Anyone who has a permit to work in Switzerland for more than three months must take out compulsory health insurance (KVG/LAMal) in Switzerland. This applies from the first day of work.
If you live in France, Germany, Italy, or Austria, you can choose to be insured in Switzerland or your country of residence.
Advantages of health insurance (KVG/LAMal) for cross-border commuters:
Cross-border commuters resident in the EU/EFTA/UK who take out Swiss basic insurance are obliged to choose the minimum deductible and the standard model. This model allows for free choice of doctor and specialist appointments.
As a cross-border commuter, you cannot take out individual supplemental insurance with an insurance provider in Switzerland. This is because your place of residence is outside Switzerland.
If you live in Germany, France, Italy, or Austria, you can choose to be insured in Switzerland or your country of residence. This is known as your option right.
Do you not want to take out insurance in Switzerland? In this case, you must submit an application for exemption from compulsory insurance to the health insurance office in the canton where you work within three months. Otherwise, at the end of this period, you will be automatically enrolled in Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance scheme.
The option right is final. Once you have opted for insurance in Switzerland (KVG/LAMal) or your country of residence, you can no longer reverse this decision.
Exceptions:
Cross-border commuters from a country outside the EU/EFTA and their non-working family members are subject to Swiss insurance upon their own application.
The application must be submitted within three months of the start of the validity of the G residence permit. If this deadline is not met, the insurance coverage begins at the time of joining.
The insurance cover ends with the end of the work activity in Switzerland, the expiry or revocation of the G residence permit, the death of the policyholder or if they forgo coverage by Swiss health insurance.
Do you have any questions about our basic insurance models?
Our insurance advisers will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your insurance coverage.
Family members
All of your family members must be insured with the same health insurer as yourself.
Exceptions: if your spouse works in your residence country, he/she will also be required to take out insurance there. Persons in your household who do not work, such as your children, will then be covered by your spouse's health insurance.
Accident coverage
As a worker in Switzerland, you are insured for accidents by your employer. Therefore, you do not need to add the accident risk to your health insurance contract.
Attention: persons who do not work have to take out accