Save on health insurance premiums: how to use your savings potential

Health insurance premiums can be expensive. Comparis provides tips on how to save on health insurance.

Lara Surber Foto
Lara Surber

05.10.2023

Someone putting a coin in a piggy bank on top of a radiator.

iStock/AndreyPopov

1.How much can I save?
2.Health insurance: saving on premiums with the right insurance model
3.Select a higher deductible
4.Switch basic insurance
5.Take out health insurance without accident cover
6.Get family discounts from your health insurer
7.Save on supplemental insurance
8.Suspend your health insurance
9.Apply for an individual premium reduction (IPR)
10.Pay health insurance premiums annually

1. How much can I save?

Around 0.7 million insured people could save at least 40% on their health insurance in 2024. According to a Comparis analysis, the maximum savings potential is 3,190.80 francs.

You can save on premiums by:

  • switching to one of the five cheapest health insurers in your region

  • raising the deductible

  • changing insurance model at your health insurance company

Potential savings over 10 years.

A comparison by Comparis has shown that an adult can save enough for a small car in 10 years.

Imagine you have changed your health insurance and adjusted your model and deductible from the most expensive to the cheapest option available in 2012/2013. By the turn of 2022/2023, you could have saved up to 40,000 francs.

The savings potential is the amount of money an insured person can save in a premiums year by switching insurers. It is the difference between the annual premiums of your current insurer and the annual premiums of the cheaper insurer.

Are you new to Switzerland or are you comparing premiums for a newborn? The savings potential here lies in the difference between the most expensive and the cheapest premium.


2. Health insurance: saving on premiums with the right insurance model

With alternative insurance models, you can get up to 30% lower premiums. The alternative insurance models include:

Use the health insurance comparison tool to check which model suits your needs.

3. Select a higher deductible

The higher the deductible, the lower the premiums. Adults with a maximum deductible of 2,500 francs can save up to 1,540 francs per year. Children up to the age of 18 can save up to 420 francs per year by choosing the maximum deductible (600 francs). 

If you have a high deductible, you contribute more to the cost of your treatment. Instead of paying a maximum of 1,000 francs, you may have to pay 3,200 francs for the deductible and the coinsurance in the worst case scenario. Check whether you could afford higher costs in an emergency — for example in the event of serious illness.

4. Switch basic insurance

You can take out basic and supplemental insurance with different health insurance companies. The benefits covered by basic insurance are clearly defined and are the same irrespective of health insurer. Switching to a cheaper health insurance provider is therefore a good idea.

Calculate and compare health insurance premiums now

5. Take out health insurance without accident cover

Do you work for the same employer at least eight hours a week? If so, you are automatically insured against accidents as defined by the Swiss Accident Insurance Act. You don’t need accident cover from your health insurance company in this case. Depending on the health insurer, this can save you up to 10% on premiums.

You must notify your health insurance provider as soon as you are no longer covered for accidents by your employer. You will then take out accident insurance as defined by the Health Insurance Act again. As a result, your basic insurance premiums will increase.

6. Get family discounts from your health insurer

In basic insurance, you will receive a discount from many providers from the second insured child onwards.

Some supplemental insurance offers a family discount from just one child. Here it can be worthwhile to insure parents and children with the same insurance company.

7. Save on supplemental insurance

Do you have supplemental hospital insurance? Flex products are worthwhile here. With this, you agree to contribute to the upgrade costs for a hospital stay in a semi-private or private ward. For this, you pay lower premiums and save several times the annual maximum out-of-pocket expenses for upgrades over the years.

Many insurance companies offer company, association, club or municipal discounts for supplementary health insurance.Check your memberships and compare deals.

8. Suspend your health insurance

It is possible to suspend your health insurance under certain conditions. For example, you may put your basic insurance on hold during military service. Some supplemental insurance products can also be suspended if you go on a round-the-world trip, for example.

9. Apply for an individual premium reduction (IPR)

In some cases, people on low incomes can benefit from premium reductions. To be eligible for this, your annual taxable income must be below a certain amount.

The cantons pay the remainder of your reduced premiums directly to your health insurer.

Problems paying health insurance premiums

Can you pay your health insurance premiums comfortably? In Switzerland, 17.8% of people struggle to pay their monthly payments. This was shown by a recent survey on health insurance premiums by Comparis. 14.1% of respondents repeatedly have difficulty finding the money for their premiums – even before the big premiums increase in 2023.

10. Pay health insurance premiums annually

Some health insurers offer a discount if you pay your premiums once or twice a year instead of monthly. Check with your health insurance company what discounts they offer for advance payment of health insurance premiums.

You can also cut unnecessary costs in your supplemental insurance. Find out what kind of supplemental insurance makes sense for you.

This article was first published on 07.11.2022

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