New to Switzerland: Register and Compare Health Insurance

1. When do I have to take out health insurance in Switzerland?

Anyone moving to Switzerland is required under the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG) to take out health insurance. The obligation kicks in with the registration at the residents' office of the municipality of residence and applies to every person resident in Switzerland, regardless of nationality or residence status.

From the day of taking up residence, you have 3 months to choose a health insurer. The insurance then applies retroactively from the first day. Anyone who misses the deadline is assigned to an insurer by the canton, with no free choice of plan model or deductible. Late enrolment surcharges can also apply.

3. Which health insurance do I need as a newcomer?

The Swiss system distinguishes between two insurance layers with different laws.

The mandatory basic insurance covers the medically necessary services under KVG. It is identical at every Swiss insurer and has an obligation to accept. A health questionnaire is excluded.

The voluntary supplementary insurance complements the basic insurance with comfort, free choice of hospital, complementary medicine or extended international coverage. The insurer assesses age and health status before acceptance.

With basic and supplementary insurance, acceptance conditions, costs and notice periods differ significantly.

Compando tip: Submit the application for supplementary insurance ideally upon arrival and before your first doctor's visit in Switzerland. After the first claim, the insurer becomes aware of your Swiss medical history, and policy restrictions or refusals become more likely.

4. Health insurance comparison for newcomers: what to look for?

3 factors determine the premium level in the basic insurance. Since the benefits are legally identical, it pays off to compare all 3 factors at the same time.

For the first months, a cautious combination is recommended:

• Plan model: Standard or Telmed, since the family doctor model does not work without a regular GP.
• Deductible: With expected health costs below CHF 1'000 per year, the maximum deductible CHF 2'500 fits. With expected costs above CHF 1'900 per year, the minimum deductible CHF 300 pays off. Middle tiers rarely make sense.
• Insurer: Choose insurers with low premiums for your canton of residence and age bracket. Further savings options in saving on health insurance premiums include collective discounts, dropping the accident coverage when the employer covers UVG, and prepayment of the annual premium.

5. Registering for health insurance in Switzerland: which mistakes to avoid?

5 mistakes occur particularly often during the first registration:

• Missing the deadline: Anyone who registers only after 4 months is assigned to an insurer by the canton. The premium usually lies above the cantonal average, plus late enrolment surcharges.
• Choosing the best-known insurer: Premium differences between insurers in the same canton reach up to CHF 100 per month, even though the benefits scope is identical.
• Choosing the wrong deductible: Healthy newcomers often choose CHF 300 out of caution. Anyone who does not expect regular treatments saves up to CHF 130 less premium per month with CHF 2'500.
• Applying for supplementary insurance too late: Before the first doctor's visit, the insurer has no medical history in Switzerland. The application and acceptance become more difficult afterwards or are issued with policy restrictions.
• Forgetting the children: Children are not co-insured through the parents. The registration must take place within 3 months of birth or moving in.

In a direct insurance comparison you see all Swiss insurers for your place of residence and profile side by side. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive insurer often adds up to several thousand francs per year.

This article was first published on 19/02/2026