Hi Z,

The basic insurance that you are required to have is a standardised packet. Generally comparis.ch will allow you to compare the prices, as you've already seen. There is also a rating next to the entries I believe, this is probably the easiest way to see what others think of these companies.

In my case I change every year, because they are always going up. Some years I've had increases of up to 30%, which I think is disgusting, and I've changed.

Be careful though, once you are signed up and the price rises for the next year you'll get a letter, and you'll only have a few weeks to change if there is a better offer from another company for the following year. If you don't change you'll get locked in for another year (unless you have the standard excess of 230 or 300 or whatever it is).

Also check the fine print, I think in the standard package you are only covered inside your own canton, which means if you get sick while visiting another canton, it could be an issue. Usually you have to pay an extra monthly fee to be covered all over Switzerland.

Just as a side note: Switzerland now has the second-highest health care costs in the world - only the USA has higher costs.

Mark