Saving on Health Insurance in Switzerland: What is Mandatory – and Where Can You Save Money?

The reason: Many insured individuals do not know exactly,

• which services are mandatory
• what is voluntary
• and where you can really save on health insurance

In this guide, you will learn how the Swiss health insurance system works – and how you can legally lower your premiums.

Health Insurance Switzerland: What is Mandatory?

In Switzerland, basic insurance (KVG) is mandatory for all individuals.

This means:

• Everyone must have health insurance
• The services are legally identical across all insurers
• However, the premiums differ depending on the provider

The basic insurance covers, among other things:

• Doctor visits
• Hospital stays in the general department
• Medications (according to the specialty list)
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Certain preventive examinations

Important: The services of the basic insurance are the same across all health insurers, as they are legally regulated. This means: A cheaper health insurance offers the same medical care.

Basic Insurance vs. Supplementary Insurance

In addition to the mandatory basic insurance, there are voluntary supplementary insurances.

Basic Insurance (Mandatory)

Statutory basic insurance according to KVG. Features:

• Same services across all insurers
• Obligation to accept
• Termination and switching possible

Supplementary Insurance (Voluntary)

Supplementary insurances cover services that are not included in the basic insurance. Examples:

• Semi-private or private hospital departments
• Alternative medicine
• Dental treatments
• Fitness subscriptions or prevention

In contrast to the basic insurance:

• Insurers can ask health questions
• Applications can be rejected
• Many people are overinsured without realizing it.

Saving on Health Insurance: The Key Factors

The amount of your health insurance premium depends on several factors:

• Place of residence
• Age
• Insurance model
• Chosen deductible

By optimizing these factors, you can save several hundred to thousands of francs per year.

Deductible: How It Influences Your Health Insurance Premium

The deductible is the amount you must pay each year before the health insurance covers costs. Typical deductible levels:

• 300 CHF: highest premium
• 500 – 1,500 CHF: medium premium
• 2,000 – 2,500 CHF: lowest premium

General rule:

• Those who rarely visit the doctor often save significantly with a high deductible.
• Those who regularly need medical services usually do better with a lower deductible.

After the deductible, you also pay an additional 10% co-payment, up to a maximum of 700 CHF per year.

Choosing a Health Insurance Model: How You Can Save on Premiums

In addition to the deductible, the insurance model also influences your costs.

Standard Model

• Free choice of doctor without restrictions.
• Disadvantage: most expensive option.

Family Doctor Model

You first go to your chosen family doctor, who refers you to specialists if necessary. Advantage: premiums are often 10–20% cheaper.

HMO Model

Treatment is provided through a health center (HMO). Advantage: often 20% or more premium discount.

Telmed Model

Initial medical consultation is done by phone or via app. Advantage: usually the cheapest option.

Switching Health Insurance: Deadlines in Switzerland

The basic insurance can be switched every year.

Important deadline:

• November 30

The cancellation must reach the health insurance company by this date at the latest. The switch takes place on January 1 of the following year.

Important:

• Supplementary insurances have different cancellation deadlines
• Some contracts may last several years

Premium Reduction: Government Support

Many people do not know that they are entitled to premium reductions.

These are granted by the cantons and depend on:

• Income
• Assets
• Household size

Depending on the canton, several hundred to thousands of francs per year can be covered.

Organizing Health Insurance with ELVIDA

Health insurance brings many documents and deadlines – from policies to invoices. With ELVIDA, you can organize your personal administration more easily.

ELVIDA helps you with:

• Securely storing documents
• Insurance policies, invoices, and benefit statements are encrypted and stored on Swiss servers
• Keeping track of deadlines
• Reminders help you check cancellation deadlines or deductible adjustments in time
• Everything in one place
• All important insurance documents are centrally organized

Conclusion: Saving on Health Insurance in Switzerland

Health insurance is mandatory – but you don’t have to pay too much.

The biggest savings levers are:

• Choosing the right deductible
• Using a cost-effective insurance model
• Regularly comparing health insurances
• Critically reviewing supplementary insurances

By optimizing these factors, you can save several hundred to thousands of francs every year. Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, insurance, or legal advice. Despite careful research, legal regulations and practices may change. The official information from the relevant authorities and the individual circumstances of each person are always decisive. For more information, please visit the official websites of the authorities, especially estv.admin.ch and bag.admin.ch.