1. Why Swiss Health Insurance Is Mandatory
Switzerland introduced compulsory basic health insurance in 1996 under the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG / LAMal). Every person residing in Switzerland — whether Swiss citizen, EU/EFTA national, or third-country expat — must enrol within three months of registering their address (Anmeldung). Children are covered from birth.
If you miss the three-month window, your canton's health authority assigns you to an insurer and retroactively charges premiums from your registration date. There is no opt-out: even if your employer provides private cover, you still need Swiss KVG basic insurance.
2. What KVG Basic Insurance Covers
All KVG insurers must offer identical basic coverage — the benefit catalogue is set by the federal government and cannot be reduced. What basic insurance pays for:
- GP and specialist consultations
- Hospital treatment in a shared ward (Allgemeine Abteilung) in your canton of residence
- Emergency treatment anywhere in Switzerland (and limited abroad)
- Maternity care — no deductible applies
- Prescription drugs on the federal list (Spezialitätenliste)
- Physiotherapy when prescribed by a doctor
- Psychotherapy (recognised therapists under medical supervision)
- Screening and preventive check-ups listed in the KVG catalogue
Not covered by basic insurance: dental treatment (except accidents), glasses and contact lenses, private or semi-private hospital rooms, treatment abroad beyond emergencies, and most complementary medicine. These require supplementary insurance (Zusatzversicherung / LCA).
3. Choosing Your Deductible (Franchise)
Your annual deductible (Franchise) is the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurer contributes. Adults choose between CHF 300 and CHF 2,500 per year; children between CHF 0 and CHF 600. The rule is simple: the higher your deductible, the lower your monthly premium.
| Franchise (CHF/yr) | Selbstbehalt (10% up to) | Monthly premium impact | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | + up to CHF 700 | Highest premium | Frequent healthcare users |
| 500 | + up to CHF 700 | Slightly lower | Moderate users |
| 1,000 | + up to CHF 700 | Noticeably lower | Occasional users |
| 1,500 | + up to CHF 700 | Lower | Rarely visit the doctor |
| 2,000 | + up to CHF 700 | Much lower | Healthy, young adults |
| 2,500 | + up to CHF 700 | Lowest premium | Fit adults with emergency-only needs |
The maths: if you are young and healthy and rarely visit a doctor, a CHF 2,500 franchise saves you roughly CHF 100–180 per month compared with the CHF 300 minimum — far more than the extra CHF 2,200 you might pay if you do fall ill. Run the numbers on priminfo.admin.ch before deciding.
4. Comparing Premiums by Canton
Premiums are not national — they are set per insurer per premium region (Prämienregion) within each canton. An identical policy can cost CHF 50–100 per month more in Zurich than in Appenzell Innerrhoden. Always compare using the federal government's official comparator at priminfo.admin.ch, which shows every approved insurer and plan for your specific postcode.
| Canton | Approx. avg. adult premium (CHF/mo, 2026) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva (GE) | ~ CHF 620–700 | Consistently among the most expensive |
| Basel-Stadt (BS) | ~ CHF 590–660 | High urban density, expensive |
| Zurich (ZH) | ~ CHF 550–630 | Varies significantly by city/suburb |
| Vaud (VD) | ~ CHF 530–610 | Lausanne area at the upper end |
| Bern (BE) | ~ CHF 480–560 | City vs. canton split |
| Zug (ZG) | ~ CHF 430–510 | Lower premiums, high incomes |
| Appenzell IR (AI) | ~ CHF 350–420 | Consistently one of the cheapest |
* Figures are illustrative averages for CHF 300 franchise standard plans. Always verify on priminfo.admin.ch for your exact postcode and chosen franchise.
5. How to Switch Your Swiss Health Insurer
Because all KVG plans offer the same basic benefits, switching purely on price is perfectly rational. The rules:
- Notice by 30 November → change takes effect 1 January the following year. This is the most common window.
- Notice by 31 August → change takes effect 1 October. Only available if your insurer raised its standard premium for the coming year.
- Mid-year switches are possible when you change your franchise at the start of the year, or when you move to a new canton.
- Send your cancellation by registered letter (Einschreiben) to your current insurer — email alone is not legally valid at most insurers.
- Enrol with your new insurer before you cancel — Swiss law guarantees the new insurer must accept you for basic cover (no medical vetting for KVG).
6. Claiming the Premium Subsidy (Prämienverbilligung / IPV)
Switzerland subsidises health insurance premiums for lower- and middle-income households through the Prämienverbilligung (PVB) — known in French as the subside de prime (IPV). Cantons fund and administer it, so amounts and eligibility criteria differ significantly. In some cantons a single adult earning up to CHF 70,000–80,000 per year may still qualify.
How to apply:
- Check your canton's threshold — look for "Prämienverbilligung" on your cantonal government's website (e.g., sozialversicherungsamt.zh.ch for Zurich).
