CHF 300 or CHF 2,500: decide with total annual cost
A premium discount is only half the calculation. Compare low, medium and high treatment-cost scenarios.
The decision
Choosing a deductible is a budget decision, not a prediction that you will stay healthy. The relevant comparison combines annual premiums with your share of covered treatment costs. Calculate several scenarios rather than extrapolating from one quiet year. A low premium may be attractive, but the cash needed after an unexpected diagnosis matters just as much.
What changes the answer
For an adult, ordinary cost sharing comprises the deductible and normally 10% of costs above it, capped at CHF 700 annually. Hospital contributions, some medicines and non-covered care require separate treatment. Use the actual premiums for the same postcode, age, accident status and model. Otherwise the comparison mixes two different decisions.
A realistic example
Hypothetical premiums of CHF 450 monthly at a CHF 300 deductible and CHF 330 at CHF 2,500 produce annual premiums of CHF 5,400 and CHF 3,960. With CHF 2,000 of eligible care, the totals are CHF 5,870 and CHF 5,960. With CHF 10,000 of ordinary eligible care, they become CHF 6,400 and CHF 7,160, excluding hospital contributions. These are examples, not quotations.
The hidden trade-off
A high deductible transfers more short-term financial risk to you. Even where its expected annual cost is lower, it may be unsuitable if you would delay medically necessary care because the bill feels unaffordable. Conversely, a low deductible should not be selected automatically when a large premium difference overwhelms the expected savings on treatment.
Your practical checks
Collect last year’s statements and known future treatment estimates. Compare spending of CHF 0, CHF 1,000, CHF 3,000 and CHF 10,000 using the calculator, then check the cash reserve you could access immediately. Review exempt maternity services separately. Ask whether your chosen model is genuinely the same in each quotation.
Find the break-even point, not a slogan
In the example above, the high deductible saves CHF 1,440 in annual premiums. Between CHF 300 and CHF 2,500 of ordinary eligible care, the low-deductible contribution is CHF 300 plus 10% of the amount above CHF 300, while the high-deductible contribution equals the care bill. Equating the two annual totals gives approximately CHF 1,900 of treatment. This is a calculation for these fictional premiums only: changing the premium gap changes the threshold. Beyond CHF 2,500, both contribution curves need their own ceiling calculation. A calculator should therefore show the components and assumptions, not merely label one choice as best. Test the result against an ordinary year and a difficult year before making the decision.
Cash flow can overturn the mathematical preference
Imagine that the household has only CHF 600 available after fixed expenses. The lower expected annual cost of a high deductible does not create the cash needed when several invoices arrive together. Consider earmarking the monthly premium saving in a separate reserve rather than treating it as disposable spending. Also distinguish the date of treatment, the invoice and reimbursement, because an annual total says little about cash timing. For recurring care, ask the provider for a realistic schedule of eligible charges. Do not include an excluded service as though either deductible will reimburse it. These checks make the simulation a household decision tool rather than a purely actuarial ranking.
The next step
The best deductible is the one whose cost and risk you can explain in advance. Keep the scenarios with your policy documents and revisit them when treatment needs or income change. A comparison appointment should produce the assumptions and actual premium figures, not simply a recommendation based on age.
Sources and further reading
Original Clearwise analysis. External reporting provides context; rules and contract terms must be verified with the competent authority or provider. Some press articles may require a subscription.
Apply this to your situation
Compare your actual documents and clarify what matters before making a commitment.
Request a free consultationGeneral guidance, not a binding quote or personalised legal, tax or investment advice. Examples are hypothetical and results are not guaranteed.
