Healthcare in Switzerland

Swiss Healthcare System

Switzerland has a universal but privately-operated healthcare system. Quality is excellent—among the best in the world—but costs are high. The system is based on mandatory insurance (Krankenversicherung) combined with significant out-of-pocket costs.

Key Features

• No public insurance: All insurance provided by private companies
• Mandatory basic coverage: LAMal (Krankenversicherungsgesetz) required for all residents
• Community rating: Basic premiums cannot vary by health status (but vary by age, canton, deductible)
• Optional supplemental: Additional coverage for private rooms, dental, etc.
• High cost-sharing: Deductibles and 10% co-insurance up to annual maximum

LAMal Basic Insurance

The mandatory basic insurance (LAMal - Loi fédérale sur l'assurance-maladie) covers essential medical care. All insurers must offer identical basic coverage—competition is only on service and price.

Covered Services

Premium Costs by Canton

Premiums vary significantly by canton, age, and chosen deductible. These are approximate monthly premiums for adults with standard (CHF 300 / ~$336 USD) deductible:

Premiums for 2025. Children and young adults have lower premiums. Higher deductibles reduce premiums.

Deductibles and Cost-Sharing

Franchise (Deductible)

You can choose your annual deductible between CHF 300 (~$336 USD) and CHF 2,500 (~$2,800 USD). Higher deductible = lower premium.

Co-Insurance (Selbstbehalt)

After meeting your deductible, you pay 10% of costs up to an annual maximum of CHF 700 (~$784 USD) (CHF 350 / ~$392 USD for children). After this cap, insurance covers 100%.

Choosing an Insurer

All insurers must provide identical LAMal coverage. Differences lie in:

• Premium: Compare at priminfo.admin.ch (official comparison)
• Service quality: Response times, claims processing
• Model type: Standard, HMO, or Telmed (affects premiums)
• Supplemental options: If you want add-ons from same insurer

Major Insurers

• CSS
• Helsana
• Swica
• Sanitas
• Concordia
• Groupe Mutuel
• Assura (low-cost)

Insurance Models

Supplemental Insurance

Optional coverage (Zusatzversicherung) can fill gaps in LAMal. Unlike basic insurance, supplemental insurers CAN reject applicants based on health history.

Common Supplements

• Hospital (Semi-Private): 2-bed rooms, senior physicians - CHF 100-200/month (~$112-224 USD)
• Hospital (Private): Single rooms, chief physicians - CHF 200-500/month (~$224-560 USD)
• Dental: 50-75% coverage up to annual limit - CHF 20-50/month (~$22-56 USD)
• Vision: Glasses, contacts allowance - CHF 5-15/month (~$6-17 USD)
• Alternative Medicine: Acupuncture, naturopathy - CHF 20-40/month (~$22-45 USD)
• Worldwide Coverage: Full coverage abroad - CHF 50-150/month (~$56-168 USD)

Healthcare Quality

Switzerland consistently ranks among the top healthcare systems globally:

• World-class hospitals: University hospitals in Zurich, Geneva, Bern, Basel, Lausanne
• Short wait times: Generally excellent access to specialists
• Multilingual care: English widely available in cities
• Medical tourism destination: Many come TO Switzerland for care

Finding English-Speaking Doctors

• Medical Association directories (FMH.ch)
• Embassy lists of English-speaking physicians
• Expat community recommendations
• International hospitals and clinics in major cities

Healthcare for Americans

Medicare Does NOT Work Abroad

US Medicare does not cover healthcare in Switzerland. You must obtain Swiss LAMal coverage—American insurance is not an acceptable substitute.

Continuing US Coverage

• Some US employers offer international coverage
• Private international insurance can supplement Swiss coverage for US visits
• Consider US coverage for prescription drugs unavailable in Switzerland

Prescription Medications

• Many US medications available under different brand names
• Some medications require new Swiss prescriptions
• Pharmacy costs often lower than US
• Bringing medications: 3-month personal supply typically allowed