Health Insurance Switch

National Health Insurance premiums are calculated based on your previous year's income — if you earned a lot last year, premiums may be high immediately after leaving

Voluntary continuation: you pay the full premium yourself (about double what you paid while employed), though it can still be cheaper than National Health Insurance if your previous year's income was high. The premium is based on your standard remuneration at the time you left and stays fixed for 2 years

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

Do not leave a gap in coverage — if enrollment is delayed, you may have to pay the full cost at the counter for any medical treatment during that period

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