Health insurance premiums set to rise by 5% in 2027: Here’s what’s behind it
In 2027, health insurance premiums will rise by an average of 5%. Comparis insurance expert Harry Büsser puts the increase into context.
29.09.2026
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1. No respite from rising health insurance premiums
After several years of sharp increases, the hoped-for easing has not materialised. In 2027, the average health insurance premium in Switzerland will rise by 5%. However, how much your personal premium increases can vary significantly from this.
Compare and save on your premiums
The average premium increase of 5% does not mean that your premium will increase by the same amount. Depending on your place of residence, health insurance model and deductible your premium may also change more or less.
When you compare different health insurers, you can, to some extent, control the amount of the increase yourself. Because by switching health insurers, you can sometimes save several hundred francs. This also applies if your premium does not increase, but you are currently with a health insurer for which there are cheaper alternatives for you.
In the Comparis health insurance comparison tool, you can see premiums and customer satisfaction with different providers at a glance – making it easy for you to choose the right health insurance.
2. Overview: How health insurance premiums have been changing in Switzerland
The chart shows the Changes in health insurance premiums since 1999 with the average value for the whole of Switzerland and for adults.
Comparis continuously monitors developments in premiums, costs and switching behaviour, and puts the figures into context for policyholders. The table provides an overview of the Changes in health insurance premiums since 2017.
| Year | Change compared to previous year |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 5% (FOPH model calculation; definitive figure not yet known) |
| 2026 | 4.4% (FOPH model calculation; definitive figure not yet known) |
| 2025 | 5.7% |
| 2024 | 8.1% |
| 2023 | 5.4% |
| 2022 | –0.5% |
| 2021 | 0.4% |
| 2020 | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 1.1% |
| 2018 | 3.7% |
| 2017 | 4.8% |
Source: FOPH overview, FOPH press release 2026 (not available in English)
The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) calculates the average premium using the following formula: all premiums paid in Switzerland, divided by the total number of insured people. This means that, to calculate the actual average premium, the FOPH must know how much the insured persons paid in the premium year.
When the FOPH announces the average premium for the following year in September, the approved premiums of the health insurers are known. However, it is not yet known how many policyholders will switch to which health insurer, which insurance model or which deductible. This distribution must be estimated This means that the average premium trend actually measured later may deviate from the figure communicated in September.
This means that the premium change announced on BAG Day compared to the previous year usually does not correspond to the actual change. This can be lower for various reasons: for example, if premiums rise sharply, more people switch to a cheaper health insurer. The effective increase in the average premium is then lower as a result.
This is how much the lowest premiums in 2027 cost in your premium region
The cost of health insurance premiums can vary widely depending on the health insurer and model vary widely – even within the same premium region. In the following two maps you can see the lowest premium in each case for the deductibles of 300 francs and 2,500 francs per municipality.
3. Why are health insurance premiums rising?
The costs for the benefits of the health insurer continue to rise sharply. According to the FOPH, health insurers are currently expecting a cost increase of over 5%.
Compared to the previous year, the following service areas have risen particularly sharply:
Spitex services: 15%
Psychological psychotherapy: 11%
Physiotherapy: 7%
General inflation general inflation is also causing health insurance premiums to rise. However, this only becomes apparent in the healthcare system with a delay.
The population is ageing, and medical progress is bringing new medicines and therapies that treat diseases better or, in some cases, make them treatable in the first place. This is good news for patients. But it doesn’t come for free.
A steady annual increase in health insurance premiums of 4.5% means that premiums will rise by around 55% over ten years.
According to Comparis insurance expert Harry Büsser this is more dangerous for households more dangerous than a single bad year: «Health policy is successful when it slows down long-term cost growth, not when a single round of premium increases is slightly less painful.»
4. Premiums in 2026 are unlikely to fully cover costs
The FOPH expects that in 2026 the costs will be slightly higher than income from premiums. This creates a backlog for a need to catch up in 2027. This is because the premiums have to absorb part of this shortfall – in addition to financing the expected increase in costs.
This can be compared to a household budget. If 101 francs are spent on an ongoing basis, but only 100 francs come in, the difference can be covered for a while by dipping into savings. In the long run, however, income must once again match expenditure.
5. The new Tardoc tariff system makes the costs for 2026 difficult to understand
New tariff systems were introduced at the beginning of 2026: The Tardoc and the outpatient flat rates have replaced the old tariff system Tarmed As a result, billing has been delayed, especially in hospitals.
This is currently distorting the picture of the actual trend in costs. For the second quarter of 2026, the FOPH reported a cost increase of only 0.4% based on the invoices already processed. However, it cannot yet estimate when the backlog of invoices will be cleared and what the actual increase in costs will be.
Comparis insurance expert Harry Büsser warns of a catch-up effect:
Medical services do not become cheaper simply because their invoices are issued or processed later. The reported 0.4% therefore presents a deceptively calm picture. If the catch-up effect is greater than expected, it could even impact the 2028 premiums.
Make the most of potential savings and reduce your personal financial burden
Comparis insurance expert Harry Büsser advises policyholders to save money by switching from health insurer or model the reduce their personal financial burden. This is because the benefits are prescribed by law and are the same everywhere – but premiums can sometimes vary greatly.
«Individuals have very little influence over healthcare costs. How much they personally pay for basic insurance, on the other hand, they can. «Especially after another substantial premium increase, it’s worth comparing», says Büsser.
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This article was first published on 27.09.2016
