Cost overview
Health insurance premiums 2026, what does a family pay?
In 2026, an average Swiss family of four (2 adults, 2 children) pays a total of CHF 1'175.60 per month for basic insurance, which is CHF 14'107 a year. Compared with 2025, that is an increase of around CHF 600 a year.
| Age group | Ø monthly premium 2026 | Change vs. 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (26 and over) | CHF 465.30 | +CHF 18.50 (+4.1%) |
| Young adults (19–25) | CHF 326.30 | +CHF 13.30 (+4.2%) |
| Children (0–18) | CHF 122.50 | +CHF 5.70 (+4.9%) |
Worked example: family of four
- Adult 1
- CHF 465.30
- Adult 2
- CHF 465.30
- Child 1
- CHF 122.50
- Child 2
- CHF 122.50
- Family total/month
- CHF 1'175.60
- Family total/year
- CHF 14'107.20
Source: FOPH (Federal Office of Public Health), September 2025.
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Overview
Family discounts with health insurers, who gives how much?
Some health insurers grant a children's discount in basic insurance from the 2nd or 3rd child. In supplementary insurance the discounts are often even more generous.
Discount from the 2nd child (basic insurance)
10 to 15 percent off the children's premium.
- Compact
Discount from the 3rd child (basic insurance)
10 to 15 percent off the children's premium.
- Vivacare
Supplementary insurance: special family offers
Up to 100% discount on supplementary insurance for children if the parents are insured with CSS
40% discount on supplementary insurance for children
Caution
A family discount from the 3rd child means that all 3 children have to be insured with the same insurer. Do the maths beforehand to see whether bundling with one insurer that offers a discount is cheaper than separate insurers each with the lowest premium.
Top insurers
The cheapest health insurers for children in Switzerland
The cheapest insurer for adults is not automatically the cheapest for children. That is why it pays to compare children's premiums separately.
Agrisano
- Cheapest children's premium in 28 of 42 premium regions
- Particularly strong in rural areas
- No family discount in basic insurance, but the lowest premium overall
Visana
- No. 1 in 7 premium regions
- Especially good value in the HMO model
- Family discount from the 3rd child
SWICA
- Consistently top 3 in urban areas
- Good customer service
- Family discount from the 3rd child
Strategy
The perfect family strategy, deductible and model
Families achieve the biggest savings when they optimise the deductible and the insurance model individually for every family member.
For adults (parents)
- Deductible: CHF 2'500 (if healthy and rarely at the doctor)
- Model: HMO or Telmed (15 to 25 percent premium savings)
- Exclude accident cover if you are employed (8+ hours/week)
- Saving: up to CHF 3'000 per adult per year
For children
- Deductible: CHF 0 (children see the doctor often, 6 to 10 visits a year for toddlers)
- With many insurers, children can go straight to the paediatrician regardless of the model
- Accident cover is mandatory through the health insurer
- Max. out-of-pocket share: CHF 350/year per child (vs. CHF 700 for adults)
| Family member | Standard + CHF 300 | HMO + CHF 2'500 |
|---|---|---|
| Adult 1 | CHF 520/mo. | CHF 310/mo. |
| Adult 2 | CHF 520/mo. | CHF 310/mo. |
| Child 1 (deduct. 0) | CHF 130/mo. | CHF 105/mo. |
| Child 2 (deduct. 0) | CHF 130/mo. | CHF 105/mo. |
| Total/month | CHF 1'300 | CHF 830 |
| Total/year | CHF 15'600 | CHF 9'960 |
| Saving/year | CHF 5'640 | |
Example figures, actual premiums vary by canton and insurer.
We find the cheapest combination for your family
Maternity
Pregnancy, what does health insurance pay?
