Premium payment

What is premium payment?

With the premium payment, you pay your health insurer the price of your insurance cover. In basic health insurance, this is a fixed per-capita premium: every adult pays their own premium, regardless of income. The amount depends on the health insurer, place of residence, age, deductible and insurance model, but not on your state of health.

The term means two things: the amount you transfer regularly, and the payment method, i.e. when and how often you pay. The health insurer sets the amount anew every year with the approval of the FOPH. You can choose the payment method yourself within the options your health insurer offers.

Premium payment must be clearly distinguished from the co-payment. You pay the premium every month, even when you are healthy. You only pay the deductible and the retention fee when you use benefits. The health insurer bills you for both, usually on separate documents.

Supplementary insurance is governed by the Insurance Contract Act (ICA). There, under Art. 19 ICA, the premium is, in case of doubt, due in advance for an entire insurance year. However, most health insurers bill basic and supplementary insurance on the same invoice and at the same frequency.

How it works

The basic health insurance premium must be paid in advance: the premium for January is therefore due at the beginning of January, not at the end of January. The law names monthly payment as the rule. Many health insurers offer other frequencies:

The health insurer decides whether there is a discount for a longer payment period. Such a discount is called early payment discount (Skonto). It is not required by law.

You can usually pay by QR bill, eBill or direct debit (LSV). With direct debit or a standing approval in eBill, the premium is paid automatically on the due date. If you switch health insurer during the year or your insurance ends, the health insurer settles any premiums paid in excess and refunds them.

For children, the parents owe the premium jointly. This applies until the end of the month in which the child reaches the age of majority. After that, the young person owes their own premium, even if the parents continue to pay the bill. If you receive a premium subsidy, the canton transfers the amount directly to the health insurer, and your premium bill is lower.

Legal basis

Art. 90 of the Health Insurance Ordinance (KVV) states that premiums must be paid in advance and as a rule monthly. “As a rule” means that the health insurer may offer other payment periods. The health insurer sets the premium itself under Art. 61 of the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG); within a premium region, it must be the same for all insured persons in the same age group with the same deductible and the same model.

Art. 61a KVG governs who owes children’s premiums: exclusively the parents, jointly and severally, until the end of the month in which the child reaches the age of majority. If someone does not pay, Art. 64a KVG applies, with a reminder, a demand for payment and debt enforcement. Art. 105a KVV sets default interest at 5 % per year, and Art. 105b KVV requires the reminder no later than three months after the due date. Conversely, under Art. 90a KVV, the health insurer must pay interest of 5 % if it does not refund overpaid premiums of more than CHF 3,000 within six months.

Example: the same premium, four frequencies

Jonas, 34, lives in the city of Zurich and has the standard deductible of CHF 300. The median monthly premium of all 128 offers for his year of birth is CHF 580.00 (premiums 2026, municipality of Zurich, region 1, adults, with accident cover; source FOPH). This is how the year is spread depending on the payment method, without any early payment discount:

The premium calculator shows how high the premiums with other health insurers would be for you, using the official FOPH data.

What this means for you

Choose the payment method according to your budget. Three questions help:

1. Can you manage a large amount in January? Deductible bills often arrive in January too. If money is tight, monthly payment is safer.
2. Does your health insurer give an early payment discount? Only then does paying in advance bring a financial advantage. The amount is stated in your health insurer’s documents; you can find the contact details in the profile under Health insurers.
3. How do you avoid reminders? With direct debit or a standing approval in eBill, you avoid the risk. A reminder can block a planned switch of health insurer.

If you are planning to switch on 1 January, make sure that no premium is outstanding by the end of November. You can find the dates under Deadlines.

Common mistakes

• Paying the premium in arrears. The premium is due in advance. If you pay at the end of the month, you are already in default.
• Paying only part of the bill. If basic and supplementary insurance are on one bill, a partial payment leaves a balance outstanding. Outstanding amounts in basic health insurance lead to a reminder and block a switch.
• Choosing annual payment without a reserve. A large payment in January can cause cash-flow problems together with doctors’ bills.
• Changing nothing when children come of age. From the month after their 18th birthday, the child owes the premium themselves. Clarify who pays from then on.
• Not checking refunds. After a switch or a move abroad, premiums paid in excess belong to you. Ask for a statement if none arrives.