Health Insurance Switch

National Health Insurance: the premium is set from your previous year's income and also varies with the number of people in the household. Just after leaving a job, a high income last year can mean a high premium. There is a reduction and exemption scheme, so speak to your municipal office if the burden is heavy

Voluntary continuation: you pay the whole premium yourself, roughly twice what you paid while employed, but it is fixed from your standard monthly remuneration at the time you left and normally does not change for two years. No premium is charged for dependants, so with several dependants it can work out cheaper than National Health Insurance

To take up voluntary continuation you need at least 2 continuous months of health insurance coverage up to the day before your eligibility ends - not necessarily at the employer you just left, as long as the months run without a gap (periods of voluntary continuation itself and of mutual aid associations do not count). The application is due within 20 days of losing eligibility, moving to the next working day if day 20 falls on a weekend or holiday; if you post it, it must arrive within those 20 days

Any gap in cover can mean paying the full cost of treatment at the counter for that period. If you choose voluntary continuation, the application must be filed within 20 days of losing insured status — the next business day if day 20 falls on a weekend or holiday — and if sent by post it must arrive within those 20 days

If your new employer is a covered workplace and you meet the enrollment requirements, your employer will handle the health insurance enrollment from your start date