You’re planning on moving to Switzerland or just moved here recently? Switzerland has one of the best healthcare systems in the world – and you can benefit. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about being properly insured in Switzerland.
Take out supplementary insurance and benefit twice over
Take out supplementary insurance from Sanitas now and receive a CHF 100 voucher to spend at Migros – one of Switzerland’s largest retailers – as a reward.
Benefit nowHealth insurance is mandatory in most European countries – and Switzerland is no exception. If you move to Switzerland and work here or receive a pension from Switzerland, you have to take out basic health insurance in accordance with the Swiss Health Insurance Act (
The insurance obligation applies to all persons who settle permanently in Switzerland. The Swiss system is based on a per capita premium. This means that each individual family member must take out basic insurance and pay premiums (monthly contributions) to the health insurance company. You are exempt from the compulsory insurance requirement when:
Special conditions apply for people who live in Europe but who work or study in Switzerland.
Once you move to Switzerland, you have three months to take out basic insurance. However, this doesn’t mean that you don’t have to pay contributions for the first three months. This is because the insurance starts retroactively from the date on you entered Switzerland. As the health insurance will cover any costs retroactively, you must also pay contributions retroactively. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take out health insurance as soon as possible despite the three-month deadline, because otherwise you may have to pay three monthly premiums at once.
There are around 60 health insurance companies in Switzerland. You are free to choose a provider. The Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG/HIA) stipulates that all health insurance providers must offer the same benefits under basic health insurance. This ensures that everyone has access to high-quality medical care. Under mandatory basic insurance, you can choose between different care models and thereby save up to 20% on
The general rule is that mandatory basic health insurance covers benefits in case of illness, accident and maternity.
For example:
In the event of accidents, however, basic insurance will only cover the costs if you have included it in your basic insurance and have no other insurance cover under a separate accident insurance policy.
If you work for more than eight hours a week for the same employer, you’re automatically covered for accidents by your employer. Your employer’s contract stipulates which ward you will be treated on in hospital in the event of an accident. If you would like to upgrade your insurance cover and receive treatment, for example, on the semiprivate or private ward, you may want to include accident in a supplementary insurance plan.
If you use medical services, you must contribute to the costs. The amount of cost share owed is calculated on the basis of your deductible, copayment, and hospital copayment if you have to go to hospital. The hospital copayment for an inpatient stay is CHF 15 per day.
You choose your annual
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Supplementary insurance plans are governed by the
However, it’s a good idea to take out supplementary insurance cover, because it fills any gaps left by the benefits of basic insurance. For example, supplementary insurance may cover dental treatment or alternative medical treatment. Or offer you the comfort of a two-bed/single room if you need to stay in hospital.
If you want to take out a supplementary insurance plan, you first have to answer a few health-related questions truthfully. Health insurers are free to accept or reject your application or accept it with
Example for orthodontics
Marc Suter becomes a father. For basic insurance, he takes out the Basic plan for his son Tim. Tim is 12 years old and needs dental braces. As his father didn’t take out supplementary insurance for Tim, he has to cover the cost of treatment himself.
With supplementary insurance
With Vital supplementary insurance, the health insurer covers benefits not included under basic insurance.
Without supplementary insurance
Basic insurance does not cover orthodontics.
Example for rescue
Kurt Schneider is a keen mountaineer and decides to go climbing in France. He is seriously injured. His companion calls the rescue services.
With supplementary insurance
Hospital Standard Liberty supplementary hospital insurance covers rescue operations abroad up to CHF 20,000 per calendar year.
Without supplementary insurance
Basic insurance does not cover rescue operations abroad.
Take out supplementary insurance from Sanitas now and receive a CHF 100 voucher to spend at Migros – one of Switzerland’s largest retailers – as a reward.
How to claim your Migros voucher:
Dental Basic
In Switzerland, health insurance covers only a few illness or accident-related dental treatments. You usually have to pay for dental repairs and check-ups yourself. The Dental Basic supplementary insurance plan helps you close these gaps.
Medical Private
If you’d like to stay with your trusted family doctor or gynaecologist, Medical Private covers the cost of planned outpatient treatment abroad. You can get prescriptions or have any prescribed treatment carried out in your home country or in Switzerland.
Hospital Top Liberty
Freie Arzt- und Spitalwahl weltweit: With the Hospital Top Liberty supplementary insurance plan, you have a free choice of doctors and hospitals worldwide and benefit from the highest level of comfort in case of hospitalisation. This private supplementary hospital insurance plan also covers the full cost of planned treatment and emergencies abroad.
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