TIP # 1: Various health insurance companies offer different savings models. For instance, the HMO model is frequently offered in urban areas. This model will give you a premium discount of up to 20%. Other alternative insurance models are the General Practitioner, the Telmed models and Other models. Ask your insurance provider if one of these alternative models is available in your area. TIP # 2: Optional deductible rates! If you choose a higher deductible rate, you will pay a greater contribution to costs, should you fall ill or have an accident. On the other hand, you will be able to make substantial savings on premiums. Health insurance companies have the choice of offering the following deductible rates : Adults: CHF 300, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 Children: CHF 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Before deciding on a higher deductible rate, you should be aware of the financial risks in case of serious illness. Deductionfinder will help you to make the right decision.  TIP # 3: Did you know that according to new health insurance laws you may now buy supplementary health insurance from an insurer other than your basic health insurance provider? Benefits covered by basic health insurance are clearly defined and identical for all insurers. Every health insurance company must admit you to their basic health insurance programme. Therefore, there aren't many reasons not to switch to the cheapest basic health insurance provider. TIP # 4: Hospital coverage may be limited to your canton of residence, according to regulations for basic health insurance. This restriction can come in handy for residents of highly populated cantons that offer many different forms of medical treatment. Should it come to an accident outside the canton of residence, higher costs resulting from out-of-canton services would have to be covered by the insurer since it would count as emergency treatment. Important: Basic health insurance provides sufficient coverage for general emergency treatment worldwide (except in the USA, Canada Australia and Japan), since insurers will only pay up to twice the amount the same treatment would have cost in Switzerland. TIP # 5: Save on premiums by buying health insurance without accident coverage! If you work for the same employer for at least 8 hours per week, you automatically receive accident insurance (UVG) and can buy health insurance without accident coverage. Depending on your insurer, this may save you up to 10% of your current premium rate. However, as soon as you are no longer insured by your employer, you must inform your health insurance company. You will than resume paying for accident coverage as stated by health insurance laws and your premiums will rise. Accident insurance provided by your employer will cover costs for all accidents, even those happening outside of work. If your are receiving unemployment benefit, you are insured against accidents by the SUVA. By the way: Accident insurance provided by your employer gives you much more extensive coverage than accident insurance provided by health insurance companies. Benefits covered by accident insurance provided by your employer are not liable to deductible rates or retention. Furthermore, regulations for employee accident insurance provide additional coverage for serious accidents, such as pensions, daily allowances or compensation. TIP # 6: Suspend basic health insurance during military service. Insured individuals in military service for more than 60 days at a time may suspend their basic health insurance during this time as long as they provide their insurer with proof of military service. This proof must be handed in after service is completed and premiums will be reimbursed for this time. period.