What happens if I do not accept the increase in my sickness fund?

You have the right to change sick pay by 30 November 2026 (the change takes effect from 1 January 2027) without penalty. You have to compare the alternatives available in your canton and tariff area through bonus.ch or other comparators. If your income is very low, you may be eligible for cantonal subsidies that cover part of the premium. Please contact the relevant cantonal administration to check the access criteria.

Will the Canton of Ticino have lower increases than the rest of Switzerland?

In 2026, Ticino recorded a change in healthcare costs of -0.1% (practically stable), well below the Swiss average (+0.4%). This suggests that premium increases for 2027 could be relatively small compared to other cantons such as Schaffhausen (+9.6%) or Zug (-8.7%). However, the actual increase also depends on the internal performance of the chosen health insurance fund and your deductible.

How do LAMal payroll contributions change with the increase?

LAMal contributions are deducted from gross salary before federal and cantonal taxes are calculated. A 5% increase in premiums means a direct reduction in monthly net. If you pay CHF 300 per month, +5% means CHF 15 less each month, about CHF 180 per year. For the family, the impact is multiplied by the number of insured (spouse, children).

Home care, physiotherapy and psychological visits cost more: what does it mean to me?

If you need these services frequently, the costs will increase beyond the national average (home care +15%, physiotherapy +7%, psychologists +10%). Reaching the deductible will be faster and you will have to pay more out of your own pocket. Consider whether choosing a higher deductible reduces your monthly premium enough to offset the risk of higher out-of-pocket expenses in 2027.

I have a G Permit: can I choose Italian (CMI) insurance instead of Swiss?

Yes, border crossers with G Permit have the right of option for the CMI (Italian coverage). Before changing, check with the employer whether it has entered into a Swiss collective agreement and what the portability conditions are. Consult the Revenue Agency for tax implications (double taxation, tax credits) before making a final decision.

Sick pay premiums increase: +5% in 2027 (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 8 September 2026

Medical clinic office in Canton Ticino with health insurance documents and premium calculator

bonus.ch forecasts an average increase of almost 5% by 2027, up from 4.4% in 2026. Some policyholders face spikes of up to 20%. Ticino practically stable.

Context

In brief

Average premium increase 2027: approximately 5% (higher than 4.4% in 2026)
Some policyholders face peaks up to 20%
Confederation will communicate official figures end of month
Ticino relatively stable: -0.1% in 2026

Key facts

What: Increase in mandatory Swiss health insurance premiums (LAMal/CMI)
When: 2027, announcement end of September 2026
Where: All of Switzerland; Ticino -0.1% in 2026
Who: bonus.ch and Keystone-ATS
Average increase: 4.5%-5% (most plausible scenario)
Maximum peaks: up to 20% in specific cases

The increase in health insurance premiums that will hit Swiss policyholders in 2027 will be even heavier than that in 2026. According to the online comparison tool bonus.ch, the average increase will amount to nearly 5%, higher than the 4.4% recorded this year. It is not good news for those working in Switzerland, from employees to Ticino-Italy cross-border workers who pay their LAMal contributions every month.

The bonus.ch survey, reported by Keystone-ATS, was presented today and casts an even longer shadow over the situation of personal finances. The authors comment that 'hope for a respite seems to be slipping away once more'. To get the official data, however, we will have to wait until the end of September, when the Confederation will communicate the final figures.

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Operational details

Regional variations: Canton Ticino in a relative advantage

Regional variations are particularly relevant for the cross-border worker who works in a specific canton and pays LAMal contributions monthly. In the second quarter of 2026, healthcare cost trends showed marked differences: while the Swiss average stood at +0.4%, Canton Schaffhausen registered +9.6% and Zug even -8.7%. In between, the Grisons position themselves at +3.7%, while Canton Ticino — the most relevant for the Italy-Switzerland cross-border worker — is practically stable at -0.1%. This represents a small glimmer of hope: those who work and are insured in the canton will not face particularly heavy increases compared to other Swiss regions.

