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Legal protection insurance: Big differences among insurers

For whom does life insurance make sense?

Big differences among insurers

Finding the right legal protection insurance can be a mammoth task. The following tips will put insured persons on the right track in the future and show what should be considered when choosing an insurer.

For whom does life insurance make sense?

Tips for finding the right legal protection insurance

The differences between the providers of legal protection insurance are great and not all providers are really recommendable. Different premiums, notice periods and service restrictions are the basis and should be taken into account when choosing. The following points are important when choosing the right legal protection insurance: 

    1. premiums
      The premiums are extremely different depending on the legal protection insurance. For an individual you have to calculate between 150 and 350 Swiss francs, and legal protection costs between 60 and 150 francs.
      Usually traffic and private legal protection are combined in one package and cost up to CHF 500. Family insurance is often more expensive, but young policyholders can expect lower premiums.

    2. Personal legal protection
      This includes various areas of law that can affect a private person. The providers, however, come up with large differences in performance. In addition, not all of them really cover every area of law. Here it should be determined what is individually important and the insurers should be carefully examined.

    3. Motorist
      This only covers the areas of law relating to participation in road traffic. Driving under the influence of alcohol is not covered by the insurance.

    4. Advisory legal protection
      Here, too, there are big differences between the providers. Legal advice is usually only included in the services to a limited extent and is capped at a maximum amount of CHF 500. Given the high cost of a lawyer, that's a tiny amount.

    5. Free choice of lawyer
      Many legal protection insurances stipulate that the lawyer can only be hired through them. However, the insured can usually suggest a lawyer. The insurance company has the right to refuse this and can in turn make specifications. A completely free choice of lawyer is rarely possible.

    6. Coverage amounts
      Legal protection insurances not only differentiate in terms of coverage, but also in benefit regions. Switzerland, Europe and the world are three different regions in which insurance benefits can take hold. There are differences in the coverage of legal protection insurance depending on the region. In some cases, up to a million francs are covered, but other insurers severely limit their cover. For an insured event in Europe, the amount of cover can even be limited to CHF 30,000.

    7. Minimum contract term
      Often the insured should be given a multi-year contract. However, the minimum contract duration should not exceed one year, otherwise it is difficult to get out of the contract if you are dissatisfied. In most cases, the first possibility of termination is only available at the end of the minimum contract period. Even those who no longer need the contract are not likely to get out of it.

    8. Waiting periods
      In the event of legal disputes, it is no longer possible to quickly take out legal protection insurance and hope for the benefits of the insurance. Usually a waiting period is required. The insurance then only pays the legal costs when the waiting period is over. Therefore, the following applies: No payment for existing disputes!

Conclusion: find the right legal protection insurance

Finding the right legal protection insurance can be a gamble. A comprehensive insurance comparison should take place before taking out the insurance so that it does not necessarily become one. Above all, fixed contract terms, premium amounts and benefits should be compared here. These differ greatly depending on the provider and can therefore be to the advantage or disadvantage of the insured.

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Life insurance without a 100 percent premium guarantee

What can you insure, what can't

Life insurance without a 100 percent premium guarantee

The German neighbors shout out indignantly: A life insurance without premium guarantee, where can you get it? This has long been the practice in Switzerland and nobody is upset about the announcement of the alliance.

What can you insure, what can't

German insurer shocked? but not the Swiss

As the largest life insurer, Allianz shocked the Germans: There should no longer be any guarantee of premiums paid! What caused an outcry among the people in the northern neighbors has long been so in Switzerland and is no longer even worth asking. There are no lifelong guarantees on contributions and interest here anyway, and that is how it should be for life insurances in Germany in the future. 

After the savings phase has ended, there is no longer any guarantee that at least the contributions paid will be paid out. The regulation affects all new Allianz customers and is intended for both life and pension insurance. Only 60, 80 or 90 percent of the contributions paid up to then are guaranteed.

In Germany one speaks of breaking a taboo, but in Switzerland insurers have been acting in this way for a long time. The reason is simply that the phase of low interest rates has lasted for so long and insurers can no longer make a profit with commitments on premiums and high interest rates . Changes in the pension market have been noticeable since 2015, as the Swiss Allianz subsidiary? Allianz Suisse? The product range has therefore been adapted and the guarantees are only given between 50 and 90 percent. Gone are the days when up to four or even five percent interest could be collected without any risk.

