On March 19, lawmakers in the National Council approved a plan to increase the minimum deductible on health insurance in Switzerland. Here’s how the plans will impact the cost of healthcare.

Switzerland moves to hike health insurance deductibles

By 118 votes to 70, the National Council accepted a plan from the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) to increase the minimum deductible for basic health insurance. With both the Council of States and the executive Federal Council supporting the plan, it is highly likely to be made law.

Under the current system, every resident of Switzerland has to pay a deductible before their health insurance coverage kicks in. For instance, if treatment costs 5.000 francs and the patient has a deductible of 500 francs, they would pay 500 francs while the insurance provider covers the rest. Generally speaking, the higher your deductible the lower your monthly premium.

Under the Health Insurance Act - which brought universal healthcare to Switzerland in 1994 - the government is able to set a minimum deductible for patients to pay. This was last raised in 2004, from 230 to 300 francs.

Minimum deductible could rise to 400 Swiss francs

Under the approved plans, the government would be allowed to increase the deducible again. Though it is currently unclear how much the rise will be, proposal author and SVP National Councillor Diana Gutjahr has previously suggested it increase to between 350 and 400 francs. 

The Federal Council would also be given the power to regularly adjust the minimum deductible without the consent of parliament. This would be done at regular intervals over several years, to maintain the system’s stability. However, these changes would not apply to the deductibles charged to children.

Raising the deductible will cut down on healthcare costs, SVP argues

Speaking back when the plans were first debated in December 2024, Gutjahr argued that in order for healthcare costs to fall, people should be encouraged to avoid using the system unnecessarily. She argued that increasing the deductible would strengthen “the personal responsibility that we also demand” of healthcare providers.

Her statement echoed comments made by two anonymous doctors in June 2024, who argued that “pointless check-ups” are the main reason why the cost of healthcare in Switzerland is soaring. “If everyone makes their contribution and does not immediately take advantage of the service, which also has financial consequences, then the costs in the healthcare system can be reduced,” Gutjahr told reporters.

With healthcare costs having increased significantly since the minimum deductible was last raised in 2004, she added that the minimum fee no longer reflects a fair compensation for patient services.

Plans place heavier burden on the sickest, opponents retort

By contrast, Social Democratic National Councillor Brigitte Crottaz said it was “too simplistic” to think that increasing the deductible would cut down on waste. She added that by increasing the fee, parliament would be asking the sickest people to pay more, regardless of their income.

With the cost of health insurance premiums soaring in the last three years, Crottaz argued that increasing the deductible adds further financial pain to the most vulnerable. She concluded by noting that healthcare costs are the top concern among people in Switzerland for 2025 and that the costs are already “much more than in any of the countries around us.”

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