Health insurance in Switzerland

Health insurance is mandatory for everyone living in Switzerland, including expats and students. There is no public, state-funded health service: instead, every resident buys basic cover from a private insurer of their choice. You must take out a policy within three months of arriving in the country, and the cover is then backdated to your date of arrival.

Basic insurance (LaMal)

The basic insurance, known as LaMal (Loi sur l'assurance-maladie), is regulated by the federal government. Its catalogue of covered treatments is identical from one insurer to the next, so the only real differences between providers are the price of the premium and the quality of customer service. Insurers cannot refuse you for basic cover, regardless of your age or state of health.

Premiums and deductibles

You pay a fixed monthly premium that depends on your insurer, your canton and your chosen deductible (the franchise). The deductible is the amount you agree to pay yourself each year before the insurer starts to contribute: choosing a higher deductible lowers your monthly premium but increases what you pay out of pocket when you need care. Adults can choose a yearly deductible between 300 and 2,500 Swiss francs.

Premium subsidies

Households on a modest income may be entitled to a premium reduction paid by their canton of residence. Eligibility and amounts vary from one canton to another, so it is worth contacting your cantonal social insurance office to check whether you qualify.

Supplementary insurance

On top of the compulsory basic cover, insurers offer optional supplementary policies for benefits such as a private or semi-private hospital room, dental treatment, alternative medicine or worldwide travel cover. Unlike basic insurance, supplementary cover is optional and insurers may screen your health before accepting you.

You can compare official premiums for every insurer and canton on the Swiss Confederation's price comparison tool at priminfo.admin.ch.