Deductible & retention fee: What you pay

Deductible, retention fee and contribution to hospital costs – this is how you participate in your healthcare costs. Your choice of deductible can have an impact here and help you save on premiums.

Co-payment at a glance

Your health insurance premium depends on the chosen deductible, where you live and how old you are. If you suffer ill health, you pay a share of the costs through the deductible, retention fee and contribution to hospital costs.

What is a deductible?

The deductible is the amount that you have to pay out of your own pocket whenever treatment costs arise under basic insurance. The higher a deductible you choose, the more financial responsibility you take. It pays off: you save on premiums.

Choose the right deductible

Deductible of CHF 2,500 – sensible for healthcare costs below CHF 1,800
Deductible of CHF 300 – sensible for healthcare costs above CHF 1,800
You can change the deductible each year.

What deductibles are available?

Optional deductible for

adults

CHF 300
CHF 500
CHF 1'000
CHF 1'500
CHF 2'000
CHF 2'500

Calculate your premium Change deductible

Optional deductible for

children

CHF 0
CHF 100
CHF 200
CHF 300
CHF 400
CHF 600

Calculate your premium Change deductible

10% retention fee

Once the deductible has been used up, CSS pays most of your healthcare costs. You pay the 10% retention fee, which is capped at CHF 700 per calendar year. With Multimed, you benefit from a reduced retention fee of CHF 400. For children, the maximum amount is always CHF 350.

Good to know: CSS provides a transparent breakdown of the costs on each benefit statement. And thanks to myCSS, you can see how high your retention fee is and view all your statements in your overview of the year.

Contribution to hospital costs – the retention fee during hospitalisation

The contribution to hospital costs is the equivalent of a retention fee for a stay in hospital. It is CHF 15 per day spent in hospital. Children under 18 and adults under 25 who are still in education do not pay a contribution to hospital costs.

Frequently asked questions

Take a look at your healthcare spending over the past few years. That way, you can see whether a low deductible makes sense. Or whether you want to risk opting for a higher deductible and save on premiums in return.

Deductible of CHF 2,500 – sensible for healthcare costs below CHF 1,800
Deductible of CHF 300 – sensible for healthcare costs above CHF 1,800

Changes always take effect from the next 1 January. You have until 30 November to lower the deductible and until 31 December to increase it.

Should the worst-case scenario arise, you must pay the amount chosen as a deductible, e.g. CHF 2,500, out of your own pocket. You will pay a retention fee of 10%, capped at CHF 700, on any costs that exceed the deductible. If you need to go into hospital, you must also pay CHF 15 per day. If choosing the highest deductible, we therefore recommend that you have at least CHF 3,200 in reserve.

With the highest deductible (CHF 2,500), adults save up to CHF 1,540 a year under basic insurance. Children save up to CHF 420 a year with the highest deductible (CHF 600).