Switzerland · Health insurance
Swiss health insurance explained: premiums, franchise and models
Switzerland is different from the rest of Europe: health insurance is not deducted from your salary. Everyone who lives there must buy a basic policy (LAMal / KVG) from a private insurer and pay the monthly premium themselves. In 2027 an adult pays on average CHF 487.60 a month, 4.9% more than in 2026, and premiums are lowest in Zug and highest in cantons like Geneva and Ticino.
The rules when you arrive
- You must take out basic insurance within 3 months of registering. Cover starts from your arrival date, so you pay backdated premiums.
- If you don’t, the canton assigns you an insurer, and you may pay a surcharge for late joining.
- Insurers must accept you for basic insurance whatever your age or health. The cover is the same with every insurer; only the price and service differ.
- Cross-border workers living in an EU country and some pensioners with an S1 form can choose to stay in their home system. You usually have 3 months to decide.
What you pay on top of the premium
| Cost | Adults | Children |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise (yearly deductible) you choose | CHF 300 to 2,500 | CHF 0 to 600 |
| Retention after the franchise | 10% of costs, up to CHF 700 a year | 10%, up to CHF 350 a year |
| Hospital stay contribution | CHF 15 a day (not for under-25s in education) | None |
Maternity care is free of franchise and retention.
So in a bad year an adult with the lowest franchise pays at most CHF 300 + CHF 700 = CHF 1,000 on top of the premiums; with the highest franchise, up to CHF 3,200.
Which franchise to choose
A higher franchise lowers your premium. By law the discount for the CHF 2,500 franchise can be at most 70% of the extra risk, so it saves at most about CHF 1,540 a year compared with CHF 300.
- If you expect medical bills below about CHF 1,800 a year, the CHF 2,500 franchise usually works out cheaper.
- If you have a chronic condition, regular medicines or expect a planned operation, choose CHF 300.
- The middle franchises (CHF 500 to 2,000) rarely pay off.
- Keep money aside to cover the franchise if you pick a high one.
Insurance models: cheaper if you accept limits
| Model | How it works | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Any doctor, directly | None |
| Family doctor | Always see your chosen GP first, except emergencies | Usually 10–20% cheaper |
| HMO | Use a health centre or network first | Often the cheapest |
| Telmed | Call a medical hotline or use an app before seeing a doctor | Usually 10–20% cheaper |
If you skip the first step without an emergency, the insurer can refuse to pay. Savings vary by insurer and canton.
Supplementary insurance
Basic insurance covers doctors, hospital in the general ward of your canton, medicines on the official list and maternity. Dental care, glasses, a private or semi-private hospital room and many alternative treatments need supplementary insurance (VVG / LCA). Here insurers can ask health questions and refuse you, and you can keep it with a different insurer from your basic policy.
Accident cover
If you work at least 8 hours a week for one employer, you are insured against accidents through your job. Ask your insurer to remove accident cover from your basic policy to save a few percent.
Switching and help with premiums
- You can change insurer for basic insurance every year: your cancellation must arrive by 30 November for a switch on 1 January. Insurers send the new prices by the end of October.
- Compare prices on the federal government’s official site, priminfo.admin.ch.
- Every canton pays premium subsidies to people on lower incomes. Some pay them automatically, others need an application.
- Premiums for basic insurance are partly tax-deductible, within a combined limit for insurance and savings interest.
General information, not insurance advice. ExpatCents is not an insurer or broker and does not sell policies. Always read the policy terms before you sign.
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Sources
This guide is general information based on the tax rules we could verify for 2026, not tax or financial advice. Rules change and personal situations differ, so check with the tax authority or a qualified adviser before you act. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].