Switzerland's health care hails as the best in the world. But to no avail, it is pretty expensive if you do not understand how to evaluate charges and plan your insurance coverage thoughtfully. All Swiss residents (even temporary by law) need basic health insurance for illnesses, accidents, and maternity. Insurance is retrospectively applicable from the date of your landing, so you are eligible for reimbursements for medical expenses if needed. You must sign up with any of the 60+ insurance providers registered with the government as non-profits. This registration is mandatory within three months of entering the country, even for a temporary stay.

The Swiss healthcare system runs on a federalist structure, which means that the federal government, cantons, and local municipalities assume different tasks in the healthcare system. E.g., the government specifies the rate of deductibles. It may also accept or reject changes to premiums, while cantons establish which hospitals provide benefits. They also set the wages and working hours of hospital doctors and nurses. In addition, the state and private sectors have to work together. To supplement the benefits available under basic insurance, you can take out supplementary insurance plans that cover expenses like dental treatment or single-room accommodation during hospitalization. In accordance with the Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act 2 (KVG/HIA), basic insurance is compulsory for anyone who lives in Switzerland. Still, you may take private Health care insurance for additional cover.

Reasons to Compare & Evaluate Private Health Insurance

While comparing private health care providers, the priority of choice should account for the best customer service & future perks. Beneficiaries & goodies aside, proper future planning is a must-have. Defining qualities of such services are 365 days & 24/7 health care support, equal consideration of conventional & complementary medicine. You must also check if the rates depend on your age when you join, and they should remain unchanged for life. Further, generous contributions for health promotion and preventive healthcare, low co-payments, personal support in the event of illness or accident, first-class medical care should also contribute to your choice.

Additional important factors include attractive premium discounts and no multi-year contracts, digital health coach with bonus programs, digital health consultation with symptom check, etc. Private companies provide universal mandatory healthcare and offer more lucrative choices for extraordinary luxury in hospitals (e.g., single room instead of a multi-bedroom), paid by insurer, not employer. Premium depends on the region where the insured lives, age, and chosen insurance model. Dental care is not an offering by private insurance. Insurance premiums are not dependent on income (billionaires pay the same price as everyone else).In Switzerland, there are different premium regions for each health insurance company. The federal government specifies these regions. This segregation means that your premium depends not only on age and sex but also on where you live.

In most cases, premiums tend to be higher in cities than in rural areas. Health costs are higher in the cities as the number of doctors working, hospitals, and nursing homes is higher in density. Currently, there are 42 premium regions in Switzerland. Each canton has at least one region, such as the cantons of Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel, and Geneva, and a maximum of 3, Bern, St. Gallen, and Zurich. Find out how to save money on your premiums as per below.

How to Get the Best rate in Switzerland?

If everything remains as it is for you, then you can still use the non-binding health insurance comparison [French & German] to find out your personal savings potential. Depending on your deductible rate, insurance model, and age, your health insurance company may significantly increase premiums for 2022. Because if other health insurance companies offer less pricing on their premiums, you are unnecessarily extra amounts with your current provider. Even if the comparison only shows small savings, It is worthwhile to change your health insurance provider. Because even a small saving in premiums will affect the size of your wallet & changing of coins will turn into cash in your hand. Ten francs a month add up to 120 francs a year.

Comparison & Conclusion

Private health insurance companies provide both basic and supplementary insurance, but they must strictly observe the regulatory requirements of the Federal Office of Public Health 4 (FOPH/BAG). The Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) offers the Priminfo health insurance calculator for comparison. However, you cannot request a quote from the respective insurance provider via the BAG. Priminfo compares your health insurance company with other providers or carries out a general health insurance comparison.

Priminfo 2021 shows you the current health insurance premiums in Switzerland. Agrisano, Aquilana Versicherungen, Swica, Helsana , KPT, Sanitas are among best private Health Insurance in Switzerland in 2021 with varied price range. For further information, you can compare private insurance online on comparis.ch, or you may take the help of offline sources depending on your personal choice. Your health insurance must offer an excellent value for money, performance quality, service, Information, transparency, touchpoints, Innovation, and overall customer base satisfaction.