Health insurance for children: Premiums, models & savings tips 2026

Health insurance for children: Premiums, models & savings tips 2026

With the birth of a child, many new tasks come your way — and one of the first concerns health insurance. In Switzerland, basic insurance is mandatory, including for newborns. But which insurer is the cheapest? Are supplementary insurance policies worthwhile? And how does the premium reduction work? This guide gives you a complete overview of everything you need to know as a parent about health insurance for children — with concrete figures for 2026.

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Basic insurance: Mandatory from birth

Registration deadline: 3 months — not a day more

Every child resident in Switzerland must be registered with a health insurer within 3 months of birth. The insurance applies retroactively from the date of birth. If you miss the deadline, the insurer can charge a late surcharge, and a coverage gap arises.

Tip: Ideally, register your child provisionally with a health insurer before the birth. Many insurers offer this. This way you are on the safe side and avoid stress during the postnatal period.

Free choice of insurer — also for children

You can choose a different health insurer for your child than for yourself. This is worthwhile because the premium differences are substantial in basic insurance — the benefits are identical, as they are prescribed by law (KVG).

Insurance models for children

For children too, there are various models with which you can save on premiums:

Model	Description	Premium saving
Standard (free choice of doctor)	No GP required, free choice	0 % (reference)
GP model (HMO)	First point of contact is always the GP/paediatrician	10–20 %
Telmed	Telephone consultation before doctor visit	10–25 %
Pharmacy model	Initial consultation at the pharmacy	8–15 %

Recommendation: For children, the GP model is particularly well suited. You go to the paediatrician regularly with your child anyway — and save 10–20 % on the premium in the process.

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What does children's insurance cost per canton?

The basic insurance premium for children varies considerably depending on the canton, residential area and insurer. Here is an overview of the average monthly premiums for children (0–18 years) in 2026:

Canton	Avg. premium/month (child)	Cheapest insurer approx.	Most expensive insurer approx.
Zurich	CHF 120	CHF 85	CHF 160
Bern	CHF 110	CHF 78	CHF 145
Lucerne	CHF 100	CHF 72	CHF 135
Basel-Stadt	CHF 115	CHF 82	CHF 155
St. Gallen	CHF 105	CHF 74	CHF 140
Aargau	CHF 108	CHF 76	CHF 142
Vaud	CHF 118	CHF 84	CHF 158
Geneva	CHF 125	CHF 90	CHF 165
Ticino	CHF 112	CHF 80	CHF 148
Graubunden	CHF 95	CHF 68	CHF 130
Valais	CHF 98	CHF 70	CHF 132
Appenzell Innerrhoden	CHF 82	CHF 60	CHF 112

Source: BAG premium overview 2026. The values are indicative and may vary depending on the insurance model and region.

Savings calculation: If you switch from the most expensive to the cheapest insurer in the canton of Zurich, you save up to CHF 900 per child per year — with identical benefits. With two children, that's CHF 1,800 that you can use elsewhere, for example for daycare costs.

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Premium reduction (IPV) for families

Who is entitled?

The individual premium reduction (IPV) supports individuals and families in modest financial circumstances. Children are entitled to a premium reduction in all cantons if the household income is below a certain threshold. Since 2019, cantons must reduce premiums for children from low-income families by at least 80 %.

How much is the premium reduction?

The IPV is regulated very differently by canton. Here are some examples:

Canton	Income threshold family (approx.)	Max. IPV per child/year
Zurich	Relevant income < CHF 54,400 (2 adults + 1 child)	Up to 100 % of the premium
Bern	Taxable income varies by family size	Up to 100 % of the premium
Basel-Stadt	Relevant income < CHF 75,000	Up to 100 % of the premium
Vaud	Relevant income < CHF 62,000	Up to 100 % of the premium

How to apply for the premium reduction

1. Automatically: In some cantons (e.g. Zurich, Bern), the IPV is automatically calculated and granted based on tax data.
2. On application: In other cantons, you must actively apply for the IPV at the cantonal compensation fund or social insurance office.
3. Recalculated annually: The IPV is recalculated every year. If your income changes (e.g. after the birth of a child, reduction in working hours), report this early.

Important: Check every year whether you are entitled to IPV — especially if your income has changed due to the birth of a child, a reduction in working hours or a switch to part-time. Many families miss out on money because they don't apply for the IPV.

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Supplementary insurance for children: What is worthwhile?

Basic insurance covers standard medical care. For certain benefits, however, you need supplementary insurance. For children, the following supplementary insurance options are particularly worth considering:

Dental insurance

Basic insurance covers no dental costs (except in the case of accident or serious illness). Dental supplementary insurance for children costs approx. CHF 10–25/month and typically covers 50–80 % of the costs for:

• Orthodontic corrections (braces) — quickly CHF 5,000–15,000
• Regular dental hygiene
• Fillings and dental treatments

Caution: Many dental insurance policies have waiting periods of 1–3 years and maximum limits (e.g. CHF 10,000 over the entire duration). Take out dental insurance as early as possible — ideally in the first year of life, before problems are known.

Glasses and contact lens insurance

Basic insurance pays a contribution of CHF 180 per year for glasses lenses or contact lenses for children under 18 (as of 2026). Supplementary insurance can increase this amount.

Alternative medicine

If you value complementary medicine (homeopathy, osteopathy, TCM), consider a corresponding supplementary insurance. Basic insurance covers only a few alternative methods.

Transport insurance (Rega/Air Zermatt)

For families with small children, a supporter membership with Rega (CHF 30/year for families) or a similar organisation is recommended. This covers rescue flights and repatriation transports, which can quickly cost tens of thousands of francs.

