People in Switzerland reject cuts to basic insurance benefits
According to a Comparis survey, despite high premiums, people in Switzerland do not want to cut back on basic insurance benefits – and even see gaps.
05.08.2025
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1. Gaps in compulsory health insurance
People in Switzerland believe that compulsory basic insurance does not cover all their needs. This is the finding of a survey (not available in English) by Comparis. Almost 40% of respondents say they perceive gaps in basic insurance cover.
People aged 36–55 (45.9%) are more likely to see gaps in the benefits covered than people aged 56 and over (31.9%). There are also regional differences: half of respondents in French-speaking Switzerland consider the protection provided by basic insurance to be inadequate, compared to only 35% in German-speaking Switzerland.
Although basic insurance benefits have been continuously expanded over the past decade, causing rising premiums, a significant proportion of the population does not seem to be satisfied. There appears to be a contradiction.
Households with children (45.8%) perceive gaps in care more often than households without children (37%). According to Comparis health insurance expert Felix Schneuwly, this is probably due to orthodontic treatment not being covered by basic insurance.
2. Basic insurance benefits should not be reduced – despite the high premiums
At 51.8%, the majority of respondents also reject the idea of excluding existing benefits from basic insurance. Women (56.4%) and the over-56 age group (60.3%) in particular would like to keep the benefits as they are at present.
Exclude addictions, keep innovative cancer therapies
For the majority of those in favour of excluding certain benefits, emphasis is placed on personal responsibility in the case of addictions. In particular, the generation aged over 56 would exclude treatments from basic insurance that relate to alcohol or nicotine addiction, for example.
However, the exclusion of innovative cancer therapies is not supported by a majority of the proponents. Respondents in the age group over 56, in particular, reject limiting benefits in this area.
While the principle of solidarity is upheld, the definition of what should be financed under the principle is shifting. Older generations seem to view addictions more as a lifestyle problem, the costs of which should not be borne by the general public. In the case of clearly fateful diseases such as cancer, on the other hand, the solidarity principle is held firmly. However, the fact that younger and high-income earners are generally more open to excluding certain benefits may signal a warning for the gradual erosion of the solidarity principle.
3. Supplemental insurance is popular, but not everyone can afford it
More than three quarters (78.8%) of respondents have taken out at least one supplemental insurance policy. Moreover, 47.5% would like to expand their cover in view of the gaps they perceive.
Interest in supplemental insurance is particularly high among the following groups:
People aged 18–35 (50.3%)
People with a high level of education (53%)
Households with an income of over 8,000 francs per month (58.9%)
Respondents in households with a gross income of up to 4,000 francs per month show less interest in taking out supplemental insurance, at 32.8%. Comparis health insurance expert Felix Schneuwly sees the biggest hurdle in the level of premiums.
High earners can afford the desired security, while people with low incomes often have to do without insurance coverage that goes beyond basic insurance, despite their interest. This fuels the debate on two-tier medicine.
4. Complementary medicine and comfort more important than free choice of doctor
For the respondents, additional benefits for more comfort in hospital are most important. This is followed by alternative medicine, such as naturopathy and homeopathy. In third place are benefits such as glasses and contact lenses. The youngest group, aged 18–35, attaches more importance to visual aids than those aged 36–55.
Dental treatments rank fourth in the importance of additional benefits. The older the age group is, the more important this cover is considered. The following types of cover are considered relatively unimportant:
Treatment in any hospital in the world
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Rescue and recovery
Hospital with free choice of doctor and appointment for elective procedures
According to Felix Schneuwly, these preferences are typically associated with affluence: “It is no longer a question of whether you will get better, but with what level of comfort. Hospitals have responded to this need by expanding their comfort of stay. In addition, surgery is increasingly being performed on an outpatient basis without supplemental insurance cover, so the difference between supplemental insurance and basic insurance is less relevant, at least in this respect.”
5. Policyholders reject risk-based premiums for supplemental insurance
The main obstacle to taking out supplemental insurance is the high premiums. Accounting for 62.1% of the responses, this factor stands out from other obstacles. Health checks and pre-existing conditions follow in second place at 32.3%. However, they are also relevant factors that prevent respondents from taking out supplemental insurance.
34.9% of respondents without supplemental insurance see the health check as a major obstacle to taking out insurance. At the same time, the willingness of respondents in this group to pay a risk premium is low. They would rather go without insurance coverage than pay a higher, risk-adjusted premium.
This article was first published on 05.08.2025
