How has the cost of mandatory health insurance offers changed over the last 10 years? To find out, moneyland.ch compared the insurance premiums for 2026 with those from 2016. The analysis included all 90 of the offers from 2016 that are still available in 2026. For each of these offers, the analysis compared the 2016 premiums for the 300-franc and 2500-franc deductible offers for adults against the 2026 premiums. The premiums were analyzed separately for each of the 42 premium regions.
53 percent more expensive, on average
On a countrywide basis, the cost of the 90 offers included in the analysis went up by 53 percent, on average, over the 10-year period. “But that is an average value. The actual price hikes have been much higher than that for some offers, while some offers have become slightly cheaper,” says moneyland.ch expert Felix Oeschger.
The biggest price increase is 214 percent
Across all offers and regions, the cost of the standard offer from SLKK in the Grisons 3 premium region saw the biggest price increase. Between 2016 and 2026, the cost of that offer for residents of the Grisons 3 premium region (Albula, Surselva, Viamala) climbed by 214 percent – meaning the cost more than tripled. The offer, which cost 133.30 francs per month in 2016, will cost 419.20 francs in 2026.
It is worth noting that the second-biggest and third-biggest price hikes are also for SLKK offers, and also in the canton of Grisons. The price of the SLKK standard offer in the Grisons 2 premium region has also more than tripled since 2016 (a 203 percent increase). In the Grisons 1 region, which includes the cantonal capital Chur, the cost of the SLKK telemedicine offer went up by 190 percent over the same timeframe.
Some offers have become cheaper
With residents having become accustomed to having to pay more for mandatory health insurance each year, it may seem like a paradox that there are some offers that are now cheaper than they were 10 years ago. That is the case with EGK’s Care family doctor offer in the Vaud 2 premium region, where the 2500-franc deductible offer will cost 50 francs less in 2026 than it did in 2016. That translates into a 12-percent price decrease. The price of the 300-franc deductible version of the same offer went down by 10 percent over the same period.
The biggest price increases in major Swiss cities
In addition to premium regions, moneyland.ch also analyzed the price hikes for mandatory health insurance in Switzerland’s biggest cities – Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne, and Bern.
The analysis shows that urban dwellers are not sheltered from health insurance premium hikes. The price of the Flex Care offer from Atupri for residents of Bern went up by 102 percent, more than doubling over the 10-year term. The price of the same offer nearly doubled for residents of Zurich as well, with a price hike of 95 percent.
There are still ways to save
Important: Although the cost of mandatory health insurance has gone up right across the country since 2016, residents can still keep costs in check. “There are steps you can take to reduce the cost,” says Felix Oeschger. “Moving to the cheapest available offer is a simple way to save money.” Changing your deductible and insurance model can further lower your premiums.
Comparing all offers based on your specific situation and needs is key. The interactive mandatory health insurance comparison on moneyland.ch makes it easy to find the cheapest offer for your needs.
Methodology
Independent online comparison service moneyland.ch analyzed all mandatory health insurance offers that were available in 2016 and will still be offered in 2026. The analysis used the premium published by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). For each offer, the premiums charged in 2016 were compared with those that will be charged in 2026. The difference was calculated both in Swiss francs and as a percentage. Based on the results, moneyland.ch identified the five offers with the biggest price increases and the five offers with the lowest price increases countrywide. The analysis also identified the offers with the biggest hikes in premiums for residents of Switzerland’s five largest cities.
The analysis used the premiums for adults aged 26 on up, with accident cover excluded. In addition to offers based on the standard model, the analysis also accounted for offers based on managed care models. The analysis only included the 300-francs and 2500-franc deductible versions of each offer.
Calculations are based on gross premiums, without accounting for possible reductions from CO₂ benefits and reserves.
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