Health Insurance Switzerland 2026 — Guide for Expats

Health insurance is mandatory for every person residing in Switzerland. Under the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG / LAMal), you must enroll within three months of taking up residence. All Swiss insurers offer legally identical basic coverage — what varies is the premium, the deductible (franchise), and the insurance model. Choosing well can save you several hundred to over CHF 1,000 per year.

Who Must Enroll in Swiss Health Insurance?

Every person with habitual residence in Switzerland must have mandatory basic health insurance (Grundversicherung / assurance de base), regardless of:

• Nationality
• Residency permit (B, C, G, L, or any other)
• Employment status

Deadline: You must enroll within three months of arrival or birth. Coverage is retroactive to the date of arrival.

If you fail to enroll in time, the cantonal authority will assign you to an insurer — at an unfavorable premium. Source: BAG

What Does Basic Health Insurance Cover?

The Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG) defines an identical minimum benefits package across all approved insurers. Basic coverage includes:

• Outpatient and inpatient medical treatment
• Doctor visits, specialist consultations, and emergency care
• Medically prescribed medications (listed in the Spezialitätenliste)
• Maternity care (no cost-sharing applies)
• Mental health treatment (psychotherapy)
• Certain preventive care and screenings

What basic insurance does NOT cover:

• Dental care (exception: accidents and specific conditions)
• Glasses and contact lenses (exception: children up to age 18)
• Private or semi-private hospital rooms (only general ward is covered)
• Alternative medicine (only under specific Telmed / supplementary plans)

How Much Does Swiss Health Insurance Cost?

Swiss health insurance premiums are set annually by each insurer and approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG). Premiums vary by:

• Canton of residence (costs of healthcare differ by region)
• Age group (children, young adults 18–25, adults 26+)
• Chosen deductible (franchise)
• Insurance model (standard, HMO, Hausarztmodell, Telmed)

Indicative monthly premiums — Adult (26+), Canton Zurich, 2025:

Deductible (Franchise)	Lowest premium	Average premium
CHF 300 (minimum)	~CHF 380/month	~CHF 490/month
CHF 1,000	~CHF 330/month	~CHF 425/month
CHF 2,500 (maximum)	~CHF 265/month	~CHF 345/month

Indicative figures. Use the official premium comparison tool at priminfo.admin.ch for current premiums.

Important: The same basic coverage applies regardless of which insurer or premium level you choose.

The Deductible (Franchise) — Your Most Important Decision

The franchise is the amount you pay out of pocket each year before insurance begins covering costs. You choose your franchise annually.

Franchise options for adults: CHF 300 · CHF 500 · CHF 1,000 · CHF 1,500 · CHF 2,000 · CHF 2,500

In addition to the franchise, you pay a 10% co-payment (Selbstbehalt) on costs above the franchise, up to a maximum of CHF 700 per year (adults) or CHF 350 (children).

How to choose:

• High franchise (CHF 2,500): Lower premiums — makes sense if you rarely visit the doctor and are generally healthy. You save on premiums and risk paying the full CHF 2,500 + CHF 700 co-payment in a bad year.
• Low franchise (CHF 300): Higher premiums — better if you have chronic conditions, plan surgery, or regularly visit specialists.

Rule of thumb: Compare the annual premium difference between the highest and lowest franchise. If it exceeds CHF 2,200 (CHF 2,500 franchise − CHF 300 = CHF 2,200 maximum extra cost), the lower franchise may pay off in a bad year.

Insurance Models — Save on Premiums

All models provide the same basic coverage. The difference is in how you access care:

Model	Premium discount	Restriction
Standard	None	Free choice of any doctor
Family doctor (Hausarztmodell)	10–15%	Must see your registered GP first
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)	15–25%	Must use a specific group practice
Telmed	10–20%	Must call a medical hotline first

Avenzo's comparison shows you the cheapest qualifying insurer for your chosen model and franchise.

Supplementary Insurance (Zusatzversicherung)

Basic insurance covers the general ward of a hospital in your canton. Supplementary insurance (Zusatzversicherung) is voluntary and privately negotiated:

• Semi-private ward: 2-bed rooms, choice of senior doctor
• Private ward: Single room, free choice of chief physician anywhere in Switzerland
• Dental insurance: Covers routine and major dental treatments
• Alternative medicine: Extended coverage for complementary therapies
• Travel and accident abroad: Additional coverage beyond mandatory limits

Supplementary insurance is subject to medical underwriting — pre-existing conditions may be excluded or charged at higher rates. Apply when you are young and healthy.

The Switching Deadline — November 30

You can switch your mandatory health insurance insurer once per year. The standard deadline is November 30, with the change taking effect January 1 of the following year.

How to switch:

1. Compare premiums (Avenzo or priminfo.admin.ch)
2. Apply to the new insurer
3. Cancel your existing insurer in writing (by November 30 — Avenzo can do this for you)
4. The new insurer confirms coverage from January 1

There is no waiting period — coverage is seamless. You cannot be refused by a Swiss mandatory insurer (open enrollment obligation).

Premium Subsidies (Prämienverbilligung)

Most cantons provide premium subsidies (Prämienverbilligung / réduction individuelle de primes) for low- and middle-income households. Each canton sets its own income thresholds and subsidy amounts.

Rough national guideline: Single persons earning below approximately CHF 56,000 per year should check their cantonal eligibility. Families with children benefit at higher income thresholds.

Contact your cantonal health authority or use Avenzo to check your subsidy eligibility automatically.

This article does not replace individual financial or insurance advice. All information without warranty.