Health insurance in Switzerland

LAMal is compulsory, but your premium depends on your choices. Finwise helps you choose a fund, a deductible and a model adapted to your health, your budget and your canton.

What is it?

The mandatory health cover

LAMal covers the basic benefits defined by law. Benefits are identical from one insurer to another, but premiums, models and service vary.

Mandatory?

Yes, for anyone domiciled in Switzerland

Enrollment must generally be completed within three months after arriving in Switzerland or the birth of a child.

Key point

Low premium does not mean low cost

The right choice depends on the premium, deductible, care model, accident cover and your ability to pay costs in case of illness.

Simple health insurance diagram

LAMal is the base. Then adjust deductible, model, then supplements.

  1. Next Supplements Hospital, outpatient, dental by need
  2. Levers Deductible and model Family doctor, Telmed, pharmacy…
  3. Mandatory Basic LAMal Essential medical care in Switzerland

Optimise premium without losing access to useful care.

What is mandatory

Any person domiciled in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance according to the LAMal. Newcomers and parents of a newborn generally have three months to choose a fund. If affiliation is made on time, coverage begins retroactively to the date of arrival or birth.

The insurer must accept you for basic insurance, without a medical questionnaire and regardless of your age or health condition. LAMal benefits are defined by law; what mainly changes are the premium, service, region, deductible and chosen model.

Choice
Impact
To check
DeductibleCHF 300 to 2,500 for adults
A higher deductible lowers the premium, but you pay more yourself before reimbursement.
Your likely medical expenses, available reserve and planned care.
Care modelStandard, doctor, HMO, Telmed
An alternative model reduces the premium if you accept a defined first point of contact.
Doctor network, rules for specialist access and emergencies outside the canton.
AccidentDepending on your job
If you work at least eight hours per week for the same employer, accident insurance under LAA generally covers accidents.
Exclude accident from LAMal only if employer cover is indeed active.

The real cost is calculated with four elements

Annual premium + Deductible + Co-insurance + Accident

Deductible, co-insurance and cost sharing

For an adult, available deductibles range from CHF 300 to CHF 2,500. The ordinary deductible is CHF 300. After the deductible, you pay 10% co-insurance on covered costs, capped at CHF 700 per year for adults and CHF 350 for children.

There is also a CHF 15 per day contribution for hospital stays, with exceptions including children, young adults in education and maternity benefits. Finwise therefore compares the annual premium with the maximum risk you can realistically bear.

Common pitfalls we avoid

LAMal is standardized, but the wrong choice of model or deductible can be costly. The total cost must be compared, not just the displayed premium.

Deductible too highIt lowers the premium, but can be painful if surgery, pregnancy or a chronic illness occurs.
Misunderstood modelTelmed, HMO or family doctor models impose a specific care pathway.
Duplicated accident coverEmployees covered by LAA can often exclude accident from LAMal.
Supplementary policies cancelled too earlySupplementary insurers may refuse an application; you must wait for written acceptance.

I already have this policy, how can I switch insurer?

To switch basic insurance on 1 January, cancellation must reach the old insurer no later than 30 November. Registered mail remains the safest method. You must also enroll with a new insurer to avoid any administrative interruption.

Basic and supplementary insurance: two different worlds

La LAMal est obligatoire et l’assureur doit vous accepter. Les assurances complémentaires sont facultatives, relèvent du droit privé et peuvent demander un questionnaire de santé. Elles peuvent couvrir par exemple chambre hospitalière, médecines complémentaires, lunettes, soins dentaires ou prestations non prises en charge par la base.

You can have basic insurance with one insurer and supplementary insurance elsewhere. This choice can make sense, but it must be organized properly to avoid overlaps, missed deadlines or cancellation before acceptance.

When to request an analysis?

An analysis is useful when arriving in Switzerland, changing canton, facing a sharp premium increase, planning pregnancy, expecting surgery, becoming self-employed or wanting to change care model.

Finwise can also help you compare premiums with official data, choose a realistic deductible, check accident cover and coordinate basic insurance with supplementary insurance.

With Finwise

We compare the premium and real risk

We analyze your canton, age, deductible, care model, accident cover and supplementary insurance. The goal is not only to lower the premium, but to keep coherent cover when you need it.

Finwise Assurances partner logos

Coordinate your health and budget

Health insurance is the foundation, but it should be read with other health and private protection cover.

Supplementary insurance Private legal protection Household insurance

Compare my health insurance See supplementary insurance

Let’s talk about your needs

Tell us about your situation in a few lines. A Finwise adviser will contact you to clarify your options and compare suitable solutions.