Health insurance in Schaffhausen: what you need to know
Schaffhausen is the only Swiss cantonal capital north of the Rhine. The town is known for its well-preserved old town with its many oriel windows and for the Munot, the circular 16th-century fortress that watches over the rooftops from above.
Switzerland divides every canton into price zones — based on how high an area's healthcare costs are. Schaffhausen (ZIP 8200) is in zone 1 of the Canton of Schaffhausen. Zone 1 is mostly the cities and the most expensive; zones 2 and 3 are cheaper. Your insurer may charge different premiums depending on the zone.
The Canton of Schaffhausen is divided into 2 price zones. The gap between the most expensive and cheapest zone can reach CHF 30–80 per month — worth keeping in mind when you compare.
How much does health insurance cost in Schaffhausen?
Current mandatory health insurance (KVG) premiums for Schaffhausen (2026), based on the federal government's official rates. For identical benefits, the gap between cheapest and most expensive provider is substantial:
Cheapest premium
CHF 480 /month
ÖKK
Most expensive premium
CHF 650 /month
23 insurers compared
Savings potential per year
CHF 2'038 /year
Premiums in Schaffhausen are about the Swiss average. Since basic insurance offers the same benefits with every provider, the provider alone determines your cost.
Premium by age group
Children and young adults pay significantly less. Cheapest monthly premium per age group (children without deductible, otherwise CHF 300 deductible):
| Age group | from CHF/month | Insurer |
|---|---|---|
| Kind (0–18) | CHF 104 | Assura-Basis SA |
| Junge Erwachsene (19–25) | CHF 364 | Aquilana |
| Erwachsene (ab 26) | CHF 480 | ÖKK |
Premium by deductible
The higher the deductible (your annual excess), the lower the premium. Cheapest monthly premium per level for adults:
| Deductible | from CHF/month |
|---|---|
| CHF 300 | CHF 480 |
| CHF 500 | CHF 469 |
| CHF 1'000 | CHF 440 |
| CHF 1'500 | CHF 410 |
| CHF 2'000 | CHF 381 |
| CHF 2'500 | CHF 358 |
Premium by insurance model
Alternative models lower the premium: with the family-doctor model you see your GP first, with Telmed you call first, with HMO you go to a health centre. Typical yearly saving versus free choice of doctor:
| Model | from CHF/month | typically saves |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (Freie Arztwahl) | CHF 552 | — |
| Hausarztmodell | CHF 486 | CHF 828/year |
| HMO | CHF 480 | CHF 900/year |
| Telmed | CHF 486 | CHF 775/year |
The cheapest health insurers
The five cheapest providers for the standard profile — benefits are legally identical everywhere:
| # | Insurer | Model | from CHF/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ÖKK | HMO | CHF 480 |
| 2 | Helsana | Hausarztmodell | CHF 486 |
| 3 | Aquilana | Hausarztmodell | CHF 492 |
| 4 | Assura-Basis SA | Hausarztmodell | CHF 492 |
| 5 | GALENOS AG | HMO | CHF 500 |
Note: An environmental levy refund (CO₂ and VOC redistribution) of CHF 5.15 per month is credited on every premium — so the effective cost is around CHF 62 per year lower. It applies equally to all insurers and does not change the comparison.
Profile: adult, CHF 300 deductible, with accident coverage, standard models. KVG benefits are legally identical across all providers — only the price differs.
Data source: FOPH / priminfo.admin.ch 2026
How much can I save in Schaffhausen by switching insurer?
In Schaffhausen, the cheapest basic insurance for adults costs CHF 480 per month, the most expensive CHF 650 — for benefits that are identical by law (Art. 24 KVG/LAMal). Switching from the most expensive to the cheapest insurer saves up to CHF 2'038 per year. Based on official FOPH premiums 2026 for adults, CHF 300 deductible, standard model, with accident cover — 23 insurers compared.
Your cancellation must reach your current insurer by 30 November for the switch to take effect on 1 January (Art. 7 para. 2 KVG/LAMal).
Working across the border? Schaffhausen is almost completely surrounded by Germany, and many people commute across the border to work. If you work in Switzerland as a cross-border commuter, you have a choice for your health insurance: Switzerland or your country of residence — made once, within three months of starting your job. Several Swiss insurers offer their own cross-border tariffs, so comparing pays off twice over.
Low income? The premium reduction is available on request. If you don't earn much, the Canton of Schaffhausen pays part of your premium. SVA Schaffhausen sends a form to those likely entitled at the end of January — if you don't get one, you can fetch it yourself. Mind the deadline: usually the end of April. The money goes straight to your insurer, whichever insurer you choose.
Which hospitals are available in Schaffhausen?
The mandatory basic insurance (KVG/LAMal) covers general hospital treatment in your canton of residence. Residents of Schaffhausen have access to the following hospitals:
- Spitäler Schaffhausen
If you want free hospital choice or a private/semi-private room, you need a supplementary hospital insurance (VVG/LCA). In our VVG comparison.
How do I switch health insurance in Schaffhausen?
- Start the comparison in the Findbetter wizard — enter ZIP 8200, age, and preferred model.
- Review the top offers and pick the best insurer.
- We auto-generate the application form. You sign digitally and we forward it FINMA-compliant via our partner 4you Partners.
- If needed: we cancel your old insurer via registered letter — in time before November 30.
- From January 1, 2027, everything runs with your new insurer. You'll receive your new insurance card by post in December.
Full step-by-step guide → KVG switch 2027 guide
Frequently asked questions from Schaffhausen
Which health insurance is cheapest in Schaffhausen?+
Which price zone is Schaffhausen in?+
By when do I need to cancel my health insurance in Schaffhausen?+
How much can I save in Schaffhausen?+
Sources & legal basis
The information on this page is based on official Swiss sources. Premium data comes from the federal government's official premium calculator.
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