AXA Switch Report 2026: CSS is the biggest winner of the switching season

There is still no easing in sight for healthcare costs in 2026. Last fall, 54,000 people applied for the AXA basic insurance calculator compared their premiums and switched to the best offer for them with the help of AXA's switching service. As a result, these people have saved around CHF 23 million on their basic insurance premiums for 2026.

CSS overtakes Helsana as the most popular health insurer

This corresponds to an average reduction of CHF 426 per person, as Alexandra Gmür, Head of Healthcare at AXA, explains: «Although this is a slightly smaller amount than in the previous year, it's still a lot in relative terms, because a large proportion of the changes are purely between insurers.» For example, 58% of people who used AXA's switching service only moved between insurers. This still results in an average saving of CHF 321.

CSS is the clear winner of the 2025/2026 switching season, with almost one in four people switching to CSS. The growth comes mainly from the large health insurers. Last year's winner Helsana, on the other hand, lost policyholders.

Young adults save the most

Young people in particular should check their premium situation carefully year after year, emphasizes Alexandra Gmür: «Adults between the ages of 19 and 25 tend to pay a lot and receive few benefits. If they consistently switch to the cheapest basic insurance for them, they can save up to a thousand francs a year, depending on the premium region.»

In the canton of Geneva, it is CHF 925 per person per year for men aged 19 to 25. In Jura it is 800 francs and in Basel-Stadt 814 francs. Young women save a particularly high amount in Graubünden at 784 francs and in the canton of Ticino at 728 francs, while the figure in the canton of Zurich is 690 francs.

Geneva, Ticino and Basel-Stadt in the lead

Across all age groups, people who have changed their basic insurance in the canton of Geneva save the most (CHF 576), followed by Ticino with CHF 570 and Basel-Stadt with CHF 533. The least savings can be made on 2026 premiums in the cantons of Obwalden (CHF 298), Appenzell Innerrhoden (CHF 314) and Lucerne (CHF 340).

«This is probably also due to the fact that the premium level in these cantons is generally lower than in cantons with high savings potential,» explains Alexandra Gmür.

Switching is also worthwhile in Zug

The canton of Zug has reduced health insurance premiums for its population by 15 percent in 2026. The average monthly premium is therefore still around CHF 260. But even at such a low level, basic insurance premiums can still be optimized: Young men between the ages of 19 and 25 can save CHF 561 per person per year. For women aged between 41 and 45, the figure is CHF 486.

Save thousands in the long term

The AXA switching report also shows that the savings from a first switch are higher than those from subsequent switches. On average, around 75 percent of the initial savings can still be achieved with a second switch. And even with a third switch, the average is still around 70 percent.

On average, switchers have saved CHF 1,013 over the last three years. Adults were even able to save 1,136 francs and a family of four was able to reduce their household budget by 3,232 francs in the long term.

Telmed and the family doctor model are popular

The trend in insurance models continues: the 2,500 and 300 franchises are the most popular. Telmed and Hausarzt are the most frequently chosen insurance models. AXA Switzerland only offers supplementary insurance and no basic insurance. The AXA basic insurance calculator can be used to make a neutral comparison of all basic insurance providers.

For the fourth time, AXA is providing data on the actual switching behavior of people living in Switzerland with regard to mandatory basic insurance in its switching report. The report is based on over 54,000 basic insurance changes that were made in fall 2025 via the AXA switching service and resulted in premium savings in 2026.