Premiums for Switzerland’s obligatory health coverage (KVG/LAMAL) will be on average 5 percent more expensive next year, though the actual price will depend on your canton of residence..
Let’s look at national averages first.
According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the average rate will amount to 412 francs a month for the basic compulsory insurance plan for an adult, though premiums will vary from one canton to another and will also depend on individual policies.
The national increase will represent an additional 19.70 francs per month on average.
The FOPH attributed this hike primarily to the proliferation of treatments, medical advances, and the aging of the population.
In terms of healthcare, responsibilities are divided between the federal and cantonal authorities.
The federal government regulates financing of the health system, ensures the quality of care, as well as safety of drugs and medical devices
It also supervises dozens of private carriers to ensure that they comply with the federal law, which prohibits discrimination based on age or health status, withholding necessary treatments, and other provisions guaranteeing that every policyholder gets the same quality of care.
READ MORE: What isn’t covered by Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance?
The FOPH is also responsible for approving premiums.
The role of cantons, on the other hand, is designing healthcare policies on their territories, licensing medical providers, coordinating hospital services, and setting healthcare premiums.
Huge disparity
Just to give you an idea of how much the 2027 premiums vary from one canton to another: rates in Jura will increase by 6.6 percent, while in Vaud they will ‘only’ go up by 3.1 percent.
Here’s a look at all the cantons:
Aargau: 5.4 percent
Appenzell Ausserrhoden: 3.8
Appenzell Innerrhoden: 6.2
Basel-City: 4.2
Basel-Country: 3.9
Bern: 4.5
Fribourg: 4.4
Geneva : 4.2
Glarus: 4.9
Graubünden
Jura: 6.2
Lucerne: 4.4
Neuchâtel: 4.5
Nidwalden: 4.4
Obwalden: 4
Schaffhausen: 5. 3
Schwyz: 4,5
Solothurn: 5.4
St. Gallen: 4.9
Thurgau: 4.6
Ticino: 3.4
Uri: 4.6
Valais: 4.7
Vaud: 3.1
Zug: 4.3
Zürich: 5.7
Why do the rates vary so significantly among cantons?
The reason is that cantons have different health infrastructure and levels of government funding.
Demographics and statistics also play a role: health premiums in cantons with younger and healthier population will be lower than in those with higher incidence of disease, and older, chronically ill people.
Lastly, factors such as the density of doctors (both GPs and specialists), other health professionals, hospitals, and even pharmacies in a given canton also plays a role in determining prices.
What can you do to lower health insurance costs?
Regardless of your canton of residence, there are ways to reduce – a least somewhat – the amount of premiums you are paying.
They include choosing a cheaper insurance model and/or increasing the amount of your deductible, amomg other strategies:
READ MORE: How you can save money by changing your Swiss health policy