Good news for expectant parents: basic insurance covers all the important costs around pregnancy and birth. From the 13th week of pregnancy, the deductible and the out-of-pocket share are waived entirely. More information in the pregnancy guide.
| Benefit | Covered? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 7 antenatal check-ups | Yes | Incl. blood count, urine, blood pressure etc. |
| 2 ultrasound scans | Yes | Further scans where medically indicated |
| Antenatal class | CHF 150 | Must be led by a midwife |
| Birth in hospital | Yes | General ward |
| Birth in a birth centre | Yes | Alternative to hospital |
| Home birth | Yes | With a midwife |
| Midwife aftercare | Yes | 10 to 16 home visits in the first 56 days |
| Breastfeeding advice | Yes | 3 sessions with an IBCLC-certified consultant |
From the 13th week of pregnancy until 8 weeks after birth: NO deductible, NO out-of-pocket share, not even for general medical treatment.
Supplementary hospital insurance (semi-private/private) must ABSOLUTELY be taken out BEFORE the pregnancy. Most insurers have waiting periods of 12 to 24 months. Details on hospital insurance.
For expectant parents
Prenatal sign-up, securing the best cover
Register your baby with a health insurer between the 5th and 8th month of pregnancy. That way your child is insured from the very first minute of life, including supplementary insurance with no health assessment.
Supplementary insurance without a health assessment
With a prenatal sign-up, your child is accepted into supplementary insurance without any health questions. If the child is born with a congenital condition, it is still fully insured immediately.
Cover from minute one
Your baby is insured from birth. No paperwork on the maternity ward.
No time pressure after the birth
Without a prenatal sign-up you only have 3 months after the birth.
Timeline: prenatal sign-up
- 1
Month 5–6
Compare health insurers, request an offer
- 2
Month 6–7
Submit the prenatal sign-up (name and date of birth follow later)
- 3
Month 7–8
Receive confirmation, everything is done
- 4
Birth
Baby is insured immediately, you only report the name and date of birth
| Insurer | Prenatal semi-private/private? | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Yes (myFlex Premium) | One parent must hold the same supplementary cover |
| Yes | One parent must hold the same supplementary cover |
| Yes | — |
| Only after birth | — |
| Only after birth | — |
| Only after birth | — |
| Limited | Reserves the right to exclude congenital conditions retrospectively |
Supplementary insurance
Supplementary insurance for children, what do you really need?
You will find an overview of all supplementary insurance on the supplementary insurance page.
Dental insurance, highly recommended
Basic insurance pays NOTHING for dental treatment (except after an accident). Orthodontics costs CHF 5'000 to 15'000. Supplementary premium for children: from around CHF 8 to 15/month. Take it out as early as possible and never cancel it, not even when switching insurer.
Learn moreSupplementary hospital insurance, optional
Semi-private/private: free choice of hospital, 1 to 2-bed rooms. Best taken out before birth. Supplementary premium for children: from around CHF 10 to 30/month.
Learn moreAlternative medicine, depending on your needs
Osteopathy (popular for babies), homeopathy, acupuncture. Supplementary premium for children: from around CHF 10 to 20/month.
Learn moreEyewear insurance, depending on your needs
Up to CHF 300/year for glasses and contact lenses. Supplementary premium for children: from around CHF 5 to 10/month.
Learn moreCareful with combined policies! Some insurers bundle dental, hospital and alternative medicine into one package. If you switch your basic insurance, you may lose the entire combined supplementary policy, including dental cover.
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Transition
Young adults, when children become adults
Swiss health insurance has three age groups: children (0 to 18), young adults (19 to 25) and adults (26 and over). The change happens automatically on 1 January.
Transition at 19: child → young adult
- The premium rises from Ø CHF 122.50 to Ø CHF 326.30/month, a jump of +166%
- The change happens automatically on 1 January
- A higher deductible (CHF 2'500) often pays off now
- Choose HMO or Telmed for an additional 15 to 25 percent saving
- Check the premium reduction, students are often eligible
Transition at 26: young adult → adult
- The premium rises from Ø CHF 326.30 to Ø CHF 465.30/month, another +43%
- Definitely compare insurers before the change
- Do NOT switch supplementary insurance, health assessments get stricter
Proven strategies
7 saving tips for families on health insurance
To complement these tips: our saving tips guide.
