Swiss health insurance: how do you pay less?
Choose a model. All insurers offer the same basic insurance, but the premiums differ, and models with a fixed first point of contact, such as your own GP, a telephone advice line, a group practice (HMO) or a pharmacy, cost less. You can move into a model at any time of the year; leaving one only works for 1 January, in writing, by the end of November.
Ep. 64 · This is Ueli · 63 seconds. Watch
The real rule
Why the Swiss laugh, and what it means if you're new here.
Swiss basic health insurance covers exactly the same care at every insurer; what changes the price is your canton, your age, your Franchise and your model. In a model you promise a fixed first stop, such as your own GP, a telephone advice line, a group practice (HMO) or a pharmacy, and the premium drops. You can move into a model at any time of the year, but leaving one only works for 1 January, in writing, by the end of November. Compare on priminfo.admin.ch, the federal premium calculator.
Blüemli's verdict: Ding. Same care, lower premium. Basic cover is the same at every insurer. A model means a fixed first stop.
HAUSARZTMODELL: literally: “house doctor model”; really: you see your own GP first, and pay a lower premium Ueli's Word
Be like Ueli. Call first. Pay less.
Learn more: Swiss health insurance for expats
The rule, explained
The federal premium site priminfo.admin.ch puts it in two sentences: all insurers offer the same basic insurance, but the premiums differ. Its page on saving adds that models with a fixed first point of contact, a practice, a phone or digital service, or a pharmacy, cost less. Ueli's first stop is a phone call. On timing, priminfo.admin.ch says you can choose a special model at any time, even during the year. The Federal Office of Public Health, FOPH, confirms it in its fact sheet on switching insurers, dated 23 September 2025: moving from free choice into a model with a restricted choice of providers can happen at any time of the year. The way back is narrower. Switching from a model, such as HMO, family doctor or telemedicine, to another form must be notified in writing by the end of November, for 1 January.
Sources: FOPH (BAG), Faktenblatt Wechsel der Krankenkasse, 23 September 2025; priminfo.admin.ch, Sparen bei der Krankenkasse; priminfo.admin.ch, Wechsel der Krankenkasse
Questions people ask
Is basic health insurance the same at every Swiss insurer?
Yes. All insurers offer the same basic insurance, but the premiums differ (priminfo.admin.ch).
When can you switch into a health insurance model?
At any time, even during the year (priminfo.admin.ch).
When can you leave a health insurance model?
For 1 January, notified in writing by the end of November (FOPH fact sheet).
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