Do I need Swiss health insurance?

Yes. Everyone living in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance (KVG/LAMal) regardless of nationality, income, age, or employment status.

When do I need to register?

Within 3 months of your arrival / cantonal registration (Gemeinde). The clock starts from the day you registered at your commune, not from permit approval.

What if I wait — am I uninsured until I sign up?

No. If you register within the 3-month window, coverage applies retroactively to your arrival date. You can sign up on day 1 or day 85 — the start date is the same. Premiums are owed retroactively from arrival.

What happens if I miss the 3-month deadline?

Your canton assigns you an insurer with no choice of franchise or model, and coverage starts only from late enrolment — not arrival — so costs in the gap are uncovered. A premium surcharge applies if the delay has no good reason. This is the most common and costly newcomer mistake, but it is easy to avoid.

Does my insurance from home cover me?

Almost certainly no. Foreign and international policies do not satisfy the Swiss KVG requirement. Once you are a Swiss resident you need a Swiss-approved insurer. You may keep a foreign plan as a supplement, but it does not replace KVG.

No. Every Swiss-approved insurer must accept any applicant for basic insurance regardless of age, health, or pre-existing conditions. No medical examination is required.

Do I need separate policies for my partner and children?

Yes. One policy per person — there are no family or couple contracts for basic insurance. Newborns should be registered during pregnancy; coverage applies retroactively from birth.

Are there exemptions?

A narrow set of situations may qualify (certain students, posted workers). Exemptions exist — check kvg.org for an official assessment. We do not assess individual eligibility. Separately, if your income is low, your canton may cover part of your premium through the individual premium subsidy (Prämienreduktion / IPV — Individuelle Prämienverbilligung). This is not an exemption but a subsidy: you still hold a policy, and the canton pays a share. The threshold and amount vary by canton — apply through your cantonal social insurance office.

What insurance models exist (HMO, Telmed, standard) and what do they mean?

Standard allows you to visit any doctor or specialist directly. HMO requires a first visit to the HMO group practice before seeing a specialist. Telmed requires a call to the telephone hotline first. Family doctor (Hausarztmodell): you designate one GP as first contact. All models cover the same legal benefits — restricted models carry a lower premium in exchange for less direct access.

What does basic insurance actually cover?

Emergency treatment, GP and specialist visits, hospital stays in the general ward of your canton's hospitals, approved medications, maternity care, and some preventive measures (e.g. screenings). It does not cover dental care (except accident-related injury), glasses, private or semi-private hospital rooms, or most alternative medicine.

Can I deduct my health insurance premiums from Swiss taxes?

The premium itself is not directly deductible as a specific item. A flat-rate deduction for health and accident costs applies when filing (amounts vary by canton and family situation). Lower-income residents may also qualify for individual premium subsidies (IPV) from their canton — check the cantonal social insurance office.

I'm a cross-border commuter (Grenzgänger) — do I need Swiss insurance?

It depends on your country of employment and residence. Many cross-border workers have a right of option (Optionsrecht) to insure in either their country of residence or Switzerland, under bilateral agreements. This is country-specific and individual — we do not assess eligibility. Check with your employer's HR department or the relevant bilateral authority.

I just moved to Switzerland — what do I need to do about health insurance?

Everyone living in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance (KVG/LAMal) within 3 months of registering at their commune, regardless of nationality, income or job. Coverage is backdated to your arrival date, so signing up on day 1 or day 85 gives the same start date. Every insurer must accept you — no medical exam, no rejection.

Step-by-step — what do I actually do?

Register at your commune (Gemeinde) within 14 days of arrival — this starts the 3-month insurance clock.
Enter your postcode and age in the comparison tool — see every insurer and premium for your profile.
Use the franchise tool — 5 minutes, shows which franchise costs you least for your expected healthcare use.
Apply directly on your chosen insurer's website — free, 10 minutes, no broker needed.
Coverage is backdated to your arrival date.
Set a reminder for next October — premiums change annually, and you can switch every 30 November.

Compare every Swiss basic-insurance premium for your profile

FAQ

Do I need Swiss health insurance?: Yes. Everyone living in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance (KVG/LAMal) regardless of nationality, income, age, or employment status.
When do I need to register?: Within 3 months of your arrival / cantonal registration (Gemeinde). The clock starts from the day you registered at your commune, not from permit approval.
What if I wait — am I uninsured until I sign up?: No. If you register within the 3-month window, coverage applies retroactively to your arrival date. You can sign up on day 1 or day 85 — the start date is the same. Premiums are owed retroactively from arrival.
What happens if I miss the 3-month deadline?: Your canton assigns you an insurer with no choice of franchise or model, and coverage starts only from late enrolment — not arrival — so costs in the gap are uncovered. A premium surcharge applies if the delay has no good reason. This is the most common and costly newcomer mistake, but it is easy to avoid.
Does my insurance from home cover me?: Almost certainly no. Foreign and international policies do not satisfy the Swiss KVG requirement. Once you are a Swiss resident you need a Swiss-approved insurer. You may keep a foreign plan as a supplement, but it does not replace KVG.
Can I be rejected?: No. Every Swiss-approved insurer must accept any applicant for basic insurance regardless of age, health, or pre-existing conditions. No medical examination is required.
Do I need separate policies for my partner and children?: Yes. One policy per person — there are no family or couple contracts for basic insurance. Newborns should be registered during pregnancy; coverage applies retroactively from birth.
Are there exemptions?: A narrow set of situations may qualify (certain students, posted workers). Exemptions exist — check kvg.org for an official assessment. We do not assess individual eligibility. Separately, if your income is low, your canton may cover part of your premium through the individual premium subsidy (Prämienreduktion / IPV — Individuelle Prämienverbilligung). This is not an exemption but a subsidy: you still hold a policy, and the canton pays a share. The threshold and amount vary by canton — apply through your cantonal social insurance office.
What insurance models exist (HMO, Telmed, standard) and what do they mean?: Standard allows you to visit any doctor or specialist directly. HMO requires a first visit to the HMO group practice before seeing a specialist. Telmed requires a call to the telephone hotline first. Family doctor (Hausarztmodell): you designate one GP as first contact. All models cover the same legal benefits — restricted models carry a lower premium in exchange for less direct access.
What does basic insurance actually cover?: Emergency treatment, GP and specialist visits, hospital stays in the general ward of your canton's hospitals, approved medications, maternity care, and some preventive measures (e.g. screenings). It does not cover dental care (except accident-related injury), glasses, private or semi-private hospital rooms, or most alternative medicine.
Can I deduct my health insurance premiums from Swiss taxes?: The premium itself is not directly deductible as a specific item. A flat-rate deduction for health and accident costs applies when filing (amounts vary by canton and family situation). Lower-income residents may also qualify for individual premium subsidies (IPV) from their canton — check the cantonal social insurance office.
I'm a cross-border commuter (Grenzgänger) — do I need Swiss insurance?: It depends on your country of employment and residence. Many cross-border workers have a right of option (Optionsrecht) to insure in either their country of residence or Switzerland, under bilateral agreements. This is country-specific and individual — we do not assess eligibility. Check with your employer's HR department or the relevant bilateral authority.