Save on health insurance premiums: how to make the most of your savings potential
Health insurance premiums can put a dent in your budget. Comparis provides tips on how to save on your health insurance.
01.10.2026
iStock / Milan Markovic
1. How much can you save on health insurance?
In 2027, the maximum potential savings for policyholders in Switzerland will be 3,500 francs. However, how much you personally could save depends on your current insurance situation.
According to a Comparis analysis the potential savings for 200,000 people in Switzerland is at least 40%.
How can I save on health insurance premiums?
You can save on your premiums by:
switching to a cheaper health insurer in your region
increasing the deductible. However, this is not always worthwhile: if your annual medical expenses are over 2,000 francs, you pay less overall with the lowest deductible of 300 francs.
changing the insurance model with your health insurer
You can also save without changing your deductible: By changing health insurance depending on your current situation, you can reduce your premium by 20% to 30%.
Comparis tip: In the Comparis health insurance comparison tool, you can see how much you could save by switching.
Potential savings over ten years: up to 38,000 francs
An adult can save an amount equivalent to the value of a small car in ten years by changing their health insurance policy. Anyone who switched from the most expensive to the cheapest health insurer at the time in January 2016 will have saved over 38,000 francs. This is shown by a Comparis analysis of potential savings on health insurance in various cantons.
These amounts include a change of health insurance model and deductible. But even without changing the deductible the move is worthwhile: anyone who only switched health insurers in 2016 and stayed with the standard model with a deductible of 300 francs will save up to up to 15’000 francs.
The biggest cost driver is often not the wrong deductible, but habit. Many policyholders stay with their health insurer for years, even though they could pay significantly less for the same statutory benefits.
2. Save money on health insurance with the right insurance model
With alternative insurance models you get premiums up to 25% lower than with the standard model. The alternative insurance models include:
mixed models
With alternative insurance models, what changes is your first point of contact for medical questions. The benefits of basic insurance remain the same. It’s best to compare the prices and conditions of different models.
Compare health insurance premiums by first point of contact
In the Comparis health insurance comparison tool, you can compare health insurance premiums by first point of contact:
Family doctor and HMO models have the following as their first point of contact: doctor. You can also see how good the availability of doctors in your area is.
The standard model has the free choice of doctor.
You can show and hide all other models using the «Other» filter show and hide. You can also choose different first points of contact:
Emergency pharmacy
Phone
Video call and chat
App
This way, you can find the right health insurer model for you.
3. Saving on your health insurer: increase the deductible
The higher the deductible, the lower the premiums. With the highest deductible, adults can save up to 1’540 francs per year. Children up to the age of 18 save up to 420 francs per year with the highest deductible.
Good to know: The maximum discount for higher deductibles is specified by law (Art. 92c para. 2 HIO). However, health insurers can decide to offer a lower discount.
With a high deductible, you contribute more to the cost of a treatment. This means that, in the worst-case scenario, you will have to pay for the deductible and coinsurance 3’200 francs yourself. Consider whether you could afford the costs in an emergency – such as in the case of a serious illness.
Important: Check which deductible is worthwhile for you. This depends on your expected healthcare costs.
As a rule: For healthcare costs over 2’000 francs the lowest deductible of 300 francs is worthwhile. With lower annual costs, the highest deductible of 2’500 francs is worthwhile.
For children as a rule, it is worthwhile to choose the lowest deductible of zero francs. Because children often need to see a doctor. In addition, healthcare costs are difficult to predict.
4. Saving on health insurance by switching basic insurance
Is your health insurer raising your premium in the new year? If so, compare the premiums of different providers. This is because the benefits of basic insurance are clearly defined and are the same with every health insurer. You therefore do not have to worry about poorer cover with a cheaper insurer.
Good to know: You can take out basic and supplemental insurance with different health insurers concurrently. Furthermore, your health insurer may not cancel your supplementary insurance if you change your basic insurance.
Comparis tip: Are you planning to move in the first half of the year? Then check the premiums for your new place of residence. Otherwise, you might pay an excessively high premium for most of the year.
5. Ways to save on health insurance: exclude accident cover
Do you work at least eight hours a week for a single employer? If so, you are automatically insured against accidents under the Accident Insurance Act – for both occupational and non-occupational accidents. This means you can exclude accident insurance from your health insurance.
Important: If you are no longer covered for accidents by your employer, you must notify your health insurer. This is how you take out accident cover under the Health Insurance Act (KVG) again. As a result, your basic insurance premiums will increase.
6. Health insurance saving tip: take advantage of family discounts
Some health insurers offer a discount on basic insurance from the second or third insured child onwards. The family discount is not, however, offered by all health insurers. Important: Check whether a cheaper health insurer might be worth considering, even with the family discount.
Various supplemental insurance policies sometimes offer family discounts from just one child. Here it can be worthwhile to insure parents and children with the same insurer.
7. Optimise supplementary insurance and save on health insurance
Check which supplemental insurance you need and use. Cancel insurance policies where the premiums are higher than the benefits paid out.
Many insurers offer group discounts for supplemental health insurance. This means, for example, that your employer has taken out a group contract that you can join – and, as a result, your premium is lower. Check your memberships and compare deals.
Do you have supplemental hospital insurance? Flex products may be worthwhile here – depending on how often you need to go to the hospital every year.
With Flex insurance, you contribute to the upgrade costs for a hospital stay in a semi-private or private ward. In return, you pay lower premiums and may even save more than the annual maximum out-of-pocket expenses for upgrades.
Good to know: In some cases, you can pause your supplemental insurance for a certain period of time. This applies, for example, when going on a round-the-world trip.
8. Suspend your health insurance during compulsory service
Do you have to perform at least 60 consecutive days of military, civil defence or civilian service If so, you can suspend your health insurer. During this period, you are covered by military insurance.
9. Apply for an individual premium reduction (IPR)
People on low incomes in certain cases receive a premium reduction. To be eligible for this, your annual income must be below a certain threshold.
The cantons pay the contribution for the premium reduction directly to your health insurer. The health insurer will then deduct the premium reduction from your premiums. If you have already paid premiums before the payout, you will receive a refund from your health insurer.
10. Pay health insurance premiums annually
Some health insurers give you discounts, if you pay premiums in advance. By paying annually instead of monthly, you can save up to 2%. If you pay the premiums every six months, it is up to 1%. Check with your health insurer what discounts are available for advance payment of health insurance premiums.
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This article was first published on 07.11.2022