Other insurers are also going this way

Various insurers in Switzerland state that life insurance is definitely a challenge that, under the prevailing conditions on the capital market, is no longer possible at the previously promised attractive returns. Gross premiums can no longer be guaranteed and this is not a new feature. 

This regulation is an advantage for the insurer as, thanks to the lower guarantees, he can gain more leeway, especially in the case of risky asset classes. He invests the money more in stocks and similarly more volatile investments, which have a higher risk of loss, but at the same time also offer better potential for returns.

The customers in Switzerland don't mind, they are used to it now. The classic life insurance of yore has long ceased to exist here, even if it was not an issue in Germany until recently to act in this way. It was clear to experts that things couldn't go well there for long either. 

In Switzerland, mixed life insurance in the third pillar is the most common form. On the one hand, savings are made here for old-age provision, on the other hand, death and disability are to be covered as the greatest risks. The focus is on protecting the bereaved, saving and risk protection should be combined. 

However, this has been viewed critically for years, because the products are only flexible to a limited extent and the associated life insurance policies are not very transparent. In addition, the customer has to determine how he wants to use the service in the future at the conclusion of the contract, which is hardly possible since nobody knows his life situation in a few years.

Conclusion: life insurance is not guaranteed

Even if the German neighbors stomp outraged and complain to Allianz: Life insurance, as it used to be, will no longer exist thanks to the ongoing low interest rates. The insurers no longer take any major risks and cover a maximum of 60 to 90 percent of the premiums. 

For the insured, however, this means that in the worst case scenario, they will incur losses and not even get back the contributions they have paid in. In Switzerland, however, this is no surprise, where insurers have long been operating in this way.

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Applying for a bridging loan: it costs nerves!

Applying for a bridging loan: it costs nerves!

Up to now, one family lived in a small house, but due to the addition of the family, something bigger was needed. The new house has to be financed, but the money is still in the old house. The bridging loan helps!

Why is a bridging loan necessary?

The example mentioned again in more detail: A family lives in a village in their own house. It will be too small, but a new house can be found quickly. And in the same place too! Now everything has to go very quickly so that the new object can be saved. The problem is that a large amount is required as equity. This, in turn, cannot be raised because it is in the property that has been inhabited up to now. It can take weeks or months until this is sold.

What helps is a bridging loan. The Lombard loan can be taken out, for example, if cash, collateral or securities are available and can be used. The terms of a Lombard loan are usually negotiable. Some banks even read to themselves and top up an existing mortgage. This is also a bridging loan. This is usually only possible if the existing property has already largely been paid off and if it has perhaps increased in value in the meantime.

The property serves as security

In principle, it is possible for a property to be used as security for a loan for another property. The bank will always ask for a mortgage note for the first property. This mortgage certificate must be ordered from the land registry. Important: If the existing mortgage is to be topped up, the applicant's financial situation must be examined again. Just because his creditworthiness has once been rated as good does not necessarily have to apply when topping up the mortgage.

In order to achieve this goal, a clever negotiation with the bank is necessary, although not all banks are eligible for a bridging loan. Some are rather skeptical about the wish for an increase and do not allow over-lending. It is therefore always important to prepare the documents that are required for a loan well so that the conversation with the bank can go as desired. In some cases, the borrower must then also undertake to sell the first property within a fixed period.

According to the banks, it is not so rare for one property to be taken as security for a bridging loan. The reason: If a property has to be sold first so that the next one can be paid down, there is a time gap that cannot be filled easily.
It becomes just as complicated when older people (60+) are looking for a new house that meets the requirements of age-appropriate living. In this case, they also need a bridging loan. However, experts estimate that around 40 to 50 percent of property purchases fail because the bridging loan has not been approved or because there are problems with it.

Tips on bridging loans

The time between the decision for a new property and the necessary financial clarification is nerve-wracking. The following tips will help protect your nerves:

    • Good preparation
      The better prepared someone goes into negotiations with the bank, the easier it will be to talk about a bridging loan.

