Background

A couple in their early forties had recently relocated to Switzerland and subscribed to health insurance through another broker.
The product they had chosen appeared sound — reputable insurer, good coverage, fair pricing, and no obvious issues at first glance.
However, one crucial question had never been asked: “How long do you plan to stay in Switzerland?”

At first, the question might seem irrelevant. But in the Swiss system, supplementary insurance premiums increase with age, usually in five-year increments.
This means that the long-term financial impact of a plan depends heavily on how long one intends to remain insured in Switzerland — a detail often overlooked by brokers focused on short-term sales.

The Challenge

When we reviewed their policy, everything appeared reasonable in the present moment.
Their insurer offered excellent benefits and competitive pricing — up to a certain age.
After analyzing the full premium curve, we discovered that while the plan was very affordable until age 45, the cost increased sharply thereafter, continuing to rise every five years.

For clients planning to leave Switzerland within a decade, this model might have been acceptable.
But this couple intended to make Switzerland their permanent home, meaning those increases would accumulate across decades — a hidden financial risk of enormous magnitude.

Our Approach

We began by projecting the couple’s premium evolution year by year, assuming both remained insured until age 85.
This long-term simulation clearly revealed the total cost difference between their existing insurer and more stable alternatives.

We then compared multiple providers, focusing on those with age-cap systems — models where the premium increase stops after a certain age, typically between 50 and 55.
While the monthly price of such plans is slightly higher at the beginning, they remain far more economical over the long term.

Our objective was not just to find a “cheaper” option, but to identify the plan offering the best lifetime cost-to-coverage ratio.
We presented both scenarios to the clients: staying with their current insurer versus transitioning to one with capped age progression.
The results were unambiguous.

The Outcome

Although the new provider’s premium was modestly higher in the present year, its price curve flattened after age 50 — meaning no further increases.
When we compared total lifetime premiums assuming both clients lived to 85, the projected difference exceeded CHF 400,000 (!!!!) in total savings.

The couple immediately decided to switch insurers.
We coordinated the entire transition, ensuring continuous coverage and no administrative disruption.
The process was completed swiftly, and the clients gained not only better financial security but also full understanding of how their insurance would evolve over time.

Impact

This case perfectly illustrates how even a strong insurance product can become unsuitable if it’s chosen without understanding the client’s long-term goals.
By focusing on lifecycle analysis rather than short-term pricing, we helped this couple secure the same level of protection — but at a fraction of the cost over their lifetime.

True consulting is not about choosing between “good” and “bad” products — it’s about identifying what remains right for decades, not just today.