Is hospital supplementary insurance worthwhile?

For children, hospital supplementary insurance (semi-private or private) is generally less important than for adults. Basic insurance covers treatment in the general ward of the cantonal hospital, which is usually sufficient for children. If you want free choice of hospital (including out-of-canton children's hospitals), supplementary insurance may be worthwhile.

Supplementary insurance	Monthly premium (child)	Recommendation
Dental insurance	CHF 10–25	Highly recommended (braces!)
Alternative medicine	CHF 5–15	Depending on needs
Glasses/contact lenses	Included in combination insurance	If known vision impairment
Hospital semi-private	CHF 20–50	Optional
Rega supporter	CHF 2.50 (family share)	Highly recommended

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Deductible strategy: CHF 0 vs. CHF 600

How does the deductible work for children?

For children, the following deductible levels are available in basic insurance: CHF 0, CHF 100, CHF 200, CHF 300, CHF 400, CHF 500 and CHF 600. The CHF 0 deductible means: the insurer pays from the first franc (minus the co-payment). In return, the monthly premium is higher.

Which deductible is sensible for children?

Children go to the doctor frequently — check-ups, colds, vaccinations, minor accidents. That's why most experts recommend the CHF 0 deductible for children.

Example calculation, canton of Zurich:

	Deductible CHF 0	Deductible CHF 600
Monthly premium	CHF 120	CHF 90
Annual premium	CHF 1,440	CHF 1,080
Premium saving	—	CHF 360
Deductible (if doctor visit needed)	CHF 0	CHF 600
Annual costs with 1–2 doctor visits	CHF 1,440	CHF 1,680

For children who regularly visit the doctor (which is the case for most children), the CHF 0 deductible almost always works out cheaper.

Rule of thumb: Choose the CHF 0 deductible for children. The premium saving with a higher deductible only pays off if your child virtually never goes to the doctor — and that is unrealistic with small children.

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Family discounts: How to save even more

Many health insurers grant family discounts on the basic insurance premium when several family members are insured with the same provider. From the second child onwards, there is often a discount of 10–25 % on the children's premium. Some insurers even offer free basic insurance for the third child.

Typical family discounts (selection)

Insurer	Discount from 2nd child	Discount from 3rd child
Assura	10 %	15 %
CSS	12 %	20 %
Helsana	10 %	15 %
Swica	15 %	25 %
Concordia	10 %	20 %

Note: Discounts may change annually. Check the current conditions directly with the insurer.

Combination savings tip: You achieve the highest savings when you combine the following factors:

1. Choose the cheapest insurer in the canton
2. Use the GP or Telmed model
3. Choose the CHF 0 deductible
4. Use the family discount (all children with the same insurer)
5. Check and apply for the premium reduction

With this combination, you can easily reduce health insurance costs for your child by 30–50 % compared to the most expensive scenario.

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Childcare & insurance: Who pays for accidents at the daycare?

A topic that concerns many parents: What happens if my child gets injured at the daycare, with the day-care family or at the playgroup?

Accident insurance through health insurance

Children who are not employed are also insured against accidents through the basic health insurance. This means: if your child is injured at daycare, the health insurer covers the treatment costs — after deducting the deductible and co-payment.

Liability of the daycare

If the daycare causes the accident through negligence (e.g. inadequate supervision), the daycare is liable with its business liability insurance. In practice, the distinction is often difficult. Professional daycares and day-care families have business liability insurance — ask about this when registering.

Tip: Private liability insurance for the family

If your child injures another child at daycare or damages property, you as a parent are liable. A private liability insurance for the whole family costs approx. CHF 100–150/year and is absolutely recommended.

Further information on the costs of childcare can be found in our detailed guide Daycare costs in Switzerland. How you can partially deduct these costs from your taxes is explained at Deducting childcare from taxes.

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Switching insurers: How to proceed

You can switch your child's health insurer annually by 30 November for 1 January of the following year. In some cantons, a second switching date by 30 June for 1 October is possible (basic insurance only).

Step by step:

1. Compare premiums on priminfo.admin.ch (official BAG premium calculator)
2. Choose a new insurer and submit an application
3. Wait for confirmation from the new insurer
4. Cancel the old insurer (by registered mail, before the deadline)
5. Check whether supplementary insurance policies need to be cancelled separately

Caution with supplementary insurance: Only cancel the supplementary insurance once the new insurer has confirmed acceptance. Unlike basic insurance, there is no obligation to accept with supplementary insurance — the new insurer can reject your child (e.g. in the case of known dental problems).

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Summary: The most important tips

• Register your child within 3 months of birth
• Choose the cheapest insurer in the canton — the benefits are identical
• Use the GP model for 10–20 % premium savings
• Choose the CHF 0 deductible for children
• Check your entitlement to premium reduction annually
• Take out dental insurance early
• Use family discounts — all children with the same insurer
• Also find out about child allowances to make use of all financial entitlements

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Conclusion

Health insurance for children is one of the largest ongoing costs for a family — alongside rent, food and childcare. But with the right strategy, you can save hundreds to thousands of francs per year without sacrificing benefits. Compare insurers, use family discounts and check your entitlement to premium reduction. And don't forget: you can combine the premium reduction with other family benefits such as child allowances and subsidies for childcare.

Find the right childcare now on kizi.ch — and keep more money for what really matters.

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Sources: Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) — Premium overview 2026, KVG (Federal Act on Health Insurance), priminfo.admin.ch, cantonal social insurance offices, Consumer Protection Foundation. As of: February 2026.