Swiss health insurance, explained simply

The KVG/LAMal (Health Insurance Act) requires everyone living in Switzerland to have basic insurance. You must take out insurance within 3 months of arriving or of a child's birth.

• The cover is the same with every insurer. The law sets the list of benefits. A cheaper insurer does not treat you any worse.
• No insurer can turn you down for basic insurance, whatever your age or state of health.
• Only the price changes, depending on the insurer, where you live, your age, your deductible and your model.

Supplementary insurance (VVG/LCA: dentist, private room, alternative medicine…) is optional. There, the insurer may ask health questions and refuse you.

Your insurance costs you three things:

1. The premium: the fixed amount every month.
2. The deductible (“franchise”): the first francs of medical costs each year, which you pay yourself (CHF 300 to 2'500 for adults, 0 to 600 for children).
3. The co-payment: after that, you still pay 10% of the costs, up to CHF 700 a year (CHF 350 for a child).

If you stay in hospital, add CHF 15 a day (except for children and young people in education).

Example: an adult with a CHF 300 deductible has CHF 3'000 of costs in the year.

With the CHF 300 deductible, the most you pay in a year is therefore CHF 1'000 (300 + 700), on top of premiums.

The higher the deductible, the lower the premium. But you pay more if you fall ill.

• Few medical costs (less than about CHF 1'800 a year): the CHF 2'500 deductible is usually the cheapest overall.
• Regular costs (chronic illness, monthly medication, planned operation): choose CHF 300.
• The deductibles in between (500 to 2'000) are rarely the best deal.
• With a high deductible, set aside the money you save so you can pay if something happens.

When to change? To lower your deductible, tell your insurer before 30 November 2026. To raise it, you have until the end of December (check the exact date with your insurer).

Our comparison automatically recommends the cheapest deductible based on your answer to “How often do you see a doctor?”, or on the exact amount of your costs. In the results, move the slider to compare the total cost of each deductible.

Besides the standard model (free choice of doctor), insurers offer cheaper models:

• Family doctor: you always see your family doctor first.
• HMO: you go to a group practice (HMO centre) first.
• Telmed: you call a medical helpline first, 24 hours a day.
• Pharmacy / combined: you start at the pharmacy or choose your first point of contact.

If you work at least 8 hours a week for the same employer, your employer already insures you against accidents (UVG/LAA).

• Ask your health insurer to suspend the accident cover. Your premium drops a little (often by a few per cent).
• Important: when you stop working (retirement, unemployment, end of contract), reactivate it with your insurer straight away.

• late Sept.The Confederation publishes the new premiums. Compare!
• late Oct.Your insurer must have sent you your new premium by now.
• 30 Nov.Your cancellation letter must have arrived at your insurer (send it by registered mail a few days earlier).
• 1 Jan.You are insured with your new insurer.
• 31 MarchMid-year switch (on 1 July): only possible with the basic deductible (CHF 300 / 0) and the standard model.

Each family member can be with a different insurer.

If your income is modest, your canton may pay part of your premiums: this is the individual premium reduction (subsidy).

• In some cantons it is granted automatically based on your tax return. In others, you have to apply.
• An estimated one in five people entitled to it never applies. Find out, even if you are retired.
• Contact your canton's premium reduction office, your municipality or Pro Senectute.

Premium reductions explained on ch.ch

• Cold calls: since September 2024, unsolicited calls from brokers are banned. Don't sign anything over the phone. Hang up.
• Brokers: they are paid by the insurers. They don't always offer you the cheapest deal.
• Fake comparison sites: some sites ask for your phone number to sell your data. A real comparison site doesn't need it.
• Supplementary insurance: it is often offered at the same time. Take time to think: it is not compulsory.

1. Compare every year in late September: the cheapest insurer changes often.
2. Switching basic insurer is risk-free: same cover, and no one can turn you down.
3. Choose your deductible according to your health: 300 or 2'500, rarely in between.
4. A family doctor or Telmed model often saves 10 to 20%.
5. Employed? Suspend the accident cover.
6. Keep your supplementary insurance until you have been accepted elsewhere.
7. Send your cancellation by registered mail, at least a week before the deadline.
8. Apply for a premium reduction if money is tight.

KVG / LAMal

Health Insurance Act: the compulsory basic insurance.

VVG / LCA / supplementary

Optional insurance on top of the basic cover.

Premium

What you pay every month.

Deductible (franchise)

The yearly amount of costs you pay before the insurer pays.

Co-payment

10% of the costs after the deductible, max. CHF 700 a year.

Premium region

Some cantons have up to 3 regions with different prices (cities are often dearer).

FOPH

Federal Office of Public Health: it approves the premiums.