Who is entitled to a premium reduction?
People with a low income and few assets have the right to a premium reduction. In this way, people in difficult financial circumstances are relieved of high health insurance costs. Comparis explains what you need to know.
31.10.2023
iStock/Scharvik
1. Health insurance premium reduction: what is it?
The federal government and the cantons grant an individual premium reduction (IPR) to insured persons living in difficult financial situations. Every year, more than two million people in Switzerland benefit from discounted health insurance premiums.
The discount only applies to mandatory basic insurance. The legal basis for this is provided by the Health Insurance Act (Art. 65 KVG, not available in English).
How do premium reductions work?
The cantonal OASI offices pay health insurers directly. The advantage: the discount is direct. The health insurance bill for policyholders is then cheaper.
Further savings on health insurance premiums
In addition to a premium reduction, there are also other ways to save on premiums. These include: adjusting your deductible, changing your health insurance model, and switching health insurer.
2. Calculate premium reduction: who is entitled to a premium reduction?
The calculation of the premium discount varies from canton to canton. The Swiss Conference of Health Directors (GDK) provides an overview of the cantonal calculation bases (not available in English).
For some cantons, you can check online to find out how much of a reduction you can request. For further information, please contact the relevant office in your canton.
In principle, the following criteria apply to all cantons:
Income
Assets
Family circumstances
The cantons calculate entitlement based on tax values. Most of the time, your tax statements from the last two years serve as the basis. In the case of those subject to withholding tax, this is often three years.
The calculation for the entitlement to a premium reduction lags behind the current income situation. For this reason, it may make sense for you to independently check your entitlement to reduced premiums on an annual basis.
Do you receive a pension from Switzerland and live in an EU/EFTA country? Under certain conditions, you are also entitled to a premium reduction. You can obtain more information on the subject from the KVG Joint Institution Foundation (Stiftung Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG).
3. Who informs me about my right to a premium reduction?
If you have basic insurance, your canton of residence must inform you of your right to a premium reduction. Many cantons inform beneficiaries directly.
In other cantons, you must apply for a premium reduction yourself. In some cantons, you will need to submit a new application each year. In case of doubt, you can register with the relevant office for your canton and apply for a premium reduction.
Note: the right to the premium reduction expires quickly. In some cantons, you can apply for a premium reduction in the current year – up to a certain deadline. In other cantons, applications must be submitted before the beginning of the year.
4. How do I apply for a premium reduction?
The best way to proceed is as follows:
1. Find out about the prerequisites from the competent office in your canton of residence. Some cantons allow you to apply for reduced premiums online.
2. Submit your application in a timely manner, taking into account any deadlines. It may take several months to check your application.
3. If your application is approved, the canton will notify you. The money will be transferred to the relevant health insurer.
4. After approval, the premium reduction will be visible on the invoice – or you will receive a credit for overpaid premiums on your next invoice.
5. Cantonal premium reduction: where should I register?
The competent cantonal authorities can be found here (not all links are available in English):
SVA Aargau
Kyburgerstrasse 15
5001 Aarau
Telephone: 062 836 81 81
Email: info@sva-ag.ch
Gesundheitsamt des Kantons Appenzell Innerrhoden
Hoferbad 2
9050 Appenzell
Telephone: 071 788 92 50
Email: info@gsd.ai.ch
Sozialversicherungen Appenzell Ausserrhoden
Neue Steig 15
PO Box 1254
9100 Herisau
Telephone: 071 354 51 51
Email: info@sovar.ch
Amt für Sozialversicherungen
Forelstrasse 1
3072 Ostermundigen
Telephone: 031 636 45 00
Email: info.asv@be.ch
SVA Basel-Landschaft
Hauptstrasse 109
4102 Binningen
Telephone: 061 425 25 25
Email: info@sva-bl.ch
Amt für Sozialbeiträge Basel-Stadt
Grenzacherstrasse 62
PO Box
4005 Basel
Telephone: 061 267 87 11
Email: asb-pv@bs.ch
Ausgleichskasse des Kantons Freiburg
Abteilung Prämienverbilligung
Impasse de la Colline 1
1762 Givisiez
Telephone: 026 426 77 00
Email: rpi@ecasfr.ch
Service de l’assurance-maladie
Route de Frontenex 62
1207 Geneva
Telephone: 022 546 19 00
Email: sam@etat.ge.ch
Kantonale Steuerverwaltung
Abteilung IPV
Hauptstrasse 11/17
8750 Glarus
Telephone: 055 646 61 65
Email: steuerverwaltung@gl.ch
Sozialversicherungsanstalt des Kantons Graubünden
Ottostrasse 24
PO Box
7001 Chur
Telephone: 081 257 41 11
Email: info@sva.gr.ch
Etablissement cantonal des assurances sociales
Rue Bel-Air 3
PO Box 368
2350 Saignelégier
Telephone: 032 952 11 11
Email: mail@ecasju.ch
WAS Wirtschaft Arbeit Soziales
Ausgleichskasse Luzern
Würzenbachstrasse 8, PO Box
6000 Luzern 15
Telephone: 041 209 00 01
Email: servicecenter-ak@was-luzern.ch
Office cantonal de l’assurance-maladie
Espace de l’Europe 2
PO Box 716
2002 Neuchâtel
Telephone: 032 889 66 30
Email: office.AssuranceMaladie@ne.ch
Ausgleichskasse Nidwalden
Stansstaderstrasse 88
PO Box
6371 Stans
Telephone: 041 618 51 00
Email: info@aknw.ch
Volkswirtschaftsdepartement Kanton Obwalden
Prämienverbilligung
St. Antonistrasse 4
6061 Sarnen
Telephone: 041 666 63 05
Email: praemienverbilligung@ow.ch
SVA St. Gallen
Brauerstrasse 54
9016 St. Gallen
Telephone: 071 282 61 91
Contact: www.svasg.ch/kontakt
SVA Schaffhausen
Oberstadt 9
8200 Schaffhausen
Telephone: 052 632 61 11
Email: info@svash.ch
Ausgleichskasse des Kantons Solothurn
Allmendweg 6
4528 Zuchwil
Telephone: 032 686 22 00
Email: info@akso.ch
Ausgleichskasse Schwyz
Abteilung Leistungen (KVG)
PO Box 53
6341 Schwyz
Telephone: 041 819 04 25
Email: ipv@aksz.ch
Ufficio delle prestazioni
Servizio sussidi assicurazione malattie
Viale Stazione 28a
6500 Bellinzona
Telephone: 091 821 93 11
Email: sussidi@ias.ti.ch
Amt für Gesundheit
Klausenstrasse 4
6460 Altdorf
Telephone: 041 875 22 42
Email: praemienverbilligung@ur.ch
Office vaudois de l’assurance-maladie
Ch. de Mornex 40
1014 Lausanne
Telephone: 021 557 47 47
Contact
Ausgleichskasse des Kantons Wallis
Abteilung Subventionen
Avenue Pratifori 22
1950 Sitten
Telephone: 027 324 91 11
Email: subvention@avs.vs.ch
SVA Zürich
Röntgenstrasse 17
PO Box
8087 Zürich
Telephone: 044 448 53 75
Contact: www.svazurich.ch/kontakt-ipv
Special scheme for OASI or DI benefits
Old age and survivors’ insurance (OASI) and disability insurance (DI) are part of the first pillar of the Swiss pension system. Do you receive supplementary benefits to the OASI or DI pension? Then you don’t need to register for a premium reduction. The OASI offices calculate the amount themselves and pay it directly to the health insurer.
This article was first published on 18.08.2022
