Swiss health insurance for newcomers 2027
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Everyone who takes up residence in Switzerland must take out basic health insurance within three months of arrival (or of birth in Switzerland), under the federal Health Insurance Act (LAMal/KVG, art. 3). This page summarises the federal rules for 2027.
Three months to insure, cover backdated to arrival
If you join an insurer within three months, cover starts on the day you took up residence, i.e. retroactively from your arrival: premiums are due from that date and treatment costs from that date are covered (art. 5 para. 1). If you join later, cover starts only when you join and a premium surcharge may be charged (art. 5 para. 2). The canton checks that everyone is insured and assigns an insurer to anyone who has not joined in time (art. 6).
Choosing an insurer
You choose freely among the insurers offering basic insurance in your canton. For basic insurance the insurer must accept every person subject to compulsory insurance, without health questions (art. 4). Benefits are the same with every insurer because they are set by law; premiums differ by insurer, canton, premium region, age class (children up to 18, young adults 19 to 25, adults), deductible, model and accident cover. Each family member, including each child, has their own policy.
Deductible and cost sharing
Adults choose a yearly deductible of CHF 300 (ordinary), 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 or 2500; children CHF 0 to 600. Beyond the deductible you pay 10 % of costs, capped at CHF 700 a year for adults and CHF 350 for children (art. 64). A higher deductible lowers the premium.
Insurance models
Besides the standard model (free choice of doctor), insurers offer cheaper models in which you first contact a family doctor, an HMO health centre, a telemedicine service or a partner pharmacy, or choose among these each time (flexible models). The rules and exceptions are set in each insurer’s conditions.
Accident cover
Employees working at least 8 hours a week for the same employer are insured against accidents, including non-occupational accidents, through the employer (Accident Insurance Act, LAA/UVG) and can exclude accident cover from their health insurance. Otherwise accident cover stays included.
Exemptions, subsidies and supplementary insurance
Some people can be exempted on request, for example if they remain insured in an EU or EFTA state under the agreement on the free movement of persons; requests go to the cantonal office. Cantons reduce premiums for people on modest incomes (art. 65); the cantonal offices are listed on www.priminfo.admin.ch. Supplementary insurance is optional and governed by private law, so the insurer may decline it.
Changing insurer later
Once insured, you can change insurer for 1 January each year: the cancellation must reach your current insurer by 30 November (for 2027: by 30 November 2026), and the new insurer must accept you for basic insurance (art. 7).
General information from the federal Health Insurance Act (LAMal/KVG) and publications of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH); each insurer’s conditions and cantonal rules apply.
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