Draft. This text has not yet been reviewed.
Health insurance is compulsory for everyone who lives in Switzerland. The basic cover (assurance de base) provides the same benefits whichever insurer you choose, and every resident pays premiums.
The timing
- You normally have three months after arriving or registering to take out basic insurance.
- If you insure within that period, your cover is backdated to the day you took up residence.
- In some situations you may be exempt, or you may have to stay insured in another country. If that could apply to you, ask when you register and check the Federal Office of Public Health guidance.
What you pay when you need care
On top of your monthly premium, you pay part of your medical costs each calendar year:
- The deductible (franchise): the first part of your costs each year. For adults it is between CHF 300 and CHF 2,500, and you choose the level. A higher deductible means a lower premium.
- The co-payment (quote-part): once the deductible is reached, you pay 10% of further costs, up to CHF 700 a year for adults and CHF 350 for children.
- So with the lowest deductible, the most an adult pays towards costs in a year is CHF 1,000 (CHF 300 plus CHF 700). With the highest, it is CHF 3,200.
Accident cover
If you work at least eight hours a week for one employer, your employer’s accident insurance covers accidents at work and in your free time. In that case you can ask your health insurer to remove accident cover from your basic insurance, which lowers the premium. If you do not work, or work fewer than eight hours a week for an employer, keep accident cover in your health insurance.
Comparing premiums
- Premiums differ between insurers, regions and the model you choose (for example a family doctor or telemedicine model), so compare before you sign.
- The Federal Office of Public Health runs the only official premium calculator, at priminfo.ch (in French, German and Italian).
- Supplementary insurance is optional and varies by insurer. It is separate from basic insurance.
Help with premiums
The Canton of Vaud can pay part or all of your basic insurance premium, depending on your income and assets. The help is not automatic: you apply through the social insurance agency for your area, and the Office vaudois de l’assurance-maladie (OVAM) decides.
Official sources
- Health insurance (Federal Office of Public Health)
- ch.ch: easy answers about life in Switzerland
- Official premium calculator (priminfo.ch)
- Accident insurance (ch.ch)
- Help with health insurance premiums (City of Lausanne)
Last checked: 12 November 2026. This is general information only. Please check the official sources above before you act.