Swiss Health Insurance Compared: Picking Your Krankenkasse

For the rules, deadlines and how to enrol, see our pillar guide on Swiss health insurance for expats. This page is about choosing between providers.

Every Swiss health insurer sells two things:

• Basic insurance (KVG / LAMal): mandatory, identical coverage at every insurer, regulated by federal law. You pick the insurer based on price and service — never coverage.
• Supplementary insurance (VVG / LCA): optional, private contracts. Dental, semi-private hospital, alternative medicine, glasses, abroad cover. Coverage and price vary wildly between insurers.

You can — and often should — split: take cheap basic at insurer A and supplementary at insurer B. They don't talk to each other. Read our Swiss healthcare system explained guide for the system mechanics first.

• Standard: see any doctor anywhere. Most expensive.
• HausarztModel (family doctor): register one GP, always see them first. ~15% off premium.
• HMO: use a specific clinic that's part of the model. ~25% off premium.
• Telmed: call a 24/7 nurse hotline before every non-emergency visit. ~20% off premium.
• Apothekenmodell: pharmacist as first point of contact for minor stuff. Niche, ~10% off.

All models give you the exact same medical care if you actually fall ill — they just enforce a triage step. Telmed is the most flexible (you can be anywhere) and the easiest sell to expats.

Logic: if you'll spend less than the break-even on healthcare this year, the higher deductible wins. Healthy adults under 40: take CHF 2,500. Pregnancy planned, chronic condition, frequent specialist visits: stay at CHF 300.

Same 32-year-old in Zurich, identical medical coverage:

• Premium A: Helsana, Standard model, CHF 300 deductible → CHF 505/month → CHF 6,060/year
• Premium B: Atupri, Telmed model, CHF 2,500 deductible → CHF 285/month → CHF 3,420/year

Same legal coverage. Premium B saves CHF 2,640/year. Even if Premium B's holder pays the full CHF 2,500 deductible in an unlucky year, they're still CHF 140 ahead.

• Semi-private hospital (Halbprivat): CHF 80–160/month. Buys you a 2-bed room and free choice of doctor. Worth it if you'd ever pay out-of-pocket for a private surgeon — typically yes for expats.
• Private hospital: CHF 200–400/month. Single room, top consultant access. Genuinely worth it only for high-earning families with expensive expectations.
• Dental: CHF 20–60/month. Most expats over-pay. Buy only if orthodontics planned for kids.
• Alternative medicine extension: CHF 10–30/month. Worth it if you actually use chiropractic/acupuncture/osteopathy.
• Travel/abroad cover: CHF 5–25/month. Worth it for non-EU travel more than 1–2 weeks/year.

Trap: supplementary insurers can refuse you for pre-existing conditions. Apply when you're young and healthy. After 40, expect rejections or exclusions.

Premiums change in October when the federal regulator releases the next year's prices. Every September:

1. Check your existing insurer's letter for next year's premium.
2. Compare on Priminfo (official) or Comparis with your Gemeinde + age + model + deductible.
3. If cheaper option exists with equal coverage, send registered-letter cancellation by 30 November.
4. Apply to new insurer (basic KVG cannot be refused) before signing the cancellation.
5. Coverage transfers cleanly on 1 January.

Average expat who switches every 2–3 years saves CHF 800–1,500/year over not switching.

If your taxable income is below the cantonal threshold (varies widely; ~CHF 60k for singles, ~CHF 110k for families), the canton pays part of your premium. Apply through your cantonal KVG office with your latest tax assessment. Subsidies range CHF 50–400/month per adult. Roughly 28% of Swiss households receive one.

• Skip the 90-day enrolment deadline — canton auto-enrols you at the most expensive option and backdates the bill.
• Cancel basic before signing with a new insurer — you'll lose KVG temporarily, which is illegal.
• Buy supplementary from a doorstep agent without comparing — commissions are CHF 600–1,500 per signature.
• Stay on standard model with CHF 300 deductible just because that's the default. It's almost never the right choice.

Estimate your bill in our health insurance calculator.