    • Meet deadlines
      Necessary deadlines must be met, but borrowers should avoid going into long deadlines with a bridging loan. For the bank, the bridging loan is a normal mortgage and should be treated as such.

    • Fair interest
      The bridging loan is designed individually, but it may not be granted at horrendous interest rates. Be sure to compare with other loan offers!

Conclusion: The bridging loan makes dream homes come true

But that only applies if it can be concluded on the best terms. Otherwise, the only winner is the bank, which enjoys high interest rates and the security of the old property. It is important to reflect carefully on your own situation and to look for ways to keep the bridging loan as low as possible. It is also possible to top up the current mortgage in order to use the bridging loan to buy the new property. In addition, nobody should get involved in unfavorable conditions with a bank, nobody is tied to their previous bank for a bridging loan.

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Many Swiss are not adequately covered by household insurance

Legal protection Start of validity

Many Swiss are not adequately covered by household insurance

Many Swiss think that they are sufficiently covered by household insurance. But they are actually underinsured and thus exposed to a considerable financial risk in the event of an insured event.

Legal protection Start of validity

No adjustments to home contents insurance in recent years

As far as their household effects are concerned, the Swiss seem to be a very risk-taker. After all, around two thirds of the Swiss have not made any adjustments to their home insurance in the last five years. Since experience has shown that many new items are purchased within such a long period of time and that there is a significantly higher value in the household, the lack of adjustment in the insurance means a high risk. 

Those affected are underinsured, which can have serious financial consequences. In the event of damage, they will not get everything replaced and have to accept significant reductions in the actual value of their household effects.

Surveys by various comparison portals have shown that around two thirds of Swiss policyholders have insufficient insurance. There is always underinsurance if the agreed sum from the insurance is lower than the actual value of the respective items. If damage occurs to the entire household (for example due to fire or a burst water pipe), only part of the necessary sum will be reimbursed. This in turn means that the difference to the actual value has to be borne by yourself.

Satisfaction with home insurance has increased

According to the surveys, the Swiss are quite satisfied with their home insurance. They give a grade of 5.2, with the German-speaking Swiss being even more satisfied and giving higher grades. At the same time, however, it is also the German-speaking Swiss who are the least likely to adjust their home contents insurance; almost 70 percent of them missed adapting their home contents insurance to the values actually found in the household in the past year. 

At the same time it is noticeable that the Swiss are not changeless. You don't want to be insured with one insurance company one year and with your competition the next year. Rather, value is placed on continuous cooperation and long-term partnerships. At least, as long as the price is right, because increases in home insurance premiums are not only viewed critically, but also punished with terminations.

The Swiss are so satisfied with their home insurance that they say they would recommend it to others. The lack of adjustment of the insurance level in home insurance is mainly due to the fact that most people simply forget that such an insurance also requires a minimum amount of attention. And if it is only the insurance comparison that provides information as to whether other providers offer cheaper insurance, with which the insurance cover is still given in the desired amount.

Conclusion: underinsurance can be expensive? Adjustments necessary!

Unfortunately, it is still the case that a large proportion of the Swiss are underinsured in household insurance. Because despite the recommendations to carry out an annual check of the values of a household and to adjust the contents insurance accordingly, many citizens continue to have an insurance taken out in this form. New furnishings and valuables are purchased, but they are not insured. 

However, if the sum insured is too low, it means that there is a risk of high financial damage in the event of damage. If a defective water pipe floods the apartment, home contents insurance can only compensate for the damage that is also insured. However, if an expensive piano, several paintings and other things that significantly increase the value of the facility have been purchased since the contract was signed, you may be underinsured. The result: The insured person is left with part of the damage.

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New opportunities for digital adaptation of animal insurance

New opportunities for digital adaptation of animal insurance

Digitization is also finding its way into animal insurance and has made it possible for the first providers, for example, to make a new, simple product selection possible. This makes it easier for pet owners to find the right product.

New products and better choices possible

The world of the internet also makes life easier for dog and cat owners. They can now find out about products such as health insurance for their four-legged friends, but also about tailor-made solutions. What is good for one does not necessarily have to be right for another! Therefore, there are now much more efficient offers in the Internet world of animal insurance. 

