10 Tips for Cutting the Cost of Swiss Health Insurance

Late every Autumn, Switzerland’s residents receive their new insurance policies for the next year’s compulsory health insurance. For many households, those insurance policies represent a major expense. This article explains the different ways to lower the cost of mandatory health insurance.

Tip 1: Choose a cheap insurance provider

The medical cover you get from mandatory health insurance is dictated by law, and is identical across all Swiss mandatory health insurance providers. But the prices charged for this insurance vary broadly between health insurance providers.

You can move to a new mandatory health insurance at the start of each calendar year. If you want to do this, you have to give your existing insurance provider notice that you want to terminate your policy. They must receive your notice by the end of November.

Tip 2: Consider managed care models

Many health insurance providers offer mandatory health insurance with managed care. These managed care offers often cost between 10 and 20 percent less than offers based on the standard model. The downside is that if you want the insurance to cover costs, you have to consult a gatekeeper before you can receive further treatment.

Which insurance model would work best for you depends on your specific situation and needs. You can find detailed information in the guide to Swiss health insurance models.

Tip 3: Choose the right insurance deductible

The insurance deductible is the amount that you have to pay towards your medical bills out of your own pocket each year, before the insurance begins to cover them. The higher the deductible is, the less you will have to pay for your health insurance. But if you do end up needing expensive medical care, your total costs can be high when you account for the part you have to pay out of your own pocket.

The rule of thumb for adults above the age of 26 is: If your annual medical bills are lower than 1800 to 1900 francs, having a 2500-franc deductible works out cheapest. If your medical expenses are higher than that, then using the 300-franc deductible is cheapest. The other deductible options offered by insurance providers do not normally pay off. You can find more information in the guide to Swiss mandatory health insurance deductibles.

Tip 4: Put unnecessary accident cover on hold

If you work more than eight hours per week for a Swiss employer, or if you are receiving Swiss unemployment benefits, then you should already have accident insurance from your employer or the unemployment office. In that case, keeping the accident cover from your health insurance is an unnecessary expense. You can ask your mandatory health insurance provider to put the accident on hold, or exclude it when changing your health insurance.

You can find detailed information in the moneyland.ch guide to Swiss accident insurance.

Tip 5: Check your eligibility for health insurance premium reductions

All of Switzerland’s cantons subsidize your mandatory health insurance if your income and wealth fall below certain thresholds. Some cantons automatically check your eligibility and pay out subsidies to your insurance provider. But there are many cantons that only check your eligibility if you actively apply for premium reductions.

It is always worth checking whether you may be eligible for subsidies. You can find more information and links to cantonal websites in the moneyland.ch guide to health insurance premiums reductions.

Tip 6: Use the cheapest offer for each age group

Each health insurance provider has its own set of premiums for children, young adults, and adults. You do not have to use the same insurance provider for your whole family.

You can lower the cost of insurance by using the cheapest insurance offer for each age group.

Tip 7: Separate mandatory and supplemental health insurance

In addition to mandatory health insurance, you also have the option of getting supplemental health insurance. Supplementary health insurance offers cover healthcare expenses that are not covered by mandatory health insurance. It is important to understand that you can get supplementary health insurance from a different insurer than you get mandatory health insurance from.

Important: Insurance companies are not legally required to give you supplemental health insurance. When changing supplemental health insurance providers, always wait until your new insurance has been approved before you terminate your old insurance.

Tip 8: Pay your premiums for the whole year in advance

Some Swiss health insurance providers offer a small discount when you pay your premiums for a full semester or year in advance. Discounts range between 0.5 and 2 percent. Because that is often higher than the interest you would earn if you were to keep the money in a savings account, paying your mandatory health insurance premiums for one year up front can make financial sense if you have savings.

You can find an overview of discounts in the guide to semi-annual and annual health insurance premiums.

Tip 9: Account for health insurance when choosing a place to live

When moving homes, it is a good idea to check the health insurance premiums in the different municipalities that you would consider living in. Switzerland’s municipalities are divided into premium regions, and even nearby municipalities can have completely different mandatory health insurance premiums.

You can find an overview of premiums in 2026 by municipality on the map of Switzerland.

Tip 10: Put your health insurance on hold during military or civil service

You do not need to pay for mandatory health insurance during periods of more than 60 consecutive days spent in the military, civil service, or civil guard. Make sure to inform your health insurance provider about your upcoming military service in advance so that they can put your mandatory health insurance on hold.

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