If you are moving to Switzerland from London, Chicago, Mumbai or Singapore, health insurance is one of the first surprises. At home, cover may come from a national system, from an employer or from a private plan. In Switzerland, the state sets one compulsory basic cover and private companies sell it. This page walks through the idea in plain English, in the order things happen.
The idea in one minute
Switzerland has no single national health service that pays for everything. Instead, basic health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in the country. In French and Italian it is called LAMal (loi sur l'assurance-maladie), and in German KVG (Krankenversicherungsgesetz). All three names mean the same law.
Each insurer must accept every applicant for the basic cover, and the benefits are the same whichever company sells it. What differs is the price, the deductible you pick, the way you access care and the service. That is why newcomers often hear "compare the premiums" so often.
Who is covered by the obligation
The rule applies to people who are domiciled in Switzerland, meaning their official home is there. Children are included, so a baby born in Switzerland is part of the family's insurance picture from the start. The rule does not depend on nationality, so UK, US and Indian citizens are treated like Swiss citizens once they live there.
Some people arrive with cover from another country, for example from a posting abroad or from certain EU/EFTA arrangements. Whether they can be exempted depends on the situation and on the cantonal authority. This is a point for a specialist to look at, not a rule of thumb. The request at the bottom of the page is the place to describe it.
The three-month window
Basic health insurance is compulsory within three months of taking up residence (FOPH). That window starts when you register your home with the local commune, not when you land at the airport.
What happens next depends on timing:
- If the insurance is taken out within three months, cover is retroactive to the date of residence. Premiums are then due from that date too.
- If the window is missed, cover starts only on the date of affiliation. A premium surcharge can apply when the delay is not excused, and the cantonal authority can assign an insurer.
So the practical lesson is to start early. Many families begin comparing offers before they leave, then sign once their address is known. The health insurance for newcomers page lays out the first weeks in more detail.
What basic insurance covers, and what it does not
Basic cover pays for a defined list of medical care: doctor visits, hospital treatment in the general ward, prescribed medicines on the official list, many therapies, maternity care and more. See pregnancy and birth in Switzerland for an example of how a major life event is handled.
It does not usually pay for everything people expect from a private plan abroad. Dental care is mostly outside it. So are private or semi-private hospital rooms, many alternative treatments and some glasses and contact lenses. Those extras sit in optional plans, explained in supplementary insurance. They are separate contracts and can be declined by the insurer.
Accident cover is another topic. Employees are normally covered for accidents through their job, while others add it to their basic policy. Read the accident insurance page to see how the two fit together.
Premiums: what to expect
Premiums are paid monthly, per person, and are not linked to income. A child has a lower premium than an adult. They rise most years. In 2026, the average monthly premium for an adult is around CHF 465.3 (FOPH). Treat this as an order of magnitude only: the real price depends on the canton, the insurer, the age group, the deductible and the model.
Because premiums are the same inside each region for each insurer, the biggest levers are the deductible and the model. The what health insurance costs page goes further into the budget side.
Deductible and cost sharing
The deductible (franchise) is the part of your medical bills that you pay yourself each year before the insurer starts to reimburse. After that, you pay a smaller share of the bill, called the co-payment. The ordinary deductible for an adult is CHF 300 a year, and there is none for children. Adults can instead pick an optional deductible of CHF 500, CHF 1,000, CHF 1,500, CHF 2,000 or CHF 2,500, in exchange for a lower premium (FOPH).
A higher deductible lowers the monthly bill but raises the cost in a year with heavy medical use. A family with healthy adults and a toddler who is often at the doctor will look at it differently from a couple who rarely see a physician. The deductible and insurance model page covers this choice in depth.
Insurance models
Besides the deductible, insurers offer models that change how you reach care. The standard model lets you see most doctors directly. Other models, such as a family doctor model or a telemedicine first model, reduce the premium in return for going through a set first contact point. The details differ by insurer and region. The how Swiss health insurance works page explains the vocabulary in plain English.
A fictional example: a family arriving from Singapore
Example: a couple and two school-age children arrive from Singapore for a job in Zurich. They register at the commune, learn that the three-month window has begun and request offers for all four members. They compare the same basic cover across several companies, decide on different deductibles for adults and children, and sign well within the window. Because the policy is signed in time, cover reaches back to the day they registered.
