Paying health insurance annually: saving with a cash discount
You have the option of paying your health insurance premiums monthly, half-yearly or yearly. comparis.ch explains how doing so can save you money.
07.12.2021
iStock / Geber86
Many insurance companies offer premium reductions for particular payment plans. Policyholders choosing to pay biannually or annually are rewarded with a discount. This is because paying in advance reduces the administrative overhead for the insurer. Some insurance companies pass on the amount they save in this way directly to their customers in the form of a discount. This allows policyholders to save money.
For example, some health insurers offer a 1% discount to those paying a year in advance, and a 0.5% discount to those paying biannually. Some companies even offer discounts twice as high as this. Depending on your premium, this can definitely pay off.
Discounts offered by the major health insurers
| Group / health insurer | Biannually | Annually |
|---|---|---|
| CSS Group | 0% | 0.25% |
| Groupe Mutuel (Avenir, Easy Sana, Mutuel, Philos) | 0% | 0% |
| Helsana Group (Helsana, Progrès) | 0.5% | 1% |
| Swica, Provita | 0% | 0.5% |
| Assura | 1% | 2% |
| Visana Group (Visana, Sana24, Vivacare) | 1% | 2% |
| Concordia | 0% | 0% |
| Sanitas, Compact | 0.5% | 1% |
| KPT/CPT | 0.5% | 1% |
| EGK-Gesundheitskasse | 0.5% | 1% |
| Atupri | 1% | 2% |
| ÖKK, Krankenkasse Flaachtal | 0.5% | 1% |
| Sympany (Vivao, Moove, Kolping) | 1% | 2% |
| Agrisano | 0.5% | 1% |
| Supra (also Groupe Mutuel) | 1% | 2% |
| Aquilana | 0.5% | 1% |
| Sodalis | 1% | 2% |
| Krankenkasse Luzerner Hinterland | 0% | 0% |
| Sumiswalder Krankenkasse | 0% | 1% |
| Krankenkasse Birchmeier | 1% | 2% |
When can I change my payment frequency?
If you want to switch from a monthly to an annual payment plan, you can do this as of 1 January. If you are switching to biannual payment you can do this as of 1 January or 1 July. Just contact your insurer's customer service centre and ask them to send you the premium bill every six months or every year in advance. Some health insurers now let you change your payment frequency online.
LSV (direct debiting)
LSV is a direct debit service offered by Swiss banks and allows for cash-free payment transactions. If you wish to pay your premiums by direct debit, you have to confirm this with your signature on the application form. Identification for direct debiting is only required if you wish your premium payments to be made through your bank.
This article was first published on 28.09.2020
