If you are moving to Switzerland from London, Chicago, Mumbai or Singapore, health insurance is one of the first systems that will feel unfamiliar. There is no national health service that simply covers you. Instead, every resident takes out private basic insurance, and the rules about timing are strict. The good news: the process is predictable once you know the order.
This guide walks through swiss health insurance for expats step by step, from what you can prepare before you leave to what happens in the first three months after you arrive.
The one rule everything else depends on
Anyone who lives in Switzerland is required to have basic health insurance. The law gives a window of three months from the day you take up residence to arrange it. If you meet that window, cover is retroactive to your arrival date, which also means premiums are due from that date. If the window is missed, cover starts only when you join, a surcharge can apply for an unexcused delay, and the canton can assign an insurer for you.
So the three-month window is generous, but it is not a reason to wait. Retroactive cover means a late sign-up does not save money; it only leaves you without a policy in the meantime. Details of the rule are on our page about LAMal, the mandatory health insurance.
Your first three months, in order
Before you leave home
Most of the work that makes the Swiss side easy happens in your current country. It helps to prepare:
- A copy of passports and, for children, birth certificates.
- Your move date and the address where you will live, because insurers and the commune work from your place of residence.
- Any record of previous health cover, such as a letter from a home insurer. It is not always requested, but it can be useful for supplementary products.
- A list of regular medications, with their generic names, so a Swiss doctor can find an equivalent.
- Your children's vaccination records.
Many newcomers also ask their employer whether an insurance arrangement or a contact point exists. Employers differ widely here, and the basic policy is always an individual contract.
Arrival and registration
After you arrive, the local commune (Gemeinde) is the first stop. The reference period for announcing your arrival is 14 days. Registration confirms your residence, and that date is what starts the insurance clock. Our first weeks in Switzerland guide describes what daily life looks like around this stage.
Choosing a policy
Basic insurance (called LAMal in French and Italian, KVG in German) covers the same core list of benefits at every insurer. What changes is the price, the deductible (franchise), and the model, such as seeing a family doctor first. You can read how each choice works in choosing your deductible and insurance model and how Swiss health insurance works, in plain English.
Because the benefits are set by law, comparing basic policies is mostly about premium and model. Extra comfort, such as private hospital rooms or dental, belongs to optional cover; see supplementary insurance.
Signing up
Once you have chosen, the insurer sends a confirmation and an insurance card, and billing begins. For cover that is retroactive to arrival, premiums are due from that date. An insurer generally cannot refuse basic cover to a person who lives in Switzerland, although supplementary products are assessed individually.
EU/EFTA citizens and people from third countries
The obligation applies to all residents, whatever the passport. The difference lies in the permit stage. Citizens of EU and EFTA countries come under free movement, while people from the UK, the US, India, Canada, Australia, the Gulf, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan or Korea follow the third-country route and need an admission decision first. A permit overview shows which route fits a given situation.
For some people, such as those posted from another EU country or receiving a pension from abroad, an exemption from the Swiss system can exist. Whether that applies depends on the cantonal authority and the individual file, so it is a point to raise with a specialist rather than assume.
Families, couples and children
Every family member has an individual policy. A child is insured separately from birth, and the same three-month window applies to children who move with you. Premiums for children are usually lower, and the choice of model and deductible can differ from the parents'.
Example: a couple arrives from Toronto with two school-age children. All four are registered with the commune, each receives a policy, and they decide together whether the children share the parents' insurer. Splitting insurers is allowed, but a single insurer often makes paperwork simpler.
If a baby is expected, maternity benefits come under the basic policy within legal limits. Read more in pregnancy and birth in Switzerland and maternity and parental leave.
For relatives who join later, family reunification for third-country nationals has its own timetable, with a reference period of five years after the permit of the person already in Switzerland (twelve months for children over twelve). Insurance follows the same logic: it starts when each person takes up residence.
Costs, accident cover and the rest
Basic insurance is paid by monthly premium, with a deductible and a share of costs on top. Figures change every year, so check the current picture on the page about what health insurance costs.
Accident cover is a separate question. Employees are usually covered through their employer, while people without a job arrange it inside the health policy. See accident insurance and beyond health: other insurance in Switzerland.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the last day and then finding that insurers are slow to confirm.
- Choosing the lowest premium without understanding the deductible.
- Forgetting a newborn, who is also subject to the rule.
- Assuming that travel or expat insurance from home replaces Swiss basic cover once residence begins. It generally does not.
- Missing the retroactive premiums when budgeting the first month.
If you want a human to look at the details, the request form at the bottom of the page puts you in touch with a relocation company that suits the situation. You can also build your own timeline with the relocation calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance compulsory in Switzerland?
Yes. Everyone who lives in Switzerland needs basic cover, and the rule applies from the date of taking up residence, with a window of three months to arrange it.
When does the three-month window start?
It starts on the date you take up residence, usually the day you move in and register. That date is also the start date of retroactive cover.
What happens if I sign up in the second month?
Cover is retroactive to your arrival date, so premiums are due from then. Treatment that happened in between is generally covered once the policy exists.
What if the three months pass without a policy?
Cover starts only when you join. A surcharge can apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority can assign an insurer.
Can I arrange insurance before I arrive?
Offers are usually tied to your Swiss address and arrival date, so the formal sign-up often happens close to arrival. Preparing documents and comparing models can be done earlier.
Does my UK, US or Indian health insurance count?
Not as a replacement. Private international policies can complement Swiss cover, but the compulsory basic policy is still required once you are resident.
Do EU and EFTA citizens have to take Swiss insurance too?
In general, yes, if they live in Switzerland. Some exemptions exist for particular situations, decided by the cantonal authority.
Do I choose the insurer or is one assigned?
You choose. An insurer is assigned by the canton only if the deadline is missed.
Are all basic policies the same?
The covered benefits are set by law and are the same. Premiums, deductibles and models differ.
Can an insurer refuse me?
For basic cover, insurers in principle cannot decline a resident. Supplementary products are assessed individually and can be declined.
Does basic insurance cover dental care?
Routine dental care is generally not included. Optional supplementary products may cover part of it.
Are my children insured automatically?
No. Each child needs an individual policy, within the same three-month window.
Can the whole family use one insurer?
Yes, and many do for simplicity, but each person still has a separate contract.
Does basic insurance cover pregnancy and birth?
Yes, within the legal benefit list. Details depend on the policy and on the stage of pregnancy, so it is useful to read the maternity page.
Is accident cover included?
For employees, usually through the employer. For others, it is arranged inside the health policy. See the accident insurance page.
What is the difference between deductible and model?
The deductible is the part of costs you pay before the insurer pays. The model sets how you access care, for example through a family doctor first.
Can I change insurer later?
Yes, insurers can be changed under the rules and deadlines that apply each year. A notice period applies, so changes are planned ahead.
Do I pay premiums while I am abroad on holiday?
Yes. The premium runs as long as the policy runs, and travel cover for emergencies abroad is a separate matter.
Should I keep my home insurance?
Whether to keep it depends on the product and on what you want it to cover. A specialist can look at the specifics during the contact request.
Does insurance affect my permit?
The permit is decided by the authorities. Proof of insurance can be requested as part of the file, so keep the policy documents tidy.
Who can help me compare options?
A relocation company from our network can go through the choices with you once you send a request. Comparing models first on the deductible page makes the conversation quicker.
Is retroactive cover really retroactive?
Yes, when the policy is taken within the legal window. The start date is your date of taking up residence, and premiums are due from that date.