Insurance
Medication adherence and insurance costs
Medication non-adherence can contribute to avoidable complications, unused prescriptions, and preventable costs. For insurers, the opportunity is to support patients earlier without turning adherence into surveillance.
A CHF 250m target with further savings to unlock
Helsana estimates CHF 76m in 2024 savings against a CHF 250m annual target. The report points to further potential from generics and biosimilars, while noting that some measures may take effect over the following years.
See routine risk sooner
Adherence data can give care teams an earlier view of routine risk—an Adherlo workflow opportunity, not a measured outcome from the Helsana report.
Focus support where it counts
Exception-based workflows can help teams focus support where medication routines appear inconsistent.
Turn adherence into action
Clearer medication routines may create better moments for refill, substitution, and care discussions.
2024 savings position
Annual target
CHF 250m
70%
CHF 174m of the target remains
Estimated savings in 2024
CHF 76m
Remaining gap
CHF 174m
Additional substitution potential
CHF 65m
Helsana figures describe Swiss medication-cost and substitution context. They are not measured Adherlo outcome data or projected Adherlo savings.
Frame adherence as prevention support
For chronic conditions, medication only delivers intended value when it is taken consistently enough to support the care plan. Insurers can treat adherence as a prevention and support problem, not only as a cost-control metric.
- Focus on helping members stay with appropriate therapy.
- Connect adherence support to chronic-care and prevention programs.
- Avoid claims that a single tool directly reduces costs without measured evidence.
Use Swiss cost context carefully
Swiss medication spending, deductible structures, reimbursement rules, and digital-health reimbursement context matter when discussing adherence economics. These references should frame the problem without implying guaranteed savings.
- Separate system-level cost context from Adherlo-specific outcome claims.
- Make affordability and reimbursement constraints visible.
- Use evidence sources to explain why adherence matters, not to overstate commercial results.
Support before costs rise
Adherence signals can help identify members who may need education, refill support, routine adjustment, or care-team follow-up before the issue becomes more serious.
- Use aggregated patterns to find where support programs are needed.
- Keep individual interventions supportive and transparent.
- Pair digital reminders with human follow-up where risk is higher.
Keep trust and privacy central
Insurance programs should be transparent about data use and focus on support, not punishment. Without trust, even well-designed adherence programs can fail to engage the people they are meant to help.
- Explain what data is collected and why.
- Use consent-based sharing for member-level visibility.
- Avoid incentives or messaging that make patients feel monitored instead of supported.
The strongest payer adherence programs are built around patient trust first.
Measure population patterns responsibly
Population-level adherence trends can help insurers identify where education, device support, or targeted programs may reduce avoidable risk. They should be measured with clear baselines and reviewed against real outcomes over time.
- Define the target population and baseline before launch.
- Track engagement, adherence signals, and follow-up actions separately.
- Review impact with clinical, privacy, and member-experience stakeholders.
Sources used in this guide
These references provide context for medication safety, adherence workflows, and the healthcare settings discussed here. They are not Adherlo outcome claims.
Switzerland · authority · 2025
Helsana Arzneimittelreport 2025
Swiss medication-cost and dispensing context. The report does not measure Adherlo outcomes or establish that reminders reduce costs.
Open sourceSwitzerland · authority
Swiss compulsory health insurance cost sharing
Official Swiss cost-sharing context for affordability discussions; it is not evidence that a specific adherence product reduces insurance spending.
Open sourceSwitzerland · authority
Mittel- und Gegenständeliste (MiGeL)
Official Swiss reimbursement context for means and devices. Inclusion does not imply that Adherlo is reimbursed.
Open sourceGlobal · authority · 2017
WHO Medication Without Harm
Global medication-safety context for preventable harm and safer systems; not an Adherlo outcome claim.
Open sourceRelated resources
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Explore adherence partnerships
Adherlo works with partners interested in better adherence, patient support, and data-informed prevention.