Choose your deductible
In Swiss basic insurance, adults choose an annual deductible between CHF 300 and CHF 2'500: the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. As a rule of thumb, if your medical costs stay below roughly CHF 1'800 to 2'200 a year, the highest deductible of CHF 2'500 usually pays off, while regular treatment favours CHF 300. This guide covers the rule of thumb, the calculation and worked examples.
The deductible is the amount you pay yourself each calendar year before your insurer starts paying. Above it, you still pay a 10% out-of-pocket share, capped at CHF 700 a year for adults and CHF 350 for children; beyond that, the insurer covers everything. Important exception: maternity services carry no cost sharing at all, and from the 13th week of pregnancy until 8 weeks after the birth, both the deductible and the out-of-pocket share are waived entirely.
Adults choose between CHF 300, 500, 1'000, 1'500, 2'000 and 2'500. Compared with the CHF 300 level, the annual premium savings are roughly: CHF 300 at the 500 level, CHF 600 at 1'000, CHF 900 at 1'500, CHF 1'200 at 2'000, and CHF 1'500 to 2'300 at 2'500, depending on your canton and insurer.
Healthy and rarely at the doctor, with expected costs below roughly CHF 1'800 to 2'200 a year: choose CHF 2'500, the premium saving outweighs the risk. Regular treatment, a chronic condition or a planned operation: choose CHF 300. If you are unsure, run your expected health costs through the free deductible calculator on this site for a clear recommendation.
Moving from CHF 300 to CHF 2'500 raises your maximum own risk by CHF 2'200 a year, while the premium saving is CHF 1'500 to 2'300, guaranteed. In a healthy year you keep the full saving; even in an expensive year, the net extra cost stays small. That asymmetry is why the top deductible pays off for most healthy adults. Worked example: the standard model with a CHF 300 deductible costs about CHF 380 a month, while Telmed with CHF 2'500 costs about CHF 220 a month, a difference of CHF 1'920 a year (indicative values that vary by canton and insurer).
Children have deductible levels from CHF 0 to 600, and CHF 0 is usually the right choice: children's premiums are low, so the discount for a higher deductible is small, and a child's out-of-pocket share is capped at CHF 350 a year, versus CHF 700 for adults.
You can change your deductible for 1 January each year. To lower it, or to switch insurer at the same time, your notice must reach the insurer by 30 November; raising it is possible with most insurers until the end of December. Review the level whenever your situation changes, for example before a planned operation or when regular treatment starts or ends.
CHF 2'500. If your medical costs stay below roughly CHF 1'800 to 2'200 a year, the premium saving of CHF 1'500 to 2'300 outweighs the additional risk.
With regular medical treatment, a chronic condition or a planned operation. If your costs reliably exceed the break-even point every year, the lowest deductible is cheaper overall.
Above your deductible you pay 10% of costs yourself, capped at CHF 700 a year for adults and CHF 350 for children. Beyond the cap, the insurer pays everything.
Maternity services carry no cost sharing. From the 13th week of pregnancy until 8 weeks after the birth, the deductible and out-of-pocket share are waived entirely, even for treatments unrelated to the pregnancy.
CHF 0 for most children. Levels run from CHF 0 to 600, but the premium discount is small and a child's out-of-pocket share is capped at CHF 350 a year.
For 1 January each year. To lower the deductible or switch insurer, notify your insurer by 30 November; raising it is possible with most insurers until the end of December.
Rarely. The maths usually favours one of the extremes: CHF 2'500 for low expected costs, CHF 300 for high ones. The middle levels combine a meaningful own risk with only part of the premium saving.
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