The question of what the common denominator between all dog and cat insurances was, was the key to achieving a more efficient system. Customers now only need to provide a little information and are guided directly to the products that are most suitable for them. This means that consultation hours are superfluous, and hours of reading about the advantages and disadvantages of individual insurance components are also an end.

After entering the required information, the modern insurance tool can offer tailor-made products. This means that the selected insurance or the corresponding product is precisely tailored to the needs of the animal to be insured and its owner. The innovations make it easier for the pet owner to choose the right insurance, and under- and over-insurance are rented out.

Digital tools lead to the right insurance

The animal insurance specialists who are developing the new tools have used the digital tools available to them. In doing so, they took the specific problems that a pet has as a basis and created their solutions from them. For example: a cat that is outside all day is at different risks? Accident and illness? exposed as a cat kept as an indoor cat only. Owners of cats can now decide which variant to choose when choosing the product in question. 

Based on the selection of the specific risk, further questions are asked and the appropriate selection can be made. According to this selection, the insurers are able to offer new services and display specific prices.

What sounds so simple and obvious is not at all in practice. Comprehensive and complex algorithms have been designed here that operate on the principle? If x, then y? function. The data required for this has been collected over the past few decades and has now been meticulously evaluated.
Not only should customers be offered better and tailor-made solutions for their four-legged friends, the insurers are also interested in staying up to date. Customers' expectations of comprehensive service are increasing, as are their demands for contemporary insurance for their hairy family member.

Conclusion: New insurance solutions thanks to modern technology

Modern technologies are also making the insurance industry more effective and efficient. The reason: New tools make it possible to determine insurance coverage individually. This is based on the specific risks that individual pets have. It is therefore taken into account whether the animal in question has a rather risky life or whether it is rather unlikely that it will come into contact with accident or illness triggers. 

Based on this assessment, customers and pet owners can make their selection and are shown tailor-made products that cover precisely the necessary risks. On the one hand, this prevents risks from being insured that are out of the question for the individual animal. On the other hand, the insurance cover is also adjusted in height to the special needs of each animal.

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Extension of fitness subscriptions due to lockdown

Extension of fitness subscriptions due to lockdown

Many fitness studios are also struggling with the corona lockdown and cannot offer any training. You have extended the subscriptions that are already running for the time of the lockdown. But there are also black sheep.

Is the fitness subscription credited only when it is renewed?

The mindset of gyms that are not acting on behalf of their members is simple. You credit the lockdown time, but not directly to the current subscription. Rather, the credit is only issued when a new fitness subscription is redeemed. This is a significant disadvantage for the customer because he was unable to train during the lockdown. 

The money for the subscription had already been paid, which means that a service that was not provided had to be paid for. The logical conclusion that even good and reputable fitness studios have drawn: They extend the term of the subscription by the time of the lockdown. The black sheep, however, did not proceed in this way and rather let the current subscription expire. Anyone who did not want to extend was thus left empty-handed.

The argument of the fitness studios, which presented themselves as not very customer-friendly, was that they would also suffer from the consequences of the lockdown. By crediting an extended subscription, they wanted to mitigate the economic consequences a little or spread them over a longer period of time. But that is not legal, because this is where the law of obligations applies. 

This right states that a loss is to be reimbursed if a service could not be provided. Various legal experts have commented on this in the past and stated that this would only be different if the general terms and conditions of the fitness studio provided for a correspondingly different regulation. Then it would mean that the full amount would be owed even if the service could not be provided in full. If this formulation was not to be found in the studio's terms and conditions, the procedure for crediting an extended subscription described above is also not permitted.

Few black sheep

According to surveys in Swiss fitness studios, it was found that only a few would act to the disadvantage of their customers. Most would extend the current fitness subscription by the time of the lockdown and would not see any restrictions here. Especially since another idea of a studio violates the Code of Obligations. Only four weeks of the eight-week lockdown were taken into account, which means that half of the services not provided were still calculated.

Still other studios had a completely different idea. They asked their customers whether they would be willing to forego renewing their subscription and thus support the studio. Many customers showed their solidarity and agreed to refrain from requests for an extension. 