- Submit your most recent tax assessment (Steuerveranlagung). New arrivals can usually use a salary slip and employment contract instead.
- Cantons either deduct the subsidy directly from your monthly premium (the insurer receives a reduced invoice) or pay you a refund.
- Reapply every year — your income may have changed, and thresholds are updated annually.
7. Supplementary Insurance (Zusatzversicherung)
Supplementary insurance is governed by private contract law (VVG / LCA) rather than KVG, which means insurers can reject you based on health questionnaires, and premiums depend on your age and medical history at sign-up. Unlike basic insurance, you cannot switch supplementary plans unconditionally.
Common supplementary modules:
- Hospital: semi-private (two-person room) or private (single room) cover, free choice of doctor and canton
- Dental: routine cleaning, fillings, orthodontics — usually a % reimbursement with an annual cap
- Vision: glasses and contact lenses, with annual limits
- Alternative medicine (Komplementärmedizin): homeopathy, acupuncture, osteopathy
- Travel: emergency care and repatriation abroad beyond the KVG emergency cap
- Outpatient top-up: broader drug list, more physiotherapy sessions
When to buy: ideally as soon as you arrive and before any health issues arise. Some insurers offer new-arrival windows that waive health questionnaires for a limited period — ask explicitly when you enrol.
8. Model Plans: Standard, HMO, Telmed & Family Doctor
KVG insurers offer several insurance models (Versicherungsmodelle) that all cover the same benefits but restrict how you access care — in exchange for lower premiums:
| Model | How access works | Premium saving |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (Freie Arztwahl) | See any doctor directly, no gatekeeping | None — reference price |
| Family Doctor (Hausarztmodell) | Register with a GP; referrals needed for specialists | ~5–15 % |
| HMO | Attend a designated health centre as first point of contact | ~10–20 % |
| Telmed | Call a medical hotline before seeing any doctor | ~10–20 % |
9. Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Swiss Health Insurance
- Step 1: Register your address (Anmeldung) at your local Einwohnerkontrolle. Your three-month enrolment deadline starts here.
- Step 2: Decide on your franchise — CHF 300 if you expect regular healthcare use; CHF 2,500 if you are healthy and cost-conscious.
- Step 3: Choose an insurance model (standard gives maximum flexibility; HMO or Telmed saves 10–20 % if you're comfortable with gatekeeping).
- Step 4: Compare all available plans on priminfo.admin.ch or comparis.ch for your exact postcode.
- Step 5: Apply directly with your chosen insurer — most have online forms; new arrivals are guaranteed acceptance for basic cover.
- Step 6: Receive your insurance card (Krankenkassenkarte / carte d'assuré) — you'll need it for every medical appointment.
- Step 7: Check your canton's premium subsidy eligibility and apply if your income qualifies.
- Step 8: Consider supplementary insurance while you're still healthy — request quotes and compare before your first medical appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is health insurance mandatory in Switzerland?+
Yes. Every person residing in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance (Grundversicherung / KVG) with a recognised Swiss insurer within three months of arrival or birth. Failure to enrol results in the cantonal authority assigning you to an insurer and back-charging premiums from the date of residence.
How does the Swiss deductible (Franchise) work?+
You choose an annual deductible — CHF 300 (minimum) to CHF 2,500 (maximum) for adults, CHF 0 to CHF 600 for children. You pay all costs up to your chosen deductible each calendar year; above that the insurer covers 90 % and you pay 10 % (Selbstbehalt) up to a further CHF 700 per year. A higher deductible means lower monthly premiums.
When can I switch my Swiss health insurer?+
You can switch your basic insurer every year by giving written notice by 30 November, effective 1 January. You can also switch mid-year if you change your deductible at the start of the year, or if you move canton. Supplementary (Zusatzversicherung) policies have their own notice periods — usually three to six months.
What is the Prämienverbilligung premium subsidy?+
Cantons subsidise health insurance premiums for low- and middle-income households. Eligibility and amounts vary by canton but are generally linked to your taxable income. Apply through your canton's social insurance office (for example, sozialversicherungsamt.ch in Zurich). Many eligible residents do not claim — check every year as thresholds change.
What does basic Swiss health insurance (KVG) cover?+
KVG covers doctor and specialist visits, hospitalisation in a general ward in your canton of residence, emergency treatment anywhere in Switzerland (and limited abroad), maternity care, most prescription drugs on the federal list, physiotherapy when prescribed, and mental health treatment. Dental, vision, private hospital rooms, and elective treatments abroad require supplementary insurance (Zusatzversicherung / LCA).
Do I need supplementary health insurance in Switzerland?+
Supplementary insurance is optional but can be valuable. Common additions include dental cover, private or semi-private hospital rooms, treatment at any Swiss hospital regardless of canton, and extended alternative medicine. Premiums depend on your age and health status at sign-up, so purchasing early is advantageous.
Related guides