I had my health insurance by Progrés for one year. Realizing that receiving their offer in the beginning (220 CHF a month) which made me sign the contract, then ending up receiving check for 280 CHF a month, which I had to pay as the contract was already made, I ended up paying for a year and then deciding to send a termination letter in November.

As I was on a Christmas Holiday and one package wasforgotten home, I failed to take my Ebanking thing with me so I was unable to pay it on time.


I had a 7 day delay and called them right upon my return. I had to listen to 20 minutes of call center music then was promised a callback. Nothing happened until now where I got further checks for January and February.

I called them again today , listened to music 25 mins, then a lady told me that they decided they cannot accept the Kündigung. She lied they tried to contact me 4 times however I got no email (provided 2 email addressses), a work phone with voice mail and a mobile phone. I got of course nothing on those.

So this is their policy to force me into another year of payment (altogether 3200 CHF) instead of trying to keep me as a customer with another offer or seomthing.

There was absolutely no attempt to talk to me or try to revise the 7 day delay. I suggest you take this into consideration when you want to sign a deal with Progrés.

I am currently paying two insurances, this one and the new one at CSS. 600 francs a month, isn't it just great?

I think you can do something about it as you can not pay for the same services twice even from different companies. Contact the new company and figure something out, I did the same in the Netherlands and it paid off! Good luck!

According to this (old, German only) link
http://www.ktipp.ch/beratung/1013887...ppelt_bezahlen
the new insurance company has to
- cancel your contract and
- reimburse you for contributions already paid.
Note that applies to the basic insurance tariff only.

Actually you can only terminate on the one month rule if your premium goes up. The time to have sorted this out was when the initial payment requested was higher than expected. Having paid the premium for a year there's not a leg to stand on.

You should contact your new company and explain that your cancellation was invalid - they will refund you the premiums you have mistakenly paid. You are tied to the current insurer until you terminate correctly - usually with a 3 month notice period.

The numbers do not add up either. 3200 is 266 a month which would be a reduction on the 280 premium. 600 per month less 266 means you are paying 344 to the new company - considerably more.

To me it appears you cocked up the termination and are now complaining about the consequences of your own mistakes. The rules are quite clear.

Thanks everyone, I can terminate the other one starting March.

"Cocked up" or not (won't comment on the term), I do not think this is the way to keep anyone your customer. I am freaked out on the customer service behaviour.
7 days as opposed to a whole year? I hope you won't run business like that, honestly.

(Besides, paying more at the other one has a reason, considering the service Progrés was providing me for this money and what the other company does for slightly more.)

Navigating the insurance system here is complicated. If anyone is shopping for insurance or confused, avoid this type of situation by contacting Jenny. She is amazing and will take care of all the hassle and hoop-la for you!! OP, it might not hurt to send Jenny an email. She may be able to advise you on how to sort out this mess. Good luck!

I had almost (or exactly) the same thing happen to me with Avanex. I received a confirmation of acceptance in late November and that the transition would be handled automatically. I even confirmed with the contact by phone.

I was still receiving bills from the old insurance company so I gave them a call and found out that they had not received a termination order from anyone. Call Avanex and was told that I needed to send the termination order myself. Complete contradiction to my earlier phone call.

So in Dec 2010 I sent a letter to Avanex instructing them to cancel my policy asap. I get a phone call in Jan 2011 and I reclarified that the policy should be cancelled. Then I received another invoice reminder from them. Luckily, I had another contact who was quite helpful. I sent him personally a letter (sent by registered mail) and followed up with a call to make sure that he cancelled my policy.

BLOODY NIGHTMARE!