Some athletes who belong to the defined risk groups do not want to train again even after the lockdown because they are afraid of infection in the gym. The studios offer that their break can last longer and that the fitness subscription can even be extended by the corresponding time. However, not on mere acceptance, but the customers concerned would have to provide a doctor's certificate showing the assignment to a risk group. Sometimes it is even possible that the break lasts longer if the athlete himself does not belong to a risk group, but if he lives with a person at risk. 

Conclusion: Most fitness studios are accommodating

The lockdown forced athletes to take a break, they could no longer train in the gym. The necessary break was taken into account by the fitness studios on the current subscription, so that this lasted longer. Few black sheep among the providers wanted to offer the extension only if the fitness subscription is extended. 

However, this approach does not correspond to current law and contradicts the law of obligations. The only exception: if a corresponding regulation can be found in the fitness studio's terms and conditions, the extension can be waived due to the lockdown.

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P2P Lending, Business Lending, Crowdlending: Easy Loans For Personal?

Tips for household contents and personal liability insurance

P2P Lending, Business Lending, Crowdlending: Easy Loans For Personal?

Various providers in Switzerland grant loans to companies and private individuals. Who the individual decides for when taking out a loan varies from person to person and depends on several factors.

10 tips household and personal liability insurance

Personal loans as a simple solution

If you need a loan in Switzerland, you go to a bank with your request and submit the corresponding application there. Personal loans can also be applied for digitally or via an online provider, with a classic lender behind the loan or a crowdlending platform that is not dependent on a specific bank. 

No borrower has to specify a purpose here, so it does not matter whether the loan is used to buy a car, a new kitchen or for the planned vacation.

Whether the requested loan is granted at all depends on how the applicant's creditworthiness is rated. How big is the chance that he will actually pay back the borrowed money in the given time? The banks use a kind of catalog of criteria for this and obtain information from a credit agency. 

The Central Office for Credit Information is well informed about people's creditworthiness! After this assessment, the personal loan can be determined in terms of amount and term as well as the conditions. In this respect, the creditworthiness not only influences whether the applicant gets a loan at all, but also how good his conditions and especially the interest rates are.

Crowdlending as an alternative

In Switzerland there are now several different platforms on which crowdlending loans are possible. This form of credit is also known as P2P credit and describes the internet-based granting of loans.

Put simply: There is a larger group of private individuals who invest an amount X. This is put together and given to a person as a loan. Such loans also go to companies, although the sums can be very low. The crowdlending platforms are the intermediaries where the two partners involved come together. Loan seekers present their projects and give the lenders the opportunity to assess the project as lucrative or as a potential loss-making business.

If the lender decides to invest his money in a project, he will receive interest on the repayment. Important: Here, too, collateral is required and the loans must of course be repaid in full and with interest. The advantages of crowdlending are obvious:

    • simple online application possible
    • also possible with bad credit ratings
    • quick decision on the loan application
    • different loan amounts possible

However, crowdlending also has disadvantages such as absurdly high interest rates, a high rejection rate for apparently unprofitable projects and often a lack of transparency in fees.
Nevertheless: For many people in Switzerland, P2P loans have become a good way of raising money for certain projects in recent years. 

Even if banks classify these projects as not very promising and do not want to grant a loan, crowdlending may still find lenders who are interested in further developing the idea in question. It is not for nothing that the crowdlending sector recorded very high growth from 2018 to 2019!

Conclusion: Different types of credit for different target groups

In addition to the classic personal loan from the bank, which can also be applied for online, crowdlending is now an interesting alternative in Switzerland. The loan seekers are given the opportunity to present themselves and their project and to look for investors. These decide on the amount of their participation in a project and are given a return accordingly. 

If it turns out that the borrower is not solvent, the previously requested collateral can be attached. Crowdlending is sometimes considered to be riskier, but there are also loans available here that would not be possible with a bank. The latter first sees the creditworthiness of the applicant and only then pays attention to the possible lucrative value of the project in question, with crowdlending it is often the other way round.

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New Swiss data protection law brings changes for SMEs

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New Swiss data protection law brings changes for SMEs

The Swiss data protection law has been modernized and contains important changes for SMEs. The implementation of the new regulations is only planned for the end of 2021. Nevertheless, the companies concerned should inform themselves now about necessary adjustments.

