Save on basic health insurance

Ways to save money on basic health insurance:

TIP 1: Various savings models

With alternative health insurance models such as HMO, GP, Telmed or other models one can save up to 25% on premiums. Check with your insurance provider if one of these alternative models is offered in your area.

TIP 2: Optional deductibles

If choosing a higher deductible, one is responsible for a greater amount of the costs resulting from an illness and/or accident. On the other hand, this can lead to substantial savings on premiums. Health insurance companies can offer the following deductible rates:

Age group	Statutory deductible	Optional deductible

Children (up to 18 years of age)	CHF 0	CHF 100
		CHF 200
		CHF 300
		CHF 400
		CHF 500
		CHF 600

Adults (from 19 years of age)	CHF 300	CHF 500
		CHF 1000
		CHF 1500
		CHF 2000
		CHF 2500

Before selecting a higher deductible, one should be aware of the financial risks of a serious illness. The optimised deductible calculator helps with making this decision.

TIP 3: Basic and supplementary insurance can be kept separate

Basic and supplementary insurance can be taken out with different health insurance providers. The benefits and coverage of basic health insurance are clearly defined and consistent among all providers. There are therefore only a few reasons why one should not switch to the least expensive health insurance provider. All providers are obligated to accept every applicant for basic health insurance.
TIP 4: Limit hospital coverage to the canton of residence

This restriction can make sense particularly for residents of larger cantons that have a correspondingly large and extensive offering of medical services. If emergency medical services are required in another canton, the resulting costs will still be covered by the insurance.

Note: basic health insurance is sufficient for general coverage worldwide (with the exceptions of the USA, Canada, Australia and Japan), as the maximum covered amount for emergency treatment abroad is twice that for the same treatment in Switzerland.
TIP 5: Health insurance without accident coverage

Persons employed at least 8 hours per week with a single employer are automatically insured through this employer against accidents (accident insurance act - UVG) and can without hesitation take out health insurance without accident coverage. This leads to a premium discount of up to 10% depending on the provider. As soon as one is no longer covered for accidents by an employer, the health insurance provider must be notified. Accident coverage according to the health insurance act (KVG) then comes into effect with a resulting rise in premiums. KVG accident insurance covers treatment costs for work-related as well as non-work-related accidents, that is, those occurring in one's free time. Those receiving unemployment benefits are insured from SUVA against accidents.

Note: accident coverage from an employer-provided insurance (UVG) offers much better protection than accident insurance taken out in conjunction with basic insurance (KVG). Benefits covered by UVG accident insurance are not subject to a deductible or retention. Furthermore, UVG accident insurance provides additional coverage for serious accidents, such as daily allowances, pensions or other reimbursements.
TIP 6: Suspend basic health insurance during military service.

Insured individuals in military service for more than 60 continuous days may suspend their basic health insurance during this time as long as they provide proof of this period of military service. The proof must be presented to the health insurance provider prior to the military service.
TIP 7: Individual premium reduction (IPR)

If your annual taxable income does not exceed a certain limit, you are entitled to a premium reduction from your canton of residence.
TIP 8: Premium payment for whole year

Some health insurance providers offer a discount if the premiums are paid once for the whole year. Please check directly with your provider if this is an option.

Back