Telemedicine in Switzerland: the revolution lowering premiums

Telemedicine is no longer the future: it is the present of Swiss healthcare. In 2026, more than 35% of insured people in Switzerland have chosen a Telmed model, up from 18% five years ago. Growth is driven by the ever higher quality of services, by convenience and, not least, by concrete savings on monthly premiums.

How the Telmed model works in practice

With the Telmed model, whenever you have a health problem that in the past would have taken you straight to the doctor’s practice, you call a medical advice service instead (typically Medgate, medi24 or Ärztekasse, depending on the insurer). A qualified doctor listens to your symptoms, asks the necessary questions and guides you. In many cases — colds, mild infections, muscle pain — the telephone consultation is enough and you may receive a prescription directly.

When telemedicine works well

• Mild symptoms such as colds, flu, minor infections
• Doubts about medicines, dosages or interactions
• Renewal of prescriptions for regular medicines
• Guidance before deciding whether to go to the emergency room
• Consultations at night or at weekends, when doctors’ practices are closed

The limits: when you need to see a doctor in person

Telemedicine does not replace an in-person visit for diagnoses that require palpation, auscultation or instrumental tests. Acute abdominal pain, suspected fractures, heart problems, wounds needing stitches: in these cases the doctor on the phone will in any case refer you to a physical facility. Telephone triage does, however, reduce inappropriate visits to the emergency room, which in Switzerland is one of the main cost drivers of the healthcare system.

The real saving on the monthly premium

The saving with the Telmed model compared with the standard model is on average 10–15% of the annual premium. For an adult paying a standard premium of CHF 450 per month, switching to Telmed means saving CHF 45–68 per month, or CHF 540–810 per year. By combining the Telmed model with a higher deductible, you can save over CHF 1,500 per year without reducing the quality of care.

The best Telmed services available in Switzerland in 2026

The main telemedicine services under contract with Swiss insurers are Medgate (the largest, active 24/7 in Italian, German and French), medi24 (strong in German-speaking Switzerland) and Teleclinic. Some insurers such as CSS and Concordia have developed proprietary apps with integrated medical chat and telemedicine features. Before choosing the Telmed model, check which service is under contract with your insurer and whether it is available in your language.