Health Insurance in Switzerland: Everything You Need to Know

Swiss law requires every resident to take out mandatory basic health insurance (Grundversicherung/LAMal) within 90 days of arriving in Switzerland. Coverage is backdated to your arrival date.

What does basic insurance cover?

Basic insurance covers doctor visits, hospitalisations, emergency care, maternity care, and a defined list of medications. It does NOT cover dental, glasses, or most alternative treatments.

How to choose a provider

All basic insurance plans cover the same services by law — the only differences are the premium and the insurer's service quality. Compare premiums on the federal comparator at priminfo.admin.ch. Helsana, CSS, Swica, and Sanitas are popular options.

Deductible (Franchise)

You choose an annual deductible between CHF 300 (minimum) and CHF 2,500. Higher deductible = lower monthly premium. If you rarely see a doctor, a higher deductible saves money overall.

The 90-day deadline

You must enrol within 90 days of arriving. Coverage is backdated to your arrival date, so even if you have a medical event in the first 90 days, you're covered. Missing the deadline means the canton assigns you an insurer and may charge extra.