How to choose a Swiss health insurer
A decision framework for the choices that set what you pay: deductible, model, accident cover and insurer, then supplementary cover.
In short
Basic cover is identical at every insurer, so choose on four levers: the deductible (CHF 300 to 2,500 for adults), the model (standard, family doctor, HMO or telmed), whether to exclude accident cover, and the insurer’s premium and service. Compare on priminfo.admin.ch, and add supplementary cover only for gaps you care about.
What are you actually choosing when you pick a Swiss health insurer?
Not your benefits: the law fixes those for basic insurance. You choose a price and a set of rules. The deductible sets how much risk you carry, the model sets who you see first, accident cover depends on your job, and the insurer sets premium and service. Supplementary cover is a separate decision.
Every authorised insurer must accept you and pay the same legal benefits (FOPH, checked ) (KVG, checked ). What differs is the premium, which depends on insurer, region, age group, deductible and model, and the service around it. New to the system? Start with how Swiss health insurance works and, for how your permit fits in, L, B and C permits explained.
If you work at least eight hours a week for one employer, you are already insured against accidents off the job, so you can drop accident cover from your health insurance and pay less (UVV Art. 13, checked ) (KVG, checked ).
The four choices at a glance
| Choice | Options | When you can change it |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible | Adults CHF 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 or 2,500; children CHF 0–600 | Up: from 1 January only. Down: at year end |
| Model | Standard, or a set first contact: practice, telemedicine, pharmacy | Into a model: any time. Out: at year end |
| Accident cover | Include it, or suspend it if your employer insures you | When a job starts or ends |
| Insurer | Any authorised insurer in your region | 1 January; also 30 June with CHF 300 and the standard model |
Year-end changes need notice by 30 November. Based on KVV Art. 93–100 and ch.ch.
Which deductible (franchise) should you choose?
Pick the highest deductible only if your yearly medical bills are reliably low and you can hold up to CHF 3,200 in reserve. At the largest discount the law allows, CHF 2,500 beats CHF 300 when your yearly costs stay below about CHF 2,000. With ongoing treatment, CHF 300 usually works out cheaper.
A higher deductible lowers your premium, but the law caps the discount: per year it may be at most 70% of the extra risk you take on (KVV, checked ) (FOPH, checked ). The table shows that ceiling. Your insurer’s actual discount may be smaller, which lowers the break-even point.
Work out your own break-even
- Estimate a normal year’s bills: GP visits, prescriptions, tests, physiotherapy.
- On priminfo.admin.ch (opens in a new tab), note your yearly premium at CHF 300 and at the higher deductible (FOPH priminfo, checked ). The difference is your saving.
- Your extra cost is roughly 90% of your bills between CHF 300 and the higher deductible, because at CHF 300 you would pay only the 10% co-payment on that slice (KVV, checked ).
- If the saving beats the extra cost in a normal year, the higher deductible wins.
Choose… if…
- CHF 2,500 if you rarely see a doctor, have no planned treatment and can absorb CHF 3,200 in a bad year (ch.ch, checked ).
- CHF 300 if you have a chronic condition, regular prescriptions or planned surgery.
- A middle tier if you want a smaller worst case in exchange for a smaller discount; run your figures.
- Planning a pregnancy? From week 13 until eight weeks after the birth, no deductible or co-payment applies to covered care (KVG, checked ).
A higher deductible can start only on 1 January, and a lower one applies from the end of the year with notice by 30 November, so decide with next year in mind (KVV, checked ) (FOPH, checked ).
Adult deductibles: the legal limits
| Deductible | Max. yearly out of pocket | Extra risk vs CHF 300 | Max. yearly discount allowed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHF 300 | CHF 1,000 | – | – |
| CHF 500 | CHF 1,200 | CHF 200 | CHF 140 |
| CHF 1,000 | CHF 1,700 | CHF 700 | CHF 490 |
| CHF 1,500 | CHF 2,200 | CHF 1,200 | CHF 840 |
| CHF 2,000 | CHF 2,700 | CHF 1,700 | CHF 1,190 |
| CHF 2,500 | CHF 3,200 | CHF 2,200 | CHF 1,540 |
Our calculation from KVV Art. 93, 95 and 103: the discount ceiling is 70% of the extra risk. Real discounts can be lower.
-
Discount ceiling
70%
of the extra deductible you take on, per year.
-
Higher deductible
1 January
is the only date a higher deductible can start.
Source FOPH (opens in a new tab) ↗
Standard, family doctor, HMO or telmed: which model suits you?
Choose the standard model if you want to see any doctor or specialist directly. Choose a family doctor or HMO model if you are happy for one practice to coordinate your care, and telmed if you prefer phone or app advice first. Restricted models cost less, but ignoring their rules can cost you cover.
In a restricted model the insurer only has to pay for care provided or arranged by the providers you agreed to (KVG, checked ). Read the conditions: which practices or hotlines count, how referrals work and which exceptions apply.
From the 2027 premiums, priminfo groups models as PRAXIS (a practice), TEL_DIG (phone or app), PHARM (a partner pharmacy) and FLEX (a choice of first contacts) (FOPH, checked ). Before choosing a practice model, check that practices near you take new patients and speak your language; our doctors and dentists directory can help.
Which model fits?
| Model | First contact | Suits you if | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Any doctor you choose | You want direct access to specialists | No model discount |
| Family doctor or HMO (PRAXIS) | A named GP or group practice | You like one place coordinating care | Referral needed for most specialists |
| Telmed (TEL_DIG) | A medical hotline or app | You travel or prefer quick remote advice | Calling first, almost every time |
| Pharmacy (PHARM) | A partner pharmacy | You want an easy first stop | Which pharmacies count |
| Flexible (FLEX) | A choice of several first contacts | You want options within one model | Rules vary by insurer |
Do you need supplementary insurance?
