Every autumn, premium increases push people to switch fund. But the lowest premium isn't always the right choice. Here's what you should really look at.
Every autumn, the new health insurance premiums are announced, and they almost always go up. In Geneva as elsewhere in Switzerland, the good news is that there are several concrete levers to limit the bill without reducing your cover. Here they are, and in what order to act.
The basic insurance (LAMal) premium follows health-cost trends: an ageing population, medical progress, more reimbursed services. These costs rise every year, and premiums with them. One key point, often overlooked: basic insurance benefits are identical across all insurers. What changes from one fund to another is only the price, the model and the quality of service.
Since basic cover is the same everywhere, comparing insurers is the first step. For basic insurance, you can cancel your fund as of 31 December provided your cancellation reaches the insurer before 30 November. For identical benefits, the premium gap between two funds can reach several hundred francs a year. Our article on the real criteria for switching fund covers what to look at beyond price.
Two settings immediately reduce your premium:
In Geneva, depending on your income, you may qualify for a health insurance subsidy that directly reduces your premium. Many eligible people never claim it. If you already receive it, remember to keep your subsidy certificate.
If you're not insured in time, the health insurance office (SAM) assigns you to a fund by default, often more expensive and with backdated premiums. In that case, the priority is to get out at the first possible deadline.
Comparing over 50 insurers, optimising your deductible and model, checking the subsidy, handling the cancellation on time: that's exactly the work of an independent broker. At Swiss Premium Insurance, the review is free and with no obligation: we're paid by the insurers, never by you.
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