Health insurance for adolescents and young adults
Adolescents and young adults benefit from reduced health insurance premiums. Things change with your health insurance as you get older, though. Here’s what young people need to know about health insurance.
26.07.2022
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1. Health insurance for young people up to the age of 18
Children and young people up to the age of 18 benefit from reduced health insurance premiums. Generally speaking, premiums for children cost around 20-25% of what adult premiums cost. There is no minimum deductible for children and young people, but you can opt to increase it from 0 to 600 francs if you wish.
The coinsurance is also reduced: once the deductible has been used up, you pay 10% of any further costs, up to a maximum of 350 francs. If three or more children are insured under the same basic insurance policy, the maximum coinsurance is only 1,000 francs for all children together. Children up to the age of 18 and young adults under the age of 25 who are still in education or training are exempt from hospital contribution costs.
2. Health insurance for young people aged 18 and over
Becoming an adult means there are new rights and obligations. A few things about your health insurance also change from the 1st January after your 18th birthday. The changes to basic insurance at a glance:
Premiums will rise, as health insurance companies are only legally required to provide lower premiums to children. When you turn 18 you no longer receive this discount. However, many health insurance companies offer what is known as youth premiums, which offer discounts for those aged 18 - 25.
A new minimum deductible, meaning from the age of 18, young people are required to pay a share of their own medical costs. The deductible is now a minimum of 300 and a maximum of 2,500 francs. Choosing the maximum deductible means that you will pay significantly less in annual premiums than you do with the minimum deductible. If you don’t contact your health insurance provider, this deductible will generally change automatically. You should therefore think about what deductible works for you, and then notify your health insurer of your decision. Remember to check the deadlines.
Maximum coinsurance increases: once you’re an adult, your coinsurance maximum also increases. This means you’ll now pay 700 francs per year.
Parents no longer have to pay health insurance premiums, as they must only pay for a child until they reach 18 years of age. In principle, from this point on young adults are responsible for paying their own premiums. Health insurance providers take different approaches here. Some transfer the insurance policy automatically to the new official adult. With others, the family has to get in touch if they want to separate the individual policies. It’s possible for the parents to continue managing the insurance policy and premium invoices.
How does supplemental insurance change?
If parents have taken out one or more supplemental insurance products for their child, these remain in place even after the child’s 18th birthday. However, young adults may then decide for themselves whether the supplemental insurance policies make sense for them.
Many supplemental insurance products offer discounts to those aged between 19 and 25. Family discounts are also possible.
3. Health insurance for young adults aged 25 and over
From youth to adult premiums
You’ll no longer receive lower premiums as a young adult from the 1st January following your 25th birthday. From now on, you’ll pay adult premiums on your basic insurance. You can change how much you pay in premiums through your choice of health insurance company, insurance model or deductible amount.If you are hospitalized overnight, you’ll now have to pay hospital contribution costs.
Use the health insurance comparison tool from Comparis to check what different health insurance companies charge.
How does supplemental insurance change?
You receive no youth discounts on supplemental insurance once you reach 25. You’ll generally move up an age group every five years, which can mean higher premiums.
Please note: unlike basic insurance, you’re not obligated to take out supplemental insurance. If you do want to take out supplemental insurance, the general rule is you’re more likely to be accepted the earlier you take it out.
4. How can I save money on health insurance?
Save money with alternative health insurance models
Higher premiums can put a strain on your budget, but you can keep them down with your choice of insurance model. Alternative models generally come at a discount, meaning that you’ll pay around 20-25% less with an HMO or Telmed model than you will with a standard model. The discounts for each model vary depending on the insurer. This means it’s worth comparing the options.
Benefit from family discounts
Families with several children can benefit from family discounts from health insurance providers. In many cases, these discounts only apply to children under 18, but some insurers offer them for longer. This can save you money, especially on supplemental insurance.
Good to know: if one parent can claim a collective discount via their employer or an association, all other family members also benefit. This only applies to family members living in the same household, however.
Suspend health insurance during military or civilian service
If you are on military or civilian service for more than 60 consecutive days, you are covered by military insurance. You can therefore suspend your basic insurance during your service period.
Review your supplemental insurance
Think about what you need, and adapt your supplemental insurance accordingly. When taking out the insurance, be aware of any waiting period until it comes into effect. This is known as the qualifying period. Comparis provides a useful guide for the various supplemental insurance products available.
Eligibility for reduced premiums
Individual premium reductions (IPR) make it easier for low-income households to pay their premiums. The cantons decide who receives these reductions. It works like this: if your annual income is below an amount defined by the canton, you’ll receive a financial contribution for part or all of your basic insurance premiums.
Please note that you must submit an application for an individual premiums reduction to the relevant cantonal authority.
5. The best health insurance providers for young adults
Every year, Comparis surveys the Swiss population to assess their level of satisfaction with their health insurance company. The survey’s results on customer satisfaction with health insurance providers might help you choose the right insurer for you.
6. When you need to take out accident insurance
Accident insurance is compulsory in Switzerland. If you’re unemployed, you must take out this insurance through your health insurance company. If you work for the same employer for more than eight hours per week, they insure you against all accidents. If this applies to you, avoid paying double premiums and exclude accident cover from your health insurance cover.
Specific examples for young adults:
Apprentices: those doing an apprenticeship are insured against accidents through their employer. They can exclude accident cover from their health insurance.
Students: if you don’t work for more than eight hours per week in a part-time job with the same employer, you must take out accident cover with your health insurance company.
7. Health insurance: what young adults need to know
Each year, policyholders must pay up to a certain amount of any medical costs. Only when this amount – the deductible – is exceeded, does basic insurance cover the remaining costs. Generally speaking, a higher deductible means a lower premium.
Basic insurance is the obligatory health insurance. Anyone living or working in Switzerland must take out basic insurance. You can take out basic insurance with any health insurance company, as they are legally required to accept all applicants. Basic insurance benefits are very tightly regulated and are the same for all health insurance companies.
The out-of-pocket expenses for basic health insurance consist of the deductible (between 300 and 2,500 francs per year) and the coinsurance (10%, up to 700 francs per year). With the minimum deductible, annual out-of-pocket expenses will therefore be no more than 1,000 francs. With the maximum, they will be 3,200 francs.
You have a choice of models in basic insurance. Health insurance models determine who you have to contact first if you’re ill. Depending on which model you choose, you may benefit from reduced premiums.
Premiums are what you must pay to the health insurance company for your cover. This amount depends on your age and where you live, as well as the deductible and health insurance model you choose.
Once the deductible has been reached, you pay 10% of any further healthcare costs, up to an annual maximum of 700 francs for adults. Coinsurance is independent of your chosen deductible.
You can take out supplemental insurance alongside your basic insurance. It pays for treatments and benefits that aren’t covered by basic insurance. The benefits provided by supplemental insurance vary from one provider to another. Unlike basic insurance, health insurance companies may refuse applicants supplemental insurance cover. Insurers are not obliged to give any reason for their decision.
You can take out basic insurance and supplemental insurance with different companies.
This article was first published on 24.03.2021