Only for gaps that matter to you. Common reasons are dental care, children’s orthodontics and a semi-private or private hospital ward. Insurers can refuse you or exclude conditions, so apply before you need it, and never cancel old cover until new cover is confirmed.
Supplementary cover is a private contract. Unlike basic insurance, the insurer may ask about your health, set conditions or refuse you, and wrong answers can cost you cover later; notice periods are in your contract (FOPH, checked ) (ch.ch, checked ).
- Take it if you would want a private or semi-private room; basic insurance pays for the general ward (KVG, checked ).
- Take it early for children if you expect orthodontics; insurers may require a check-up from a certain age (ch.ch, checked ).
- Skip duplicates, such as travel cover you already have through a credit card (ch.ch, checked ).
- Split if useful: basic and supplementary cover can be with different insurers (ch.ch, checked ).
Dental care is the most common gap, because basic insurance pays only in narrow cases (KVG, checked ). See what basic insurance covers.
When and how can you switch insurer?
Send written notice so that it reaches your insurer by 30 November, and sign up with the new insurer for 1 January. With the CHF 300 deductible and standard model you can also leave on 30 June if notice arrives by 31 March. Overdue premiums in collection block a switch.
- Wait for your premium letter; insurers inform you by the end of October (FOPH, checked ).
- Apply to the new insurer; it must accept you for basic cover (FOPH, checked ).
- Send your cancellation in writing so it arrives by 30 November; registered post gives you proof (ch.ch, checked ).
- Your old cover ends only once the new insurer confirms you are insured without a gap (KVG, checked ).
Moving into a restricted model with your current insurer is possible at any time (KVV, checked ). If premiums are overdue and in collection, you cannot switch until they are paid (KVG, checked ). More detail: how to switch health insurance.
-
Year-end switch
30 November
your written notice must have reached your insurer.
Source ch.ch (opens in a new tab) ↗
-
Mid-year switch
31 March
for 30 June, with CHF 300 and the standard model only.
How do you compare offers step by step?
Start with the official priminfo.admin.ch calculator, which lists every insurer’s premiums for your region. Narrow down by deductible and model, read the model conditions, then check service. If your situation is more complex, for example a family, a chronic condition or supplementary needs, an independent adviser can compare with you.
Priminfo shows all insurers’ premiums and discounts and lets you sort them (FOPH priminfo, checked ) (FOPH, checked ). Because the benefits are identical, the cheapest offer for your chosen deductible and model is a sound default for basic cover.
This guide is general information, not financial advice. Insurance advisers in our directory can compare offers with you; ask how they are paid before you start. For the wider first-months admin, see your first 90 days.
Your comparison checklist
0 of 6 done
Your ticks are saved in this browser only.
Insurance advisers
BIG Insurance Brokers Health
Health insurance advice · LuganoLugano-based broker arranging international private medical insurance for individuals, families and groups, with multilingual advisors.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Deloris
Pension & pillar 3a · ZürichZurich tax and financial advisory firm offering fee-based retirement and pension planning, tax optimisation and estate planning for expatriates.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?Expat Assure
Health insurance adviceUK-based broker brand advising individuals, families and organisations on international private medical insurance, including plan comparisons and renewal reviews.
Listed from public information. The business hasn’t checked it yet.
Is this your business?What else do people ask when choosing?
Which deductible should I choose in Switzerland?
If you can hold CHF 3,200 in reserve, CHF 2,500 costs least while your yearly bills stay low: below about CHF 2,000 at the maximum legal discount. With regular treatment, CHF 300 is usually cheaper.
Is the family doctor model worth it?
It is if you are happy for one practice to be your first stop and you will follow the referral rules. It lowers your premium; skipping the rules can mean your insurer does not pay.
Can I change my deductible during the year?
No. A higher deductible can start only on 1 January, and a lower one applies from the end of the year, with notice by 30 November.
Are all Swiss health insurers the same?
For basic cover, yes: the same legal benefits, and every insurer must accept you. They differ in premium, the models they offer, service and supplementary products.
Can I have basic and supplementary insurance with different insurers?
Yes. You can switch basic insurance and keep your supplementary policy where it is.
What happens if I go straight to a specialist in a family doctor model?
Your insurer only has to pay for care provided or arranged by the providers in your model, so it can refuse the bill. Check your policy conditions for exceptions.
Sources
Last checked by the expat-services.ch editorial team
- Fedlex, SR 832.10 Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG/LAMal), Art. 7, 8, 25, 31, 41, 64 and 64a (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 832.102 Health Insurance Ordinance (KVV/OAMal), Art. 93, 94, 95, 100 and 103 (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Fedlex, SR 832.202 Accident Insurance Ordinance (UVV), Art. 13: non-occupational cover from 8 hours a week (in German) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) Health insurance: optional deductibles (70% cap, changes only from 1 January) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) Health insurance: insurance models with a restricted choice of service providers (new 2027 categories) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) Health insurance: requirement to obtain insurance (acceptance, health questions in supplementary insurance) (opens in a new tab)
- ch.ch Cancelling and changing health insurer in Switzerland (opens in a new tab)
- ch.ch Health insurance costs and premium reductions (CHF 3,200 reserve at the highest deductible) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG) Official premium comparison for basic health insurance (opens in a new tab)