Moving to Switzerland: your health insurance guide
Plan your move to Switzerland: enrolment, healthcare costs and choosing health insurance for work, study and family life.
Your first steps
Moving to Switzerland means making an insurance decision as well as registering your address. First establish when your insurance obligation begins and whether international coordination or a recognised exemption applies. Then compare basic insurance for your expected municipality, age, deductible and accident situation. Apply early and check the written policy confirmation. The usual deadline is three months, not necessarily exactly 90 days. Timely enrolment generally makes cover and premiums retroactive from the beginning of the obligation.
Read the guide for your situation
Start with the system overview and the arrival checklist. The cost and deductible guides help build a budget; the worker, student and foreign insurance guides explain why the ordinary rules may need a closer check. Families should assess each person separately. The guides for Germany and the UK focus on transitioning from your previous insurance arrangements. Optional supplementary insurance is a separate choice from compulsory basic cover.
All newcomer guides
Swiss health insurance explained for newcomers
Understand compulsory Swiss basic insurance, enrolment, treatment access and the choices you need to make when moving.
How much does health insurance cost in Switzerland?
Build a relocation budget using actual local premiums, treatment costs and retroactive payments.
How to choose health insurance before moving to Switzerland
Choose a municipality, budget, deductible and care model before applying for Swiss basic insurance.
Health insurance in Switzerland: the first 90 days
Follow a practical arrival checklist while respecting the legal three-month enrolment deadline.
Deductible vs. franchise: understanding Swiss healthcare costs
Understand deductible terminology, an illustrative treatment bill and the reserve you need after moving.
Swiss health insurance for expats and foreign workers
Distinguish residence, cross-border work, posting and employer accident insurance before enrolling.
Moving from Germany to Switzerland: health insurance guide
Plan the transition from German insurance to Swiss cover without confusing relocation with cross-border work.
Moving from the UK to Switzerland: health insurance guide
Understand Swiss enrolment, NHS expectations and when UK-funded healthcare needs an S1 assessment.
Health insurance for international students in Switzerland
Check student exemptions, EHIC arrangements, employment and Swiss insurance costs with your canton.
Health insurance for families moving to Switzerland
Plan separate policies, child premiums and coordinated start dates when your family moves to Switzerland.
Can I keep my foreign health insurance in Switzerland?
Separate keeping foreign cover from legally replacing compulsory Swiss health insurance.
Basic vs. supplementary health insurance in Switzerland
Prioritise compulsory cover and assess optional insurance separately when relocating to Switzerland.
Compare locations
Adults aged 26+ · CHF 300 deductible · no accident cover · standard model · 2027
Zürich · Basel · Bern · Zug
Frequently asked questions
Can I compare before choosing a city?
Yes. Compare identical profiles for your candidate locations, then get a detailed quote for your final municipality.
Is international private insurance automatically accepted?
No. The applicable legal system and any recognised exemption must be checked with the competent authority.
Official sources
- www.bag.admin.ch · Insurance obligation
- www.bag.admin.ch · Basic insurance
- www.bag.admin.ch · Students
- www.priminfo.admin.ch · Premiums
Information checked: 9 October 2026