What to prepare from abroad
Before you leave, you can collect a few things that make the process smoother:
- Passports and, once known, the permit details (see the B permit)
- The date you expect to register at the commune
- A list of regular medicines and treatments in the family
- Vaccination records and a summary from your current doctor
- Proof of previous insurance, where the new insurer asks for it
- A rough list of who in the family will be insured
The Swiss relocation calendar helps place these steps in the right order, and the glossary explains the local words you will meet on forms.
When your situation is not standard
Some arrivals are not straightforward: cover from an employer abroad, a posting that keeps social security in the home country, students, retirees or people on short stays. In those cases the general rule above still exists, but exemptions and special arrangements may apply. A specialist can look at the details and explain the options. The request at the bottom of the page is the way to ask for that.
Frequently asked questions
Is health insurance really compulsory in Switzerland?
Yes. Basic health insurance is compulsory for people domiciled in Switzerland. The law is called LAMal in French and Italian, and KVG in German.
What does LAMal stand for?
It is short for loi fédérale sur l'assurance-maladie, the federal health insurance law. The same basic cover is also described as the basic insurance or compulsory insurance.
When does the obligation start?
It starts when you take up residence in Switzerland. Basic insurance is compulsory within three months of that date (FOPH).
What happens if I sign after the three months?
Cover then starts only on the date of affiliation. A premium surcharge can apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority can assign an insurer.
Is cover retroactive if I sign in time?
Yes. If the three-month window is respected, cover reaches back to the date of residence, and premiums are due from that date as well.
Can I take out Swiss insurance before I move?
Some insurers accept applications before arrival once an address is known or a start date is set. Details differ by company, so it is a question for the insurer or a specialist.
Does the state pay for it?
No. Individuals pay premiums to a private insurer. Reductions may exist for households with limited means, depending on the canton.
Are all insurers offering the same benefits?
The basic benefits are set by law and are the same. The price, deductible options, models and service quality vary.
Can an insurer refuse me for basic cover?
No. For basic cover, insurers must accept applicants who live in their region. This is not true for supplementary plans.
Are children insured too?
Yes. Children are part of the obligation and have their own policy and premium. The ordinary deductible for a child is none (FOPH).
Is my spouse covered by my policy?
No. Each person has an individual policy, even within a family. Premiums are set per person.
Does my premium depend on my income?
No. Basic premiums are not linked to income. They depend on the insurer, region, age group, deductible and model.
What is the average premium?
In 2026, the average monthly premium for an adult is around CHF 465.3 (FOPH). It is only an order of magnitude and real offers differ.
What is a deductible?
It is the amount of medical costs you pay yourself each year before the insurer begins to reimburse. After it, a co-payment applies to the rest.
Which deductibles exist?
The ordinary adult deductible is CHF 300 a year. Optional levels are CHF 500, CHF 1,000, CHF 1,500, CHF 2,000 and CHF 2,500, with a premium reduction (FOPH).
Is a high deductible a good idea?
It depends on expected medical use and on how much unexpected cost a household can absorb. A specialist can look at your case; the deductible page explains the logic.
Does basic insurance cover dental care?
Mostly no. Dental care is largely outside basic cover, apart from specific medical cases. Optional plans may add part of it.
Does it cover a private hospital room?
No. Basic cover pays for the general ward. Private or semi-private rooms belong to supplementary plans.
Do I need supplementary insurance as well?
It is optional. Whether it is useful depends on preferences and health needs. See supplementary insurance.
Can I use my foreign insurance instead?
In some cases an exemption is possible, but it depends on the situation and is decided by the cantonal authority. A specialist can examine the details.
What about accidents?
Employees are normally covered through work, and others can add accident cover to the basic policy. See accident insurance.
Can I change insurer later?
Yes, under the usual notice rules of the contract. Details of timing and conditions depend on the policy, so the insurer or a specialist can confirm.
Who can help me sort this out from abroad?
Relocation Swiss connects you with a relocation company that fits your need. Use the request at the bottom of the page.