In May, Comparis published its forecasts for health insurance premiums in 2027: an average rise of 3.7 per cent. It isn’t the worst figure of the last four years, but it comes as no surprise either. The official announcement from the federal government will be made at the end of September, just as you receive your letter setting out the new premium.
What most people do: look at the letter, sigh, and do nothing. What you can actually do: compare other policies before 30 November, which is the deadline for switching insurers with effect from 1 January. If you do nothing, your policy will be renewed automatically. Year after year.
Both comparison tools are free and take five minutes to use: prämienvergleich.ch is the federal government’s official comparison site, and comparis.ch is the best known amongst residents. The basic premium covers exactly the same things across all insurers, as required by law. The difference between one insurer and another can amount to several hundred francs a year, depending on the canton and the excess you have chosen. This is not because one insurer offers more cover than another, but simply because each insurer sets its own price.
And whilst you’re opening the letter, do check the excess as well. If you’re the sort of person who rarely goes to the doctor, a high excess (up to 2,500 CHF) significantly reduces your monthly premium. If you have regular treatment or see a GP for ongoing care, the low excess (300 CHF) usually pays off. It takes just ten minutes to work out. And hardly anyone does it.