Health insurance for children: how to choose the best one in 2026

Insuring your children with a health insurer is compulsory in Switzerland from birth. But the rules that apply to children and young people differ from those for adults, and knowing them can lead to significant savings for the whole family.

The special rules for children

Up to age 18, health insurance premiums are significantly lower than those of adults. The minimum deductible for children is CHF 0 (unlike CHF 300 for adults) and the maximum is CHF 600. Cost sharing is at most CHF 350 per year. These thresholds are set by law and are the same for all insurers.

Family discounts: how they work

Many insurers offer discounts for families with several insured children. Some cut the third child’s premium by 50%, others offer the third and fourth child free of charge for the basic policy. These discounts are not automatic: you must insure all your children with the same insurer and make an explicit request. Not all insurers offer them, so comparing becomes even more important when you have a large family.

The paediatric network in your canton

If you choose an alternative model (HMO, family doctor) for your child, check that the network of contracted paediatricians is adequate in your municipality. In some areas, especially in Ticino and the canton of Graubünden, the network of paediatricians under contract with certain alternative models is limited. A saving of CHF 20 per month is not worth it if you have to travel 40 km to reach the contracted paediatrician.

Young adults aged 18 to 25

Between 18 and 25, young adults pay reduced premiums compared with adults over 25. Many insurers offer special rates for this age group, sometimes with advantageous conditions on youth supplementary insurance. It is also the moment when coverage passes from the parents to the young adult themselves: take care not to leave gaps in coverage during the transition.

Optimising insurance for the whole family

The optimal strategy for a family is often: keep all the children with the same insurer for family discounts, choose the CHF 0 deductible for the children if medical expenses are expected (or CHF 600 if the children are healthy and you want to lower the premium), and not necessarily choose the same insurer for the adults and for the children. Two healthy adults can be with different, cheaper insurers, while the children stay with the insurer offering the best family discounts.