- 1
Different insurers for parents and children
The cheapest insurer for adults is often not the cheapest for children. Compare separately, saving CHF 500 to 1'500/year.
- 2
Check family discounts, but do the maths!
10 to 15 percent children's discount from the 2nd or 3rd child sounds good. But sometimes the insurer without a discount is still cheaper. Always compare the final price.
- 3
Optimise the model for adults
HMO or Telmed instead of standard, 15 to 25 percent cheaper for identical benefits. For a family of four that is CHF 2'000 to 3'000/year.
- 4
Deductible: CHF 2'500 for adults, CHF 0 for children
The classic family combination. Adults save on the premium, children are fully covered.
- 5
Exclude accident cover
Working parents (8+ hours/week) are covered against accidents through their employer. Excluding it saves around CHF 7 to 15/month per person.
- 6
Take out dental insurance early, never cancel it
Ideally before birth or before the first dental visit. Never cancel it, not even when switching insurer!
- 7
Compare again every year
Notice deadline: 30 November. With 4 policies, even CHF 20/month adds up to CHF 960/year. More ideas in the saving tips guide.
Regional
Family premiums by canton, where do you save the most?
Savings potential = the difference between the most expensive and the cheapest insurer in the same canton for a family of four.
| Rank | Canton | Savings potential/year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geneva | CHF 13'910 |
| 2 | Neuchâtel | CHF 12'850 |
| 3 | Uri | CHF 12'402 |
| 4 | Basel-Stadt | CHF 11'998 |
| 5 | Ticino | CHF 11'702 |
| 6 | Appenzell Outer Rhodes | CHF 11'248 |
Avoid
The 5 most expensive mistakes families make
1. Insuring everyone with the same insurer
Convenient, but often expensive. The cheapest insurer for adults is almost never the cheapest for children.
2. Choosing too high a deductible for children
Children see the doctor often (6 to 10 visits a year for toddlers). CHF 0 is almost always the best choice.
3. Missing the prenatal sign-up
If you only register your baby for supplementary insurance after the birth, you risk being rejected in the case of a congenital condition.
4. Taking out dental insurance too late
Orthodontics costs CHF 5'000 to 15'000. Always as early as possible, ideally before birth.
5. Cancelling supplementary insurance along with the switch
NEVER cancel your supplementary insurance before the new insurer has accepted you in writing.
Your family deserves the best possible cover at the best price.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions, health insurance for families
No. Each family member can be insured with a different insurer. A mix is often the cheapest option.
No. Every family member needs their own policy with its own premium. In return, you can choose the insurer, model and deductible individually for each member.
Within 3 months of the birth. Cover applies retroactively. Our recommendation: register before birth, between the 5th and 8th month.
For most children: the CHF 0 deductible. The maximum out-of-pocket share is CHF 350 a year.
10 percent of the costs above the deductible, max. CHF 350 a year per child (adults: CHF 700). Family maximum with the same insurer: CHF 1'000.
Yes. Each family member's insurance is completely independent.
From 1 January of the year in which they turn 19. The premium rises from Ø CHF 122.50 to Ø CHF 326.30.
Basic insurance only in severe cases. Supplementary dental insurance covers 50 to 75 percent. Take it out before the first dental visit.
Yes. From the 13th week of pregnancy until 8 weeks after the birth, the deductible and the out-of-pocket share are waived entirely.
With 2 to 3 children that is CHF 40 to 60 a month = CHF 480 to 720 a year. With 4 policies, every optimisation counts four times over.
The best health insurer for your family?
More than 550 customers have rated us 4.9 out of 5 stars. We advise families free of charge and find the cheapest combination for every family member.