Health insurance premiums set to rise by 5% in 2023

According to a Comparis forecast, basic insurance premiums will rise by an average of 5% in 2023. Many policyholders could even face premium increases of more than 10% in 2023.

Lara Surber Foto
Lara Surber

03.05.2022

A stethoscope and Swiss francs are on the table as healthcare costs rise.

Adobe Stock / Stockfotos-MG

1.The topic in brief
2.Key insights
3.What surprised us
4.The results at a glance

1. The topic in brief

Comparis health insurance expert Felix Schneuwly sees clear signs that many policyholders could face premium increases of more than 10% in 2023. On average, he expects the new basic health insurance premiums to rise by 5%.

2. Key insights

There were exceptionally large fluctuations in healthcare costs between 2020 and 2022. "The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) forced health insurance companies to reduce their reserves. That is why many of them now lack the reserve cushion to cope with current cost fluctuations," observes Schneuwly.

3. What surprised us

Costs are expected to increase by only 2-3% in the future (compared to 4% annually in 2010 and 2011). In addition, returns on capital markets are likely to decline less dramatically than they did back then. Schneuwly therefore believes that a 5% hike will spark less of a shock in 2023 than the increases of 2010 and 2011. At that time, basic insurance premiums rose by 8.6% and 6% respectively.

Schneuwly sees the following factors as the main reasons for the comparatively subdued cost increase: the hospital financing model that was introduced in 2012, ongoing improvements to the risk compensation system, the increasing proportion of basic insured persons opting for alternative insurance models, the reduction in the price of medicines and the limited contribution to the cost of old-age care.

4. The results at a glance

Chart showing changes in health insurance premiums

This article was first published on 27.09.2016

Welcome! You are now logged in.
Go to user account