Anyone living in Switzerland benefits from one of the best healthcare systems in the world. But what are the pros and cons of the healthcare system? What do you need to know when moving to Switzerland? And how does the Swiss healthcare system differ from the system in your home country? We provide an overview.
The Swiss healthcare system is based on a federalist structure, which means that the federal government, cantons and local municipalities assume different tasks in the healthcare system. For example, the government specifies the rate of deductibles and accepts or rejects changes to premiums, while the cantons specify which benefits are provided by which hospitals. They also set the wages and working hours of hospital doctors and nurses. In addition, the state and private sector have to work together. Private health insurance companies provide both basic and supplementary insurance, but they must strictly observe the regulatory requirements of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) and the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA). In accordance with the Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG/HIA), basic insurance is compulsory for anyone who lives in Switzerland. To supplement the benefits available under basic insurance, you can take out supplementary insurance plans that cover, for example, dental treatment or single-room accommodation during hospitalisation.
The biggest advantage of the Swiss system is that everyone has access to high-quality medical care. For example, every person living in Switzerland is entitled to basic insurance and must be admitted without a medical exam. What’s more, Switzerland has a very high density of hospitals and doctors. In 2018, Switzerland ranked first in the annual Health Consumer Powerhouse survey which focused on criteria such as patient rights, access to healthcare, therapy results, preventive care, medicines and range of benefits.
The biggest problem is that, due to the fact that numerous stakeholders (government, cantons, municipalities, health insurers, healthcare providers) assume different tasks, the Swiss healthcare system is very complicated. It’s also one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the world alongside the USA, Sweden and Germany.
This principle has a long tradition in Switzerland and it is based on the idea that all insureds form a group.Each person makes a contribution so that in an emergency there are enough resources available to give someone the help they need when they need it. This means that even those who are in perfect health and never need to see a doctor pay their monthly premium and thus indirectly provide for those who are ill and need more medical support. It is the task of the federal government, cantons, municipalities and health insurance companies to keep this group balanced. That’s why decisions in the Swiss healthcare system are always taken in the interest of the group as a whole.
In Switzerland there are different premium regions for the health insurance company. These are specified by the federal government. This means that your premium is based not only on your age and sex but also where you live. Generally speaking, premiums tend to be higher in cities than in rural areas. This is because health costs are higher in cities as the density of doctors, hospitals and nursing homes is higher. There are currently 42 premium regions in Switzerland. Each canton has at least one region, for example the cantons of Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Basel and Geneva, and a maximum of three, for example Bern, St. Gallen and Zurich. Find out here how you can save money on your premiums.
Our Welcome to Switzerland team will be happy to help – by phone, email or chat. We’ll help you find the right health insurance solution for you. Our experts speak German, English, French and Italian.