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The end of the debates

Parliament has been debating for more than three years what the new Swiss data protection law could look like. The original data protection decree had been in force since 1992 and was no longer able to keep up with the technological and social changes in the country. It has been adapted to the new conditions, whereby a reference to the regulations in all of Europe can be seen. Above all, the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union formed the basis for the debates and for the conclusions drawn from them. The GDPR has been in force since 2018.

The modernization of the data protection regulation in Switzerland had become necessary because the exchange of information with international partners should continue to be possible without restrictions and no Swiss company should experience any disadvantages as a result. With the GDPR, the EU created a standard that is now also binding for Swiss companies. 

The background to the necessary revision of the regulation was also that it cannot always be very clear whether a company from Switzerland should be included in the scope of the European Union. Now two standards had developed: on the one hand the GDPR and on the other hand the Swiss data protection regulation. Legal uncertainties and additional administrative work were the result. At the same time, however, an equivalence of data protection was called for, so that Switzerland and the EU are converging on this level.

Problems and innovations with the data protection regulation

The complete revision of the Data Protection Act turned out to be problematic and it was important to all those involved that primarily intelligent and not just different solutions were found. The special features of the Swiss economy and the companies here had to be taken into account. This should prevent the economy from being burdened more than necessary in the future and at the same time ensure that the Swiss system is on a par with that of the EU.

What is new, for example, is that the scope of the Data Protection Act now relates to the data of people, i.e. natural persons. Before it was only about legal entities. In addition, the new ordinance contains a list of particularly sensitive data as well as possible legal consequences when storing and processing this data. The regulations apply here, for example: 

    • Consent to data storage
    • Data protection impact assessment
    • Passing on the data to third parties
    • Credit checks

Data that uniquely identify a person are now considered particularly worthy of protection. There is also a new regulation on profiling, which always applies when a person's data is processed automatically and an assessment of the person concerned and his or her personality is or can be made on the basis of the data. In the case of high-risk profiling, an express declaration of consent must be available from the person concerned. For example, there is a high risk when it comes to checking a person's creditworthiness.

The new data protection regulation requires SMEs to keep a record of data processing. Exceptions apply to companies that employ up to 250 people and that only show a low risk of personal injury when processing the data.
? Privacy by Design? and? Privacy by Default? are established by law. 

In the first case, this means that the data protection regulations must be complied with during data processing from the planning stage. The second variant means that the app and website defaults must be such that personal data is only processed to the minimum.

According to the new regulation, everyone has the right to data portability and so people can request the transfer of their own data to other companies. This service should be possible free of charge.

Conclusion: The new data protection law protects natural persons

It was once legal entities that were particularly protected by the data protection act in Switzerland. Due to the need to adapt own regulations to the requirements of the European Union, it is now the natural persons who have to be protected by SMEs. 

Comprehensive protection of people and their data is primarily intended for high-risk data processing. Such is the case with the application for credit and the associated credit check. At the same time, people have the right to request that their data be passed on to other companies. The new regulations will probably not come into force until the end of 2021.

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Change travel insurance with legal certainty

Change travel insurance with legal certainty

Like other insurance policies, travel insurance is also canceled at the end of the contract period. It is important to keep an eye on any deadlines so that the termination is really legally secure.

Note the deadlines when changing travel insurance

It is not always a change of travel insurance that is sought. It is also possible to cancel the travel insurance and not take out any other insurance of this type. The procedure is always the same. Important: The insurers sometimes have different notice periods; these must be observed and can be found in the general insurance conditions. 

The deadlines are often three months, sometimes only two months or even four weeks. If you miss the deadline, you have to accept an extension of the travel insurance. This is contractually regulated; the policyholder has agreed to the extension by signing the contract. The travel insurance is always extended by one year and can then normally only be canceled at the end of the next insurance year.

Important: Be sure to have a look at the general insurance conditions if you want to cancel the travel insurance! Even if a one-year contract term is common, some providers sell their insurance policies with significantly longer terms and bind their policyholders for two or even three years. As a result, the insurance can only be regularly canceled for the first time at the end of this period. Before taking out such insurance, consumer advocates regularly advise against, because these insurance companies put the insured at a disadvantage unnecessarily.

