The Swiss healthcare system provides patients with very high-quality care ... but it is also one of the most expensive in the world. For this reason, the Confederation requires all its citizens and residents to take out basic health insurance with the country's private insurers. This solution, however, is seldom sufficient and should be supplemented by additional health insurance.
Get a quote according to the length of your stay:
Health insurance for expats in Switzerland?
How does the healthcare system work in Switzerland?
Switzerland does not have a universal social security system, but its Federal Law on Compulsory Health Care (LAMal) requires all its citizens and residents to be covered by basic health insurance taken out with one of the country's private health insurers. Expatriates in Switzerland have a period of 3 months after their arrival to take out their coverage.
This basic insurance must cover a minimum “healthcare basket,” including:
- General practitioner and specialist consultations provided by doctors in the insured person's canton of residence
- Hospitalisation in any of the establishments included on the list of approved institutions of the canton of residence (or any other institution in case of emergency)
- Certain preventive examinations
- Medications
Accident-related care is generally excluded from basic insurance; extended coverage must be taken out to cover it, unless the insured already benefits from it through their employer. Hospital accommodation in a double or single room, dental care and vision care are also optional benefits.
Swiss insurance policies operate on the basis of annual deductibles (from 300 to 2,500 Swiss francs for an adult) and copayments (deductions from reimbursed costs): the higher the deductible, the lower the insurance premium. In exchange for certain restrictions, some insurance models allow for the cost of contributions to be reduced even further: for example, the “family doctor” model (which involves choosing a general practitioner without being able to change it) or the HMO model (Health Maintenance Organization, which involves consulting within the health network assigned by one's local insurance).
> Good to know: The website of the Federal Office of Public Health offers a very precise premium calculator, which allows you to assess the amount of your contributions according to several criteria (canton, insurer, age of the insured, accident option, insurance model etc.).
> Read also: The healthcare system in Switzerland: how to insure yourself as an expatriate
How to choose health insurance in Switzerland: local or international?
The restrictions of compulsory basic insurance in Switzerland generally “nudge” insured persons to take out supplementary health coverage in order to be better reimbursed. These extended benefits can be:
- Sometimes funded by employers
- Acquired individually from a Swiss insurer
- Acquired individually from an international insurer
The third option is often chosen by expats in Switzerland, as it allows them to be covered in the different Swiss cantons as well as in other European countries, and to benefit from many specific advantages.
What is the cost of healthcare in Switzerland?
GP CONSULTATION
A visit to the doctor will cost you CHF 53 to 63 (€50 to 60)
APRIL International up to 60 €*
Out-of-pocket expenses 0€**
DENTAL SCALING
A scaling at the dentist will cost you between CHF 100 and 200 (€94 to 188)
APRIL International up to 188 €*
Out-of-pocket expenses 0€**
HOSPITALISATION - APPENDICITIS
An uncomplicated appendectomy costs between CHF 6,000 and 7,500 (€6,350 to 7,000)
APRIL International up to 7000 €*
Out-of-pocket expenses 0€**
Reasonable procedure costs, APRIL International Care 01/2022
* Example of reimbursement with MyHealth International - Comfort
** Example of the amount to be paid by the insured after reimbursement
Care in Switzerland
Choosing hospitals in Switzerland
Although based on very liberal principles, insured persons can rest assured that the Swiss health system is very transparent, particularly with regard to their choice of hospitals.
The Federal Office of Public Health offers various tools to provide information on these institutions, helping you to assess their quality (depending on their location, specialities, patient satisfaction, etc.); for example, on sites such as Quel-hopital.ch or Hostofinder.ch.
The official hospital-rates monitoring website provides information on the rates charged by each institution (and according to the prices negotiated by each insurer) for the 20 most common hospital treatments.
Titre phone establishment list
Health facilities
A broad care network in Europe
APRIL International has an extensive network of hospitals, clinics, and healthcare providers where you can benefit from direct billing services and high quality care in Europe and across the world.
To find your nearest health professional or partner establishment in just a few clicks, go to your Easy Claim application.
Additional info about life and healthcare in Switzerland
Which international health insurance is right for you?
We care about our clients
The opinion of our customers is important and allows us to better meet their expectations. To this end, we collect the opinions of our policyholders via a questionnaire sent by the independent platform eKomi.
