Switzerland Health Insurance for Expats - The Swiss Healthcare System (2024)

Health insurance in Switzerland is provided by around 60 authorised non-profit health insurers, which offer compulsory and supplemental health insurance for all residents. As an expat, you are obligated to buy an insurance policy from one of these insurers, and if you want, you can purchase additional supplemental medical insurance. Compulsory health insurance in Switzerland is paid for by your premiums, co-payments, and federal and cantonal funding. The price of insurance premiums is not affected by your income, but they vary depending on the canton, the insurer, and the type of insurance.

Those who cannot afford the premiums, i.e., low-income households, receive subsidised premiums. You’re to choose your insurer and type of policy, e.g., whether you want an optional deductible and free or unrestricted choice of the medical provider.

How Does the Healthcare System Work in Switzerland?

Switzerland has a mix of public and private healthcare systems where the government regulates the healthcare act while non-profit private providers offer health insurance. Medical insurance in Switzerland is mandatory, and all residents must purchase a health insurance plan after entering the country.

Unlike in other EU countries, health insurance is not connected to employment in Switzerland. All residents are responsible for choosing their insurance provider and taking out proper insurance. Alongside compulsory insurance, they also have the option to purchase supplemental insurance for additional benefits.

To buy health insurance in Switzerland, policyholders must pay their premium and a co-payment amount. Then, after visiting a healthcare provider, their medical costs are reimbursed by their provider between 80% to 100%.

Health Insurance for Expats in Switzerland

If you’re an expat living in Switzerland, you must purchase your health insurance within three months of entering the country as follows:

1. Retrieve your residence permit. After you enter the country, you must register with your nearest cantonal immigration office within 14 days of arrival. This is required to receive your residence permit. Depending on the length of your stay, your residence permit is valid for up to five years. Then, you need to sign up for health insurance.
2. Find your insurance provider. There are around 60 health insurance providers in Switzerland with which you can sign up for compulsory health insurance. You can find a full list of Swiss insurance providers here. You have the freedom to choose any provider you wish, and health insurers cannot refuse compulsory insurance applications based on age, health, or socioeconomic status.
3. Purchase your insurance. Once you have selected the insurance provider which suits you the best, you can purchase your policy. You may be required to submit documents such as your ID, residence permit copy, address proof, etc. Make sure you contact your chosen insurer to find out which documents you need.
4. Retrieve your insurance card. Once your affiliation with an insurance provider is approved, you receive your insurance card. This insurance card contains various data such as your personal information, your address, your information regarding supplemental insurance, etc. It can also contain your personal health history, which is helpful in cases of emergency. You need this card when you visit a healthcare provider for billing purposes, so make sure you bring the card with you.

If you haven’t purchased any expat health insurance policy for Switzerland yet, you can compare plans at International Citizens Insurance.

If you are travelling to Switzerland for a holiday, a business trip, or another type of short-term visit which lasts less than 181 days, then you should get travel insurance for Switzerland.

What Does Compulsory Health Insurance Cover in Switzerland?

Compulsory health insurance in Switzerland is comprehensive and covers a myriad of conditions:

• Doctor visits and all medical treatments.
• Hospital treatments.
• Medicines that are included in the list of pharmaceutical specialities (around 2,500 different medicines are covered).
• Preventative medicine.
• Maternity.
• Physiotherapy.
• Complementary medicine such as acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), pharmacotherapy, classical hom*oeopathy, etc., if it is prescribed and provided by a licensed specialist.
• Spectacles and lenses in cases of serious eye disease.
• Aids and appliances, if they are included in the aids and Appliances list.

Dental is covered only for serious diseases, and basic procedures such as dental fillings and orthodontic treatments are not included.

Is Health Insurance Mandatory in Switzerland?

The following categories of people are required to have health insurance in Switzerland:

• All legal residents in Switzerland, regardless of nationality.
• All those possessing a residence permit for longer than three months.
• All those working in Switzerland, including those staying for less than three months, if they do not have equivalent health insurance from another country.
• Expats who are moving to Switzerland to live long-term.
• EU/EFTA or UK nationals working in Switzerland are residents in an EU country, Iceland, Norway, or the UK.
• EU/EFTA or UK nationals who receive a Swiss pension of unemployment benefits but are residents in an EU country, Iceland, Norway, or the UK.
• Swiss citizens or residents temporarily sent by their employer abroad for work.

Compulsory Health Insurance Exemptions in Switzerland

Certain categories of people can be exempt from compulsory health insurance in Switzerland:

• Those who live in Switzerland but work in another EEA/EFTA state or the UK.
• Those who receive a pension from another EEA/EFTA state or the UK.
• Those who work for a diplomatic or consular mission or are employees of an international organisation.
• Those who stay in Switzerland temporarily for study purposes have health insurance equivalent to that of Swiss insurance.
• Those who are cross-border workers or pensioner residents in other EU/EFTA states can take out health insurance in their country of residence.

To be exempted from compulsory health insurance in Switzerland, you need to submit an application to your cantonal authority responsible for health insurance. You must submit the application within three months after the requirement for health insurance begins.

What Happens If I Don’t Take Out Medical Insurance in Switzerland?

If you don’t take out health insurance in Switzerland, your local health office will sign you up with an insurer of their choosing three months after you enter the country. You may also pay a surcharge for not taking out insurance at the designated period.

Does Switzerland Have Free Healthcare?

Switzerland does not have free healthcare; in fact, it can be more expensive than other European countries. However, because health insurance is mandatory, everyone is insured, and those with a low income can benefit from social benefits or subsidies regarding health insurance.

Cost of Health Insurance in Switzerland

Healthcare is not free in Switzerland; you need to purchase your insurance policy and pay the following costs:

• Insurance premiums.
• Co-payment.

