Compare Swiss health insurance premiums - and stop overpaying
Basic insurance is identical by law, so the only thing you're really comparing is price. Run the numbers for your postcode below and see the cheapest compliant plan - free, in English, no obligation.
- Independent
- Free comparison
- Tailored to expats
Why comparing pays off
Because basic cover is identical at every insurer, comparing is the single easiest way to cut your health costs - often by several hundred to over a thousand francs a year.
Swiss basic insurance is a strange market. The benefits are set by law and identical everywhere, so an MRI, a hospital stay or a course of physiotherapy is reimbursed the same way whether you're with CSS, Helsana, Sanitas, SWICA or Assura. But the price for exactly that same cover can vary by hundreds - sometimes over a thousand - francs a year for the same profile in the same postcode.
Premiums are recalculated every autumn and take effect on 1 January. The cheapest insurer in your region this year is rarely the cheapest next year, because insurers reprice their books differently based on their claims experience. Most residents never switch, and quietly overpay year after year for cover they could get cheaper elsewhere.
As of 2025, the standard rule of thumb still holds: if you haven't compared in the last two or three years, there's usually a meaningful saving on the table for the same legal benefits.
What actually changes your premium
Six factors set your premium - none of them your health.
Basic insurance never depends on your medical history, income or lifestyle. What it does depend on is:
- The insurer and its pricing for your region
- Your canton and premium region - most cantons have 1-3 regions with different price levels
- Your age group: child (0-18), young adult (19-25) or adult (26+)
- Your franchise - CHF 300 to CHF 2,500 for adults; higher franchise = lower premium
- Accident cover - included or excluded (drop it if your employer already insures you)
- Your care model: standard (free doctor choice), family doctor, HMO or telemedicine - alternative models lower the premium
For the full picture of what basic insurance actually is, see Basic insurance (KVG/LaMal). For the maths behind the franchise decision, see Choosing your franchise.
How our comparison works
Enter your postcode, age, franchise and model, and we show the cheapest compliant plan against what you pay now.
The calculator above uses the official premiums approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG in German, OFSP in French). Those are the same tariffs insurers are legally required to charge - not marketing prices. We include every insurer licensed in your canton, not a curated shortlist.
We're independent: we're not owned by an insurer and we don't recommend based on commission. If you eventually enrol through us, the insurer pays a regulated brokerage fee - you never do. You keep full control over which plan you take and can walk away at any point, no obligation.
After the comparison, an expat advisor can walk you through the trade-offs in English, help you understand any small print, and take care of the switch paperwork - which needs to reach the insurer on time to be valid.
When to compare and switch
Compare every autumn when new premiums are published, and switch by the end-November deadline.
The Swiss health-insurance calendar is fixed. New premiums for the coming year are usually published in late September. That's the moment to compare, because you can see exactly what your current insurer wants next year against the whole market.
The standard switch deadline is 30 November, with written notice that must arrive at the current insurer (not just be posted) by that date, for the new cover to start on 1 January. See Switching insurer for the exact process and how to avoid a coverage gap.
New arrivals should compare before their first enrolment, within the three-month deadline. Cover backdates to your arrival regardless, so starting on the cheapest compliant plan avoids paying more than you need to for cover that never differs medically.
Related guides & tools
Health Insurance hub
Overview of Swiss health cover for expats.
OpenBasic insurance (KVG/LaMal)
The mandatory foundation - what it covers and costs.
OpenChoosing your franchise
CHF 300 vs 2'500 - the break-even maths.
OpenSwitching insurer
The 30 November deadline, without a coverage gap.
OpenSupplemental insurance (VVG)
Where extra cover actually earns its keep.
OpenCross-border commuters
The Optionsrecht: Swiss KVG vs staying at home.
OpenComparing premiums - your questions, answered
How much can I save by comparing health insurance?
For identical basic cover, expats commonly save several hundred to over a thousand francs a year just by switching to a cheaper insurer in the same region. The benefits don't change - only the price.
Is cheaper basic insurance worse?
No. The basic benefit catalogue is fixed by federal law and identical at every insurer, so a cheaper plan gives you exactly the same medical cover. You're only paying less for the same thing.
What are the premiums based on?
Our comparison uses the official premiums approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG/OFSP), updated each year. That's the same tariff data insurers must charge.
Is the comparison really free?
Yes. It's free and non-binding. We're independent and paid a regulated brokerage fee by the insurer if you switch - never by you.
When can I switch insurer?
For most people the deadline is 30 November, for cover starting 1 January. If you're on the minimum franchise and standard model, you can also switch mid-year in some cases - see our guide to switching.
I've just arrived - should I compare before enrolling?
Yes. You have three months to take out basic insurance, and cover is backdated to your arrival. Comparing first means you start on the cheapest compliant plan rather than a default.
See what you could save - in about a minute
Run the free comparison for your postcode, or book a quick call with an expat advisor - whichever suits you better.