But not all insured persons will see the same increase. Beyond the canton, the specific health insurance fund chosen, the local tariff zone, the insured person's age, the deductible level, and the selected coverage model (HMO, PPP, traditional insurance) all have an impact. Some companies or tariff categories will register increases of more than 10%; in the most unfortunate cases, even over 20%.

Which services cost more: the impact on care

The increase is not uniform across healthcare services. Some categories are hit harder: home care approximately 15%, psychologists and psychotherapists 10%, physiotherapists 7%, outpatient physicians 6%. For the cross-border worker who frequently needs these services — weekly psychological visits, physiotherapy sessions after an injury, home care for an elderly parent — the impact on the deductible reached and on the cost-sharing (participant participation) could be significant. The total cost of care will rise more than the general average.

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Key points

How to compare premiums and when to act

August and September are the critical months for those who want to save on premiums: this is when health insurance funds communicate increases and when insured individuals still have time to change coverage. At the end of September 2026 (usual date), the Confederation will officially announce the new cantonal premiums for 2027.

The cross-border worker should follow these steps:

1. Wait for the official Confederation announcement: end of September 2026 is the key date for definitive data 2. Verify your health insurance fund's letter: it will arrive in the following days with the new premium and variations 3. Compare online: bonus.ch and other comparison tools allow you to see all available alternatives in your canton and tariff zone 4. Evaluate changing insurance fund or plan model: you can change until 30 November 2026 to have effect from 1 January 2027 5. Check the deductible: choosing a higher deductible (CHF 500 instead of CHF 300) reduces the monthly premium but increases out-of-pocket expenses when care is needed

Deadlines and documents

Official premium announcement: end of September 2026 (from the Confederation)
Health insurance fund letter: by October 2026 with the new premium
Deadline for change: 30 November 2026 (the change takes effect from 1 January 2027)
Verification with CMI: cross-border workers with Permit G can check whether they fall into the categories that can opt for Italian insurance instead of Swiss insurance

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I do not accept the increase in my sickness fund?: You have the right to change sick pay by 30 November 2026 (the change takes effect from 1 January 2027) without penalty. You have to compare the alternatives available in your canton and tariff area through bonus.ch or other comparators. If your income is very low, you may be eligible for cantonal subsidies that cover part of the premium. Please contact the relevant cantonal administration to check the access criteria.
Will the Canton of Ticino have lower increases than the rest of Switzerland?: In 2026, Ticino recorded a change in healthcare costs of -0.1% (practically stable), well below the Swiss average (+0.4%). This suggests that premium increases for 2027 could be relatively small compared to other cantons such as Schaffhausen (+9.6%) or Zug (-8.7%). However, the actual increase also depends on the internal performance of the chosen health insurance fund and your deductible.
How do LAMal payroll contributions change with the increase?: LAMal contributions are deducted from gross salary before federal and cantonal taxes are calculated. A 5% increase in premiums means a direct reduction in monthly net. If you pay CHF 300 per month, +5% means CHF 15 less each month, about CHF 180 per year. For the family, the impact is multiplied by the number of insured (spouse, children).
Home care, physiotherapy and psychological visits cost more: what does it mean to me?: If you need these services frequently, the costs will increase beyond the national average (home care +15%, physiotherapy +7%, psychologists +10%). Reaching the deductible will be faster and you will have to pay more out of your own pocket. Consider whether choosing a higher deductible reduces your monthly premium enough to offset the risk of higher out-of-pocket expenses in 2027.
I have a G Permit: can I choose Italian (CMI) insurance instead of Swiss?: Yes, border crossers with G Permit have the right of option for the CMI (Italian coverage). Before changing, check with the employer whether it has entered into a Swiss collective agreement and what the portability conditions are. Consult the Revenue Agency for tax implications (double taxation, tax credits) before making a final decision.