Many health fund comparison services are currently drawing attention to social media with major promises of savings. However, official bonuses for 2026 do not yet exist.
Screenshot/Instagram
If we currently scroll Instagram, Facebook or other platforms, we come across rows of advertisements on health insurance premiums. Blue News has identified more than 20 announcements just in recent days. Many of them attract the barge with alleged possibilities for savings and fast comparisons.
An example: on the “Evaluation of the sick leave” page, promoted via an Instagram ad, you can read: “Save up to 3278 francs per year” or “Compare in 2 minutes”. Other providers such as “FinCompact” or “Neo.swiss” also make an offensive advertisement, with figures like 202.10 or even 171.10 francs of monthly premium. The comparison is only a click.
But the fact is that no one currently knows how much will really rise to health insurance premiums in 2026. The Federal Office for Public Health (FOSP) also confirms it on our request: “Bonus comparisons for the 2026 premium year are not possible before the approval of the premiums. Only a comparison for 2025 bonuses is possible, “said the spokesperson for the OFSP Gabriela Giacometti.
Reliable figures will only be available in the fall. As every year, official bonuses are published at the end of September.
“Forecasts and estimates” are usual
So why all this advertising? When questioned, “Fincompact” explains that he works with “the past evolution of premiums, inflation, health costs, etc.” So with forecasts and estimates. It is also a common practice on other platforms, it is added. The first comparator speaks of “forecasts and analysis of market data founded accessible to the public”. But underlines that he does “no declaration or binding guarantee concerning future premiums”.
Swiss VHV, which operates the krankenkassenbewertung.ch site, advances similar arguments. Admittedly, the website announces to be able to “save up to 3278 CHF per year”, but on request, it specifies: “Our declarations are based on general evolution of the premium environment as well as on empirical values from data already available”. The company did not wish to answer other questions from Blue News.
Screenshot/Instagram
If such ads are possible, it is also because there is a legal shadow area. Landy advertising is certainly prohibited, but it is a court that decides if it is really illegal. And it is not the OFSP that can file a complaint, but only the State Secretariat for Economy (SECO). This one only intervenes “when the deception manifests itself by a large number of complaints from concerned citizens”.
Concretely, this means that nothing happens without a wide wave of protests. And a complaint is expensive, including the PDF form, screenshots and links. On the smartphone, where many see these advertisements, it’s anything but simple. The Seco has not yet taken up position on the subject.
Data land with an “insurance advisor”
But what is he hiding behind this advertisement? According to the OFSP, it is to “generate leads”. That is to say to collect the contact data of potential customers. Thanks to an advantageous advertising on social media, it is easy to win new contacts which will then be contacted to change sick leave.
But what is happening with the data is not always transparent. Blue News found several platforms with incomplete or missing indications on data protection.
“Fincompact”, for example, asks for the name, email and telephone number. The identity of the person behind the supply was not clear until the Blue News demand. Asked about this, a spokesperson said: “Often, the data entered (e.g. age, place of residence, insurance) is used for personalized offers, contact by advisers or marketing purposes (e.g. Newsletter)”.
Misleading advertising? Here’s how to make things happen
- Keep proof: make an advertising screenshot. On most mobile phones, it works by pressing the two side buttons simultaneously.
- The State Secretariat for Economy (SECO) provides a complaint form. You can precisely describe what it is about. The more details you will provide, the better.
- Save the form filled with the screenshot on your device and send everything by e-mail to [email protected].
- If you wish, you can also print everything and send it by post to the following address: State Secretariat for Economy, Division Law, Holzikofenweg 36, 3003 Berne.
“First” also confirms: the data is transmitted to “qualified insurance advisers”. In other words: whoever wishes to compare his premiums will sooner or later receive an appeal or an advertising email.
“Fincompact” still gives advice: “Always read the Data Protection Declaration. And stay skeptical about offers or requests, if something is not clear, do not hesitate to ask for details. ” But at “FinCompact”, it was only linked on the Facebook page after the Blue News request.
