Paying compulsory Swiss health insurance premiums in advance pays off. At least in the case of health insurance providers which discount health insurance premiums when they are paid up front annually instead of monthly.
Typically, health insurance premiums are charged on a monthly basis. But if you can afford to pay the premiums for the whole year up front, you can benefit from a discount of up to two percent on total premiums. If you pay the premiums in two semi-annual payments, you benefit from up to one percent off standard rates.
Discounts for annual premium payments
| Insurance provider |
Annual premium
discount |
Semi-annual
premium discount |
| Agrisano |
1% |
0.50% |
| Aquilana |
1% |
0.50% |
| Assura |
2% |
1% |
| Atupri |
1% |
0.50% |
| Birchmeier |
2% |
1% |
| Concordia |
0% |
0% |
| CSS |
0.25% |
0% |
| EGK |
1% |
0.50% |
| Galenos |
2% |
1% |
| Glarner Krankenversicherung* |
1% |
0.50% |
| Groupe Mutuel** |
0% |
0% |
| Helsana |
0.50% |
0% |
| KPT |
1% |
0.50% |
| Krankenkasse Luzerner Hinterland |
0% |
0% |
| Krankenkasse Steffisburg |
1% |
0.50% |
| ÖKK |
1% |
0.50% |
| Rhenusana |
1% |
0.50% |
| Sanitas |
1% |
0.50% |
| SLKK |
1% |
0.50% |
| Sodalis |
1% |
0.50% |
| Sumiswalder |
1% |
0% |
| Supra |
2% |
1% |
| Swica |
0.50% |
0% |
| Sympany |
2% |
1% |
| Visana |
2% |
1% |
| Vita Surselva |
1.50% |
0% |
* Glarner Krankenversicherung also has a 0.25% reduction for quarterly premium payments.
**Supra, which is part of the Groupe Mutuel group, has a reduction of 1% for Semi-annual premium payment and 2% for annual premium payment.
Is paying premiums annually a smart financial move?
If you have money put aside that can be used to pay your health insurance premiums in advance, doing so can be a good financial move. That is especially true if the discount you get is higher than the interest you could earn from a savings account.
Example: If your health insurance premium is 400 francs per month, a two-percent annual-premium discount translates into 96 francs saved per year. For a family with multiple policies, this discount can add up to hundreds of francs.
It is important to note that if you choose to pay up front annually or semi-annually, you must still pay your insurance bills in full and on time to avoid penalties.
Discounts for paying premiums annually or semi-annually are only one factor to consider when choosing the right compulsory health insurance for your needs. In some cases, an insurer that offers high discounts for annual premiums may still be more expensive than other insurance providers that have lower discounts or none at all. Comparing health insurance premiums based on your individual situation is recommended.
More on this topic:
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