Swiss health insurance for expats
Basic insurance is compulsory for every resident, and the choice is yours to make within a set deadline. We compare the market and handle the registration for you.
If you are moving to Switzerland, basic health insurance under the Federal Health Insurance Act (LAMal/KVG) is compulsory for every resident, regardless of nationality, age or existing cover abroad. There is no single national insurer: more than fifty private companies offer this basic cover on comparable terms set by federal law, and premiums for identical cover can differ substantially between them and between cantons. For swiss health insurance for expats arriving without local knowledge of the system, the number of insurers, models and deductible levels makes an informed choice difficult in the first weeks.
You have three months from the date your insurance obligation begins, generally the date you register with your commune of residence, to select an insurer and enrol. Cover then applies retroactively to that date, so a late enrolment does not leave you uninsured for the intervening period, but it does leave you responsible for any medical bills until the paperwork is completed. If you miss the deadline, the canton assigns you to an insurer of its choosing, and you lose the ability to compare premiums or select the deductible and model that would have suited you best.
How the Swiss health insurance system works
Basic insurance (LAMal) covers a legally defined set of benefits, including consultations, hospitalisation in your canton of residence in the general ward, maternity care, and most prescribed treatments and medication. Because the covered benefits are fixed by federal law, no insurer can offer a better basic package than another: the products are identical in substance, and the differences that matter are price, insurance model and service quality.
Insurers are, however, free to set their own premiums, which vary by canton, age bracket and the insurance model and deductible you choose. This is why comparing offers rather than picking the first available insurer, or the one recommended informally by a colleague in a different canton, is worth the time it takes.
Choosing your deductible and insurance model
The deductible (franchise) is the amount you pay yourself each calendar year before basic insurance starts contributing. For adults, the standard deductible is CHF 300, with optional higher levels of CHF 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 or 2,500; a higher deductible lowers your monthly premium but increases what you pay if you need care. Above the deductible, you also pay a co-payment of 10 percent of further costs, capped at CHF 700 per year for adults, so your maximum personal contribution to covered basic care in a given year is the deductible plus CHF 700.
Beyond the deductible, insurers offer several managed-care models: the standard model with free choice of doctor, the family doctor model where a designated general practitioner coordinates referrals, the HMO model built around a group practice, and telemedicine models where a first contact by phone or app is required before a specialist visit. Models that restrict your first point of contact typically carry a lower premium in exchange for that constraint, and the right choice depends on how you and your family actually use healthcare, not on price alone.
| Deductible (CHF) | Effect |
|---|---|
| 300 (standard) | Highest premium, lowest amount paid before cover starts |
| 500 to 2,500 | Lower premium as the deductible rises; higher personal cost if care is needed |
What basic insurance does not cover
Routine dental care is not covered by LAMal; only dental treatment required because of a serious illness of the masticatory system or its consequences falls within scope. Spectacles, most alternative medicine beyond a limited list of recognised methods, and private or semi-private hospital rooms also sit outside basic cover.
These gaps are addressed through supplementary insurance (LCA), which is optional, medically underwritten, and entirely separate in its rules from LAMal. Because supplementary policies can involve health questions and possible exclusions for pre-existing conditions, applying soon after arrival, while you have no local claims history yet, generally gives you more favourable terms than waiting.
Weighing deductible levels, insurance models and supplementary cover against your family's actual situation within a three-month window is exactly where our consultants save you time and costly missteps.
Request a pre-assessmentSwitching insurer once you are established
Once enrolled, you are not locked into your first choice indefinitely. You can change your basic insurer each year, provided your notice of cancellation reaches your current insurer by 30 November for a change effective 1 January. Some cantons and some higher-deductible contracts allow additional exit dates during the year, but the November deadline is the standard one to plan around.
Supplementary (LCA) contracts follow the notice terms set out in your policy rather than the LAMal calendar, and can be considerably harder to cancel or replace, which is another reason to choose them carefully at the outset rather than treating the decision as easily reversible.
What's Included
- Comparison of basic insurance premiums available in your canton
- Explanation of deductible levels and insurance models (standard, family doctor, HMO, telemedicine)
- An estimate of your likely annual cost under realistic scenarios for your household
- Guidance on supplementary cover (dental, optical, private ward, alternative medicine)
- Completion and submission of your enrolment with the chosen insurer
- A review of whether an exemption from LAMal may apply to your situation, for example for certain cross-border workers
Steps and Timeline
Review of your situation
We look at your household composition, any existing cover, health needs and budget to frame realistic options before comparing insurers.
Market comparison
We compare basic premiums and, where relevant, supplementary offers available in your canton and municipality, since premiums are set locally.
Deductible and model selection
We walk through the deductible levels and insurance models with you, and their trade-offs for your specific circumstances, so the choice is yours but informed.
Enrolment and confirmation
We prepare and submit the enrolment forms to the chosen insurer and follow up until you have confirmation of cover and your insurance card.
Common Mistakes
- Waiting until close to the three-month deadline, which leaves no time to compare insurers properly and risks an automatic cantonal assignment
- Choosing the highest deductible without the financial buffer to cover it if a medical need arises during the year
- Assuming dental care is included in basic insurance, then discovering the gap when a bill arrives
- Applying for supplementary insurance only after a health issue appears, when underwriting terms are far less favourable
- Confusing compulsory basic insurance (LAMal) with optional supplementary insurance (LCA), which have different rules on acceptance, cancellation and cost-sharing
Also Worth Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to get health insurance after moving to Switzerland?
How does the deductible (franchise) work under LAMal?
Does basic Swiss health insurance cover dental treatment?
Can I change my health insurer after my first year in Switzerland?
Can cross-border workers be exempt from Swiss basic health insurance?
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