Contraception: what does health insurance cover?
Comparis provides an overview of the most common contraceptive methods, including costs, safety and how they work. We also point out which costs are covered by health insurance.
24.09.2025
iStock.com/Rattankun Thongbun
1. Overview of contraceptives
Contraceptives protect against unwanted pregnancies. This protection is provided by a hormonal, chemical, mechanical or natural effect. The following table summarizes the most common contraceptive methods, how they work, their costs and safety (Pearl Index).
The Pearl Index indicates the safety of contraceptives. It states how many out of 100 women who use a particular method of contraception for a year will still become pregnant. The lower the Pearl Index is, the safer the method.
For example: a Pearl Index of 1 means that out of 100 women who use this method for a year, one will become pregnant.
| Contraceptive method | Mechanism of action | Pearl Index | Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pill | Hormonal | 0.1–0.9 | Approx. CHF 12–25 per month |
| Mini pill | Hormonal | 0.5–3 | Approx. CHF 12–25 per month |
| Hormonal coil | Hormonal (local) | Approx. 0.2 | Approx. CHF 500–600 for 3–8 years (one-off costs when inserted) |
| Contraceptive implant | Hormonal | 0.1–0.9 | Approx. CHF 400 for 3 years |
| Injection (three months) | Hormonal | 0.3–0.88 | Approx. CHF 65–85 every 3 months |
| Vaginal ring | Hormonal (local) | 0.4–0.65 | Approx. CHF 25 per month |
| Hormone patch | Hormonal (via the skin) | 0.72–0.9 | Approx. CHF 25 per month |
| Condom | Mechanical (barrier) | 2–12 | Approx. CHF 1 per piece |
| Copper coil or copper chain | Mechanical (in the uterus) | Coil: 0.3–3 Chain: 0.1–0.5 | Approx. CHF 300–400 for 5 years (one-off costs when inserted) |
| Diaphragm | Mechanical (barrier) + chemical | 1–20 | Approx. CHF 50–100 for approx. 2 years |
| Temperature method | Natural (cycle-based) | 0.8–3 | Free of charge |
| Fertility monitor | Natural (cycle-based) + technology | 6–6.5 | One-off purchase costs of approx. CHF 50–300 |
| Calendar method | Natural (cycle-based) | 3–9 | Free of charge |
Information correct as of September 2025. All information is provided without liability.
2. Does my health insurer cover the pill, coil and other contraception?
Regardless of which method of contraception you choose, you usually have to bear the costs yourself. Neither basic insurance nor supplemental insurance pays for contraception. However, basic insurance covers the following costs related to contraception:
Consultation with a gynaecologist to discuss contraceptive methods
Contraception for medical reasons (e.g. hormonal acne or cycle disorders)
The same is true of permanent contraception or sterilization. Basic insurance only covers the costs if you are seeking to prevent pregnancy for health reasons. The cost of tubal ligation (sterilization in women) or vasectomy (sterilization in men), on the other hand, is partly covered by various supplemental insurance policies.
3. Contraceptives: pros and cons
Here you can find the pros and cons of the different methods of contraception, arranged according to their mechanism of action.
Hormonal contraceptives such as the pill and the patch have a low Pearl Index and are considered safe contraceptives. However, there may be side effects in relation to the use of hormones. Examples include:
Weight gain
Absent periods or intermenstrual bleeding
Mood swings
Changes in libido
In rare cases, thrombosis or high blood pressure
With the pill and the mini pill, you also have to remember to take them every day. An alternative is the hormonal implant or the hormonal coil. These methods provide protection for a period of three to eight years after insertion.
Mechanical contraceptive methods, such as the copper coil or chain, can also have side effects (e.g. bleeding disorders, heavy menstrual bleeding or infections). However, with these contraceptives, there are no hormone-related side effects that can affect your mood.
Important: protection against sexually transmitted diseases
Condoms (including female condoms) are the only method of contraception that, when used correctly, protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Natural methods of contraception have no side effects, but differ significantly in their reliability. Therefore, they are usually only suitable for women with a stable cycle and appropriate experience. They are unsuitable for young women and girls with varying cycle lengths, as they pose a significantly increased risk of pregnancy.
4. Emergency contraception: the morning-after pill
Contraception can sometimes fail (e.g. a condom breaks or you forget to take the pill), or you may not have used any form of contraception at all. In such cases, women can usually prevent an unwanted pregnancy by taking the morning-after pill.
This is a hormone tablet for emergency contraception. The drug works by delaying or preventing ovulation.
Important: the morning-after pill is an emergency medication and is not suitable for regular use due to the high hormone content. It is not an alternative to other contraceptives, also because the effectiveness decreases with frequent use.
How safe is the morning-after pill?
The morning-after pill cannot always prevent pregnancy. If you take it in good time before ovulation, it will prevent or delay it with a high degree of certainty.
However, the more time that passes between sexual intercourse and taking the pill, the higher the likelihood that ovulation will still occur. It is therefore important to take the morning-after pill as soon as possible.
If ovulation has already taken place, you can no longer prevent pregnancy with the morning-after pill.
Morning-after pill: costs
Depending on the preparation and pharmacy, the cost of the morning-after pill is usually between 20 and 65 francs. In addition, there is a mandatory consultation, which usually costs 20 to 25 francs. As is the case with contraceptives, health insurance does not cover the costs of the morning-after pill.
5. Conclusion: which method of contraception is right for me?
The choice of the appropriate method of contraception depends on your personal circumstances, health conditions and personal preferences. Important selection criteria include:
Safety: the Pearl Index shows how reliably a method protects against pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptive methods are generally considered to be very safe.
Side effects: hormonal contraceptive methods can cause side effects such as mood swings, weight gain or bleeding disorders. Mechanical and natural methods are usually hormone-free, but have their own advantages and disadvantages.
Protection against infection: only condoms reliably protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Age and cycle: natural methods are not suitable for young women with irregular cycles.
To take health aspects, life situation and preferences into account, an individual consultation with a gynaecologist is helpful. The optimal method is always different for each individual and can change over the course of a lifetime.
This article was first published on 10.12.2021
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