Swiss health care costs rose by 4.9 percent in 2016, according to Santésuisse, the organization that oversees more than 60 health insurers responsible for providing care throughout Switzerland. For 2017, costs are expected to rise by 5.1 percent — which may result in higher premiums for consumers. Since Switzerland introduced compulsory private health insurance 20 years ago, average premiums have increased by 4.6 percent a year, from 173 Swiss francs in 1996 to 428 Swiss francs in 2016.