Health insurance premiums in Switzerland are anticipated to rise by an average of 4.5% to 5% in 2027, as projected by the comparison platform bonus.ch. This increase follows a 4.4% average rise in 2026, with expectations for another notable adjustment next year. The possibility of a less severe scenario exists, where premiums might only increase by 3.5% to 4%. However, unforeseen healthcare costs or additional expenses from transitioning to new outpatient tariffs could push the increase beyond 5%. The impact on individual policyholders will vary significantly, influenced by factors such as their insurer, canton, premium region, age, deductible, and insurance model. Some individuals could see increases exceeding 10%, and in some instances, premiums might surge by as much as 20%, although such cases are not typical of the general trend.
The rising costs of healthcare under Switzerland’s mandatory health insurance system are a primary driver of the expected premium hikes. During the second quarter of 2026, costs were up by 0.4% from the previous year, compared to a 2.9% increase in the first quarter. Average annual costs per insured person reached CHF 4,834, marking a CHF 21 increase from the prior year. However, these figures may not fully capture actual spending due to delays in outpatient billing following the introduction of a new flat-rate tariff system, which temporarily reduced recorded costs in that sector. As these outstanding invoices are processed, it may reveal that the recent slowdown is not indicative of a long-term reduction in healthcare spending.
The growth of healthcare expenses varies across different categories. In the first and second quarters, spending on home care services increased by 14% and 15%, respectively, while costs for psychologists and psychotherapists rose by 10% and 11%. Other areas experienced growth as well, with physiotherapists and outpatient physicians (excluding laboratories) seeing a 7% rise, laboratories 6%, pharmacies 5%, and medical and social service facilities 4%. Hospital stays grew by 2%, whereas spending on physician-prescribed medications decreased by 1% in the second quarter after a 1% rise in the first.
Disparities in healthcare spending are evident across Switzerland’s cantons. For instance, the second quarter of 2026 saw Schaffhausen experiencing a 9.6% increase, while Zug reported an 8.7% decline. Cantons like Glarus, Graubünden, Jura, and Zurich recorded above-average increases, whereas Solothurn, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Thurgau, and Geneva noted lower costs compared to the previous year. Annual forecasts predict continued overall growth, with the KOF Swiss Economic Institute at ETH Zurich projecting healthcare costs per person to rise by 4.5% in 2026 and another 4% in 2027. This trend could lead to average costs increasing from CHF 4,968 per person in 2025 to nearly CHF 5,400 in 2027.
Swiss health insurers are under financial pressure despite improved reserves, which reached nearly CHF 8.6 billion following a combined surplus of CHF 569 million in 2025. These reserves offer a buffer against unexpected developments but may not permanently offset healthcare spending growth of about 4% to 5% annually. Reserve levels vary significantly among insurers, with some like Visana and Agrisano maintaining higher rates, while others like Philos have much lower reserves. The debate over reserves is closely tied to premium policy, as lower reserves can reduce premiums short-term, but maintaining a robust financial buffer helps absorb unexpected costs without drastic premium hikes.
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