Health insurance
Thanks to compulsory health insurance, anyone living in Switzerland has access to good medical care. We are responsible for ensuring the ongoing development of this important social accomplishment. Find out here about the mandatory insurance requirement, health insurance oversight, benefits and tariffs, premiums and premium comparisons, quality assurance and amendments to the law.
Definitions
In this section you’ll find information on compulsory health insurance, also known as mandatory or basic health insurance. Insurers that provide compulsory insurance (called “Krankenkassen”, “caisses maladie” or “casse malati”) are not profit-oriented and must be recognised by the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA). Insurance companies can also offer supplementary insurance (top-up insurance).
Premiums for compulsory (basic) health insurance compared
The site www.priminfo.ch is a neutral premium calculator provided by the FOPH (in German, French and Italian). You can use it to work out your premium for compulsory health insurance for the next year.
Health insurance: Key points in brief
Compulsory health insurance ensures universal access to comprehensive, high-quality healthcare as soon as the requirement for health insurance begins (no waiting period, no exclusions).
Health insurance for people resident in Switzerland
Here, people resident in Switzerland can find useful information on the requirement to obtain insurance, premium comparisons, premium subsidies, co-payment, special types of insurance, optional daily allowance insurance, or the health insurance card.
Persons resident abroad
This section provides useful information on compulsory health insurance in Switzerland for persons resident abroad.
Benefits and tariffs
What medical care does compulsory (basic) insurance pay for? What hospital can you go to for treatment? What about maternity benefits? Which tariffs and prices are set by the authorities?
Description of services
Who decides what benefits compulsory (basic) health insurance pays? In this section you can find out who is responsible and the procedures for applying for coverage of new benefits.
Supervision of insurers
Insurers offering compulsory health insurance are supervised by the Federal Office of Public Health, while responsibility for the supervision of supplementary insurance (covered by private insurance law) rests with the Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
Quality development in Switzerland
Despite good-quality healthcare in Switzerland, ongoing improvements are necessary.