Insurance Premiums in Switzerland

Premiums are monthly payments that differ from canton to canton; you usually pay this in advance, and the average price for premiums in Switzerland goes as follows:

Prices for insurance premiums in Switzerland tend to change between regions, so be prepared for price variations.

*Please note that in 2022 price reductions for premiums are expected, and the premium price for an adult will amount to CHF 315.30.

Co-payment for Health Insurance in Switzerland

Co-payments are a portion of the payment you are in charge of paying in the following ways:

• A standard deductible of CHF 300 per year.
• A retention fee of 10% of the remaining amount that is capped at a maximum of CHF 700 per year (CHF 350 for children and teenagers). The retention fee is 20% for medicines for which there is a lesser expensive equivalent.
• A daily hospital fee of CHF 15 for every day spent in the hospital.

For maternity-related medical services, co-payment is not required. For certain services, such as screening for colon cancer and mammography, you’re not required to pay the deductible.

How Does the Payment System Go?

There are two payment systems, depending on whether your medical provider has an agreement with your insurer for direct payment:

• Tears garant system— where you pay for the medical services out of pocket and then receive reimbursem*nt by your insurance provider, or
• Tiers payant system— where your insurance company pays your medical provider (doctor, hospital, emergency services, etc.) directly and you don’t have to pay anything (other than your deductible and co-payment).

Supplemental Health Insurance in Switzerland

In addition to the compulsory health insurance scheme, you can purchase voluntary supplemental health insurance. As a result, you can get coverage for benefits not included within the mandatory insurance policy.

For supplemental health insurance, you can choose the same provider you have for obligatory insurance or a different provider. In this case, some expats even prefer to purchase an international private health insurance policy from a company that caters to expats.

Some private insurance companies that offer supplemental insurance for expats in Switzerland include:

• Allianz Care.
• Cigna Global.
• AXA

Tips on How to Save Money on Insurance in Switzerland

Health insurance can be expensive in Switzerland, so here are a few tips and tricks on how to save money on your premiums:

• Compare health insurance plans. Several companies offer mandatory health insurance in Switzerland, and even though prices for compulsory insurance are more or less the same, there is a difference in the quality of services. To compare and see the most affordable plan, you can use the premium calculator offered by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG), which you can find here. The calculator will also display a potential savings prediction.
• Set a higher deductible. As a part of the co-payment, you must pay a deductible of CHF 300. But, you can set this deductible even higher, lowering your premium price.
• Include an optional deductible. In addition to your mandatory deductible, you can also opt for a voluntary deductible if your insurer provides this service. With your mandatory and voluntary deductible, your premium price goes even lower.
• Restrict choice of physicians. You can lower your premium price if you opt for a plan where you always have to see your GP first, and then they can refer you to a specialist if required. This way, you restrict your choice of physicians, but if you combine this with an optional deductible, price reductions are limited.
• Opt out of accident coverage. If you already receive coverage from your employer for accident coverage, you can submit a request to opt out of this benefit, lowering your premium price further.

Switzerland Health Insurance for Foreign Employees

If you’re moving to Switzerland to work, you’re automatically included in the social security system, which includes health insurance. In Switzerland, only a small portion of income taxes is used to finance the sickness fund; most financing comes from premiums and co-payments. This means registering with health insurance is not linked with employment, so you must make sure you purchase your health insurance policy as soon as you are settled in the country.

Usually, employers do not provide medical insurance for their employees, but they may offer supplementary insurance, so make sure you discuss this with your employer.

What if I’m Self-Employed?

There is not much of a difference when taking out health insurance in Switzerland between employees and self-employed individuals. You’re still required to buy your insurance policy after receiving your residence permit. However, as a self-employed person, you’re also responsible for registering your business, receiving your tax number, and paying social contributions. Most expats prefer to work with a tax advisor to make this process easier.

How Can International Students Get Health Insurance in Switzerland?

International students who will be moving to Switzerland for their study programs are required to buy health insurance unless one of the following applies:

• Your study program lasts for less than three months, or
• An equivalent health insurance policy already covers you to the compulsory health insurance in Switzerland.

Your equivalent health insurance policy can either be a health scheme provided by your home country or an international health insurance policy you purchased before entering the country. If this applies to you, you need to fill out a “check form for the equivalent of swiss health insurance” and submit an application to the local insurance office so you can be exempt from mandatory insurance.

If neither of these applies to you, you are obligated to purchase health insurance just like other residents. However, there are usually some subsidies for students, and you can find a less costly policy during your stay. Premiums for students usually go between CHF 150 to CHF 300. You need to contact your university for more information as this varies greatly depending on which canton you’re located in.

Health Insurance for Retired Expats in Switzerland

To retire in Switzerland, you must show proof that you have the financial means to support yourself and not become dependent on the state. If you receive a retirement visa in Switzerland, you must purchase your health insurance after receiving your residence permit. You may be exempt from health insurance if you receive a state pension from an EU/EFTA country or the UK. To verify this, you need to contact the medical insurance office in your home country and the immigration office in Switzerland before moving there.

How to Cancel Health Insurance in Switzerland?

To cancel your health insurance policy in Switzerland in case you are leaving the country, you need to let your insurer know at least three months in advance. You need to submit a letter of termination and a certificate of departure as proof that you no longer have a Swiss residence permit. You may be required to submit other documentation so make sure you contact your provider and find out their cancellation policy.

If you want to cancel your policy to switch providers, you must do this by the end of the year. You need to submit your letter of termination to your current insurance provider by November 30 of that year. Afterwards, you can purchase your new health insurance.

Switzerland Healthcare System Pros and Cons

The healthcare system in Switzerland offers top-tier services and allows all citizens to receive medical care, but it does come with some cons as well: