Every person living in Switzerland must take out compulsory insurance with a health insurance company. You pay a monthly contribution, a so-called premium. With the health insurance you are insured for costs in case of illness, maternity or an accident. This means that you only have to pay a small part of the costs for visits to the doctor, hospital stays or certain medicines. The rest is paid by the health insurance.
Mandatory is the so-called Basic insurance. Health insurance companies have an obligation to accept every person, regardless of age and state of health, into the basic insurance plan. The insured persons are free to choose their health insurance company.
All are included in the basic insurance for the Same power insured. This includes, for example, treatment in a doctor's office and hospital, medically prescribed medication and laboratory tests, psychotherapy and physiotherapy, check-ups during pregnancy, vaccinations, health examinations for children and partial costs for emergency transport. Not covered by the basic insurance are ordinary dental treatments.
You can voluntary a Supplementary insurance and have to pay a higher premium for it. This pays for additional services such as dental treatment or the comfort of a double or single room in hospital.
The Accident insurance is included in the health insurance. However, employed persons are already insured against accidents through their employer (see also question 6). If this is the case for you, you can ask the health insurance company to remove the accident insurance from the policy. This will reduce the premium.
Here you will find a list of all basic insurance benefits.
The Health Guide Switzerland helps migrants to find their way around the Swiss healthcare system. This is available in 18 different languages.
Here you will find more information about health insurance
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