Deductible vs. franchise: understanding Swiss healthcare costs

Two words for the same deductible

In Swiss basic insurance, “franchise” is the annual deductible, not a second fee on top of an English “deductible”. You pay covered treatment costs up to the selected deductible; ordinary co-payment then applies. Premiums are separate and do not count towards the deductible.

Adults normally have a CHF 300 standard deductible, with optional higher amounts up to CHF 2,500. Children have a standard deductible of CHF 0 and optional higher levels. Young adults aged 19–25 use adult deductible rules despite belonging to a separate premium age group.

A treatment example, not an insurance quote

Suppose an adult has CHF 2,000 of covered ordinary outpatient treatment in one calendar year, no other bills and a CHF 300 deductible. The deductible uses CHF 300; 10% of the remaining CHF 1,700 is CHF 170. The patient contribution is CHF 470, plus premiums. With a CHF 2,500 deductible the patient pays the full CHF 2,000 in this simplified example.

This calculation excludes hospital contributions, medicines with increased co-payment and non-covered care. It cannot establish which deductible is best without the actual premium difference. Under ordinary rules, the annual co-payment cap is CHF 700 for adults and CHF 350 for children.

Moving near the end of the year

The deductible follows the calendar year, with treatment dates normally determining the allocation. Arriving in autumn does not turn it into a twelve-month period starting on arrival. Budget for the possibility of costs in both the arrival year and the following year. Use our detailed resident guide for exceptions and a full deductible comparison.