Quick Answer
- What it is:
- Health Insurance — a healthcare procedure in Switzerland.
- Deadline:
- 90 days
- Steps:
- 5 steps
- Cost:
- CHF 350
- Documents:
- 3 required
- Legal basis:
- KVG Art. 3
Miss the deadline? Canton assigns you to an insurer (usually most expensive option)
Important Deadlines
Register within 3 months of arrival
Canton assigns you to an insurer (usually most expensive option)
Switch insurers: notify by November 30 for standard model
Stuck with current insurer for another year
Required Documents
- ✓Residence permit or confirmation of registration
- ✓Passport or ID
- ✓Swiss address
Step-by-Step Guide
Choose a health insurer (Krankenkasse) within 3 months of arriving in Switzerland.
Pro tip: All insurers offer identical basic coverage (Grundversicherung). Only premiums differ. Compare at priminfo.admin.ch or comparis.ch.
Select your deductible (Franchise): CHF 300 to CHF 2,500 per year.
Pro tip: Higher deductible = lower monthly premium. If you rarely visit the doctor, CHF 2,500 saves ~CHF 150/month. But you pay more out-of-pocket.
Choose your insurance model: Standard, Hausarzt (family doctor), HMO, or Telmed.
Pro tip: Hausarzt/HMO models are 10-20% cheaper. You must always visit your assigned doctor first.
Submit your application. Coverage starts retroactively from your arrival date if applied within 3 months.
Apply for premium subsidies (Prämienverbilligung) if your income is low.
Pro tip: Apply at your cantonal SVA. Income thresholds vary by canton. In Zurich: ~CHF 54,000/year (single).
Fees
Legal Basis
Also Known As
This procedure is commonly searched under these names:
Official Resources
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