It's easy to terminate

Travel insurance, like any other insurance, is terminated in writing at best. Some experts even recommend sending the cancellation by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt so that proof of receipt of the letter by the insurance company is available. If the latter does not terminate the contract and the premiums for the next insurance year are debited, legal action can be taken accordingly. After all, the insured person has proof in hand!

Before canceling travel insurance, you should make an insurance comparison. Which other provider comes into question, what are their services and how high the premiums? You can easily make this comparison here on neotralo.ch, but it only needs to be carried out if you actually want to take out travel insurance again.

Once you have found a provider that is suitable for you, you should apply for insurance there. This is usually completely uncomplicated online. If you have the confirmation that your insurance has been taken over, you can send the letter to them with the cancellation of the previous travel insurance. In view of the length of time it takes to settle and conclude a new insurance policy, it is advisable to start the preparatory work at least four weeks before the date of termination. In this way you can be sure that you really get the complete insurance you want.

You will now receive a confirmation or a confirmation of cancellation from your old travel insurance. It is important that you have sent your cancellation notice to collect the rewards from your account with the letter of termination. The old travel insurance is therefore prohibited from collecting the new insurance premiums for the coming year. Should this happen anyway, the bank can get back the money that was illegally debited.

Conclusion: terminate travel insurance in a legally secure manner: Only with observance of the notice period!

The requirements for canceling travel health insurance are similar to those for canceling other insurance companies. They must be terminated in good time and thus in compliance with the agreed notice period. Sometimes that's three months, sometimes only one month has to be considered. If this deadline is missed, the travel insurance contract is automatically extended by another year and can therefore only be canceled again. 

The termination must be made in writing; termination by email or telephone is generally not permitted. The best way of secure termination is to send the same by registered mail. If it is sent by fax, the receipt should be kept. Important: Do not cancel the old insurance until a new one already exists or becomes effective immediately afterwards.

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Medical insurance continues to pay for medical certificates

Medical insurance continues to pay for medical certificates

The following also applies in the future: the health insurance company will pay the doctor's certificate if an employee feels sick and unable to work. The Federal Council recently decided that the health insurers are still obliged to assume the costs.

Dispute about the assumption of costs

Again and again there are demands on the part of the health insurance companies that the costs of issuing a doctor's certificate should be borne by the insured person. But the Federal Council has now put a stop to these demands and decided that the insured can continue to trust that the costs for such certificates will be covered in future. 

Exactly how high these costs are cannot be stated, and the health insurance companies do not know any specific amounts. The reason: If such a certificate is issued, it is done during the consultation with the doctor. This does not show the costs for the issuance of the certificate separately, but includes these in his total costs.

Nobody is willing to pay the costs. Workers argue that it is mandatory for them to provide such a certificate. They would not have any of this themselves and would therefore not want to bear any costs. Employers, on the other hand, have admitted in surveys that they are also unwilling to bear the costs of medical certificates. 

After all, these relate to the employee's incapacity for work and the company is already more burdened by the employee's absence. Only the health insurances remain, which have now been asked by the Federal Council to continue to bear the costs for these certificates.

Medical certificate remains mandatory

Despite all the discussions about the cost of medical certificates, it was reiterated that they remain mandatory. This means that an employee will not be able to report an illness simply by calling the employer in the future. He needs confirmation from the doctor. The health insurance must therefore pay for the costs.

The Federal Council also saw the risk that employees would no longer go to the doctor if they were forced to assume the costs. This, in turn, could make them feel worse or infect other workers. This must be prevented, so the employees cannot be expected to bear additional costs.

Parliament had instructed the Federal Council to review the costs of medical certificates. But as mentioned earlier, that was not possible to find out. This can only be determined if the doctors show all individual items separately when issuing the certificates. In view of the increased administrative effort involved, doctors are not required to undertake such an effort.

Conclusion: health insurance companies continue to bear the costs for the doctor's certificate

With the decision of the Federal Council, the issue has finally been resolved: The costs for issuing a doctor's certificate, as required by employers for employees who report sick, must continue to be borne by the mandatory health insurance companies. It is not possible to pass the costs on to the employee, and additional insurance may not be charged or requested separately. 

The costs are not to be broken down separately as they are not specifically reported by the doctor. Rather, they are included in the general treatment costs that are charged for a normal consultation.

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