance can therefore be difficult, particularly at an older age.
Never cancel an existing supplementary policy hastily if you rely on its benefits.
You can change basic insurance independently and keep your existing supplementary policy.
Further reading: Basic and supplementary insurance: what is the difference?
Health insurance when unemployed and retired: the differences
| Topic | Unemployment | Retirement |
|---|---|---|
| Basic insurance | Continues | Continues |
| Premium obligation | Still payable by you | Still payable by you |
| Accident insurance | Generally through Suva if entitled to unemployment benefits | Usually through health insurance if no longer working |
| Accident cover through health insurance | Can be suspended with full UVG cover | Usually needs to be included |
| Premium reduction | Check if income is lower | Check if income is lower |
| Supplementary benefits | Not solely due to unemployment | Possible with AHV entitlement if conditions are met |
| Deductible | Change possible for the following year | Change possible for the following year |
| Changing health insurers | Possible | Possible |
| Supplementary insurance | Generally continues | Generally continues |
How to save on premiums when unemployed or retired
An employment change is a good time to reassess health insurance.
1. Check accident cover
First check whether you have full UVG accident insurance.
If Suva covers you when unemployed, you can generally suspend accident cover through your health insurer.
When retired without other UVG cover, accident cover must be included again.
2. Check entitlement to premium reduction
A lower income can increase entitlement to premium reduction.
Contact the relevant cantonal office as early as possible and ask whether a recalculation based on your current finances is possible.
3. Review your deductible
Consider whether your current deductible still suits your healthcare costs and financial reserves.
A high deductible can save premiums but increases the risk of higher costs when you need medical treatment.
4. Compare insurance models
Family doctor, HMO and telemedicine models often offer lower premiums than the standard model with free choice of doctor.
Make sure the required first points of contact and referral rules suit your medical needs.
Further reading: HMO, family doctor, Telmed or standard model: what are the differences?
5. Change health insurers
As all health insurers must offer the same statutory basic benefits, switching can provide additional savings.
For an ordinary switch on 1 January 2027, your cancellation must reach your existing health insurer by 30 November 2026 at the latest.
Further reading: Switching health insurer in 2027: deadlines, cancellation and steps
6. Review supplementary policies carefully
If your income falls, optional supplementary policies can account for a substantial share of monthly spending.
Review benefits and costs, but bear in mind that taking out a new policy later may be harder because of age or health.
Example: reduce health insurance costs after retirement
Suppose a person pays CHF 520 a month before retirement for basic insurance without accident cover.
After retirement, they must include accident cover again. At the same time, they find a cheaper offer by comparing health insurers.
| Previously | After switching | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium without accidents | CHF 520 | – |
| Monthly premium including accidents | – | CHF 470 |
| Annual premium | CHF 6'240 | CHF 5'640 |
| Annual difference | – | CHF 600 less |
These amounts are hypothetical and serve only as an example.
They show that comparing premiums can be worthwhile even if retirement creates additional accident-cover costs.
Frequently asked questions about health insurance when unemployed or retired
Must I take out new health insurance when unemployed?
No. Your existing compulsory basic insurance generally continues. You do not need to change it solely because you are unemployed.
Who pays my health insurance premium if I am unemployed?
You generally continue to pay premiums yourself. If your finances are modest, you may qualify for a cantonal premium reduction.
Am I insured with Suva while unemployed?
Yes, if you meet the statutory requirements for unemployment benefits. Cover also applies during certain waiting periods and benefit suspension days.
Can I exclude accident cover when unemployed?
Yes, provided you have full accident insurance under the UVG. With the relevant entitlement to unemployment benefits, Suva cover generally applies. You must apply to your health insurer for suspension and provide proof.
What happens to accident insurance when unemployment benefits run out?
Suva cover generally continues for 31 days after entitlement to unemployment benefits ends. You then need other corresponding protection, such as interim accident insurance taken out in time or basic health insurance.
Must I inform my health insurer when I retire?
Yes, particularly if accident cover was excluded. You must report the end of UVG cover to your health insurer.
Is health insurance more expensive for pensioners?
Not solely because of retirement age. Adults on the same basic insurance tariff generally pay the same premiums regardless of age. However, including previously excluded accident cover after retirement can add costs.
Can I change health insurers as a pensioner?
Yes. Compulsory basic insurance must accept you regardless of age or health. This also applies to existing illnesses.
Which deductible makes sense for pensioners?
This depends on expected healthcare costs and premium savings. With regular treatment, CHF 300 can be cheaper, while CHF 2'500 can be financially advantageous with low healthcare costs.
Do I receive premium reduction as a pensioner?
It is possible if you meet your canton’s financial eligibility requirements. Receiving an AHV pension alone does not automatically create entitlement.
Do supplementary benefits cover my health insurance premiums?
The calculation of supplementary benefits includes a legally recognised amount for compulsory health insurance. The exact amount and settlement depend on the applicable rules.
What happens if I keep working after retirement?
If you remain employed, compulsory accident insurance may apply through your employer. With at least eight hours a week for the same employer, you are generally also insured against non-occupational accidents.
Conclusion: review health insurance when unemployed or retired
Unemployment and retirement do not mean you must take out basic insurance again. Statutory cover generally continues.
However, important circumstances can change.
When unemployed, the key factor is whether you are entitled to unemployment benefits and therefore insured against accidents with Suva.
After retirement, you normally need to include accident cover in basic insurance again unless you still have other full UVG cover.
With a lower income, also check premium reduction and, where relevant, supplementary benefits.
Our tip: review accident cover, deductible, insurance model and premiums whenever your employment situation changes significantly.
On K-Check you can compare health insurance premiums for 2027 and find out whether another basic policy could lower your monthly costs.
Sources
- Federal Office of Public Health – Suspension of accident cover
- Federal Office of Public Health – Start and end of accident cover
- Suva – Cover for unemployed people
- Suva – Accident insurance during employment changes and retirement
- Suva – Interim accident insurance
- Federal Office of Public Health – Premium reduction
- AHV/IV – Supplementary benefits
- AHV/IV – Reimbursement of illness and disability costs
- Priminfo – Changing health insurers
- Federal Office of Public Health – Health insurance premiums 2027