Health insurance deductible: which deductible makes sense?
You have to pay a deductible with your basic insurance. Comparis explains what a deductible is, and which one makes sense for you.
06.08.2025
iStock/FJZEA
1. What exactly is a deductible in Swiss health insurance?
The deductible refers to the part of your healthcare costs that you pay yourself. This means that you pay all bills for check-ups, treatments and medication up to your chosen deductible. Only then will the health insurer cover costs.
The annual deductible is between 300 and 2,500 francs. For children, the deductible is between 0 and 600 francs.
The deductible, the coinsurance and the hospital cost contribution together make up your out-of-pocket expenses. However, this only applies to medical services that are covered by basic insurance. You usually have to pay for treatments outside the catalogue of basic insurance benefits yourself.
Good to know: supplemental insurance covers benefits excluded in basic insurance. But the cover provided varies depending on the health insurer and the policy.
The deductible is the amount you have to pay when you incur healthcare costs.
You only pay the coinsurance once you have paid the full deductible. This means: you contribute 10% towards further healthcare costs. This applies up to a maximum annual amount of 700 francs for adults.
Children do not pay more than 350 francs in coinsurance per year. Your health insurance usually covers all further costs.
Example of out-of-pocket expenses: comparing deductibles of 300 and 2,500 francs
Assumption: medical expenses of 3,000 francs over the year
| Deductible: CHF 300 | Deductible: CHF 2,500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Medical expenses | CHF 3,000 | CHF 3,000 |
| Deductible payment | CHF 300 | CHF 2,500 |
| Coinsurance payment | CHF 270 (10% of CHF 2,700) | CHF 50 (10% of CHF 500) |
| Total cost for the insured person | CHF 570 | CHF 2,550 |
| Share covered by health insurance | CHF 2,430 | CHF 450 |
2. What deductibles are there in Switzerland?
For adults, deductibles range from 300 to 2,500 francs per year. In the case of children, the deductibles are between 0 and 600 francs per year. All deductibles above the lowest are known as “elective deductibles”.
You can choose the amount of your deductible each year. If you choose a higher deductible, you will receive a premium discount. Keep in mind: the higher the deductible, the lower your premiums.
Deductibles are regulated by the Health Insurance Ordinance (Art. 92 HIO, link not available in English). However, health insurers do not have to offer all elective deductibles.
Elective deductibles for adults aged 18 and over
| Elective deductible | Maximum premium discount per year |
|---|---|
| CHF 300 | No discount |
| CHF 500 | CHF 140 |
| CHF 1,000 | CHF 490 |
| CHF 1,500 | CHF 840 |
| CHF 2,000 | CHF 1,190 |
| CHF 2,500 | CHF 1,540 |
Elective deductibles for children up to the age of 18
| Elective deductible for children | Maximum premium discount per year |
|---|---|
| CHF 0 | No discount |
| CHF 100 | CHF 70 |
| CHF 200 | CHF 140 |
| CHF 300 | CHF 210 |
| CHF 400 | CHF 280 |
| CHF 500 | CHF 350 |
| CHF 600 | CHF 420 |
Compare health insurance and deductibles
The Comparis health insurance comparison tool gives you an overview of the cost differences between different deductible levels. You can also compare the prices of different health insurers and health insurance models.
3. Which deductible makes sense in Switzerland?
Which deductible is right for you depends on how high your healthcare costs are in the insurance year.
A general rule of thumb is:
| Minimum deductible of CHF 300 | If you expect healthcare costs in excess of CHF 2,000, the lowest deductible level is worthwhile.As a result, you pay more for your basic insurance premiums. However, you will have to contribute less to your healthcare costs in the event of illness. |
|---|---|
| Maximum deductible of CHF 2,500 | If your healthcare costs are less than CHF 2,000, the highest deductible is usually worthwhile. However, you must be able to pay up to 3,200 francs at once.This amount consists of the following components: the maximum deductible (CHF 2,500) and the maximum coinsurance (700 francs) |
Is it worth choosing a deductible somewhere in the middle?
Deductible levels between the lowest and the highest deductible are usually not worthwhile. The premium discount for these levels is too low.
Which deductible is best for children?
As a rule, it makes sense to choose the lowest deductible of 0 francs for children. This is because children have to see a doctor relatively often – and potential medical costs are difficult to predict.
4. How can I change my health insurance deductible?
If you want to change your deductible, you need to comply with certain deadlines and requirements.
Reduce your deductible by the end of November
It is possible to switch to a lower deductible with effect from the beginning of the calendar year. You must tell your health insurer that you want to reduce your deductible by the last workday in November.
Increase your deductible by the end of December
You can also switch to a higher deductible with effect from the beginning of a calendar year. You must tell your health insurer that you want to increase your deductible by the last workday in December.
The new deductible will apply from 1 January of the new year. This is true when both increasing and lowering the deductible.
Changing your deductible during the year
You generally can’t adjust your deductible during the year. However, there are two conditions if you wish to cancel your basic insurance at the end of June. By doing so, you can also change your deductible. In this case, you must notify your health insurer by the last workday in March.
Conditions:
You have a standard model of insurance
You have the lowest deductible of CHF 300 for adults or CHF 0 francs for children
Switching health insurance in the middle of the year? Then the deductible and coinsurance already paid will be taken into account. This means that you do not have to pay all the amounts paid up to that point again.
Example: you switch to a health insurance model with a 300-franc deductible at the beginning of July. You previously had the lowest deductible and have already used it up. You have already paid 350 francs in coinsurance. Your new health insurer will also consider your deductible to be fully exhausted, and half of the coinsurance to be paid.
5. Annual deductible in health insurance: FAQs
The minimum deductible is 300 francs for adults and 0 francs for children.
The maximum deductible is 2,500 francs for adults and 600 francs for children.
The highest deductible of 2,500 francs is worthwhile if you expect health costs of less than 2,000 francs per year. If you have higher costs, the minimum deductible of 300 francs is cheaper overall.
You must always pay the deductible when you receive benefits (e.g. after visiting the doctor or staying in hospital). However, you will only have to pay the full amount at most once per calendar year. Have you paid bills amounting to your deductible within the current year? In that case, your health insurer will cover any further costs – except for the coinsurance.
If you do not receive any healthcare, you will not incur any costs. From 2026, some vaccinations will also be exempt from the deductible.
You will also not incur any costs during pregnancy. From the 13th week of pregnancy, women do not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses. This exemption applies until eight weeks after birth. Before the 13th week, women are also exempt from the cost of check-ups related to pregnancy.
Good to know: some cantons have free breast cancer screening programmes. Women aged 50 and over can have a mammogram every two years without having to pay anything.
Would you like to reduce your deductible? Then you must inform your health insurer by the end of November. If you want to increase your deductible, the health insurer must receive the notification by the end of December.
The deadline is the last workday of the month – and the date of receipt is what counts. The new deductible will then apply from 1 January of the following year.
Are you insured against accidents via your health insurance? Then the deductible is the same as for your basic insurance. If you are insured through your employer, you do not pay any out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an accident.
No, out-of-pocket expenses for supplemental insurance are regulated differently. The details depend on the provider and insurance product. The exact conditions can be found in your policy.
This article was first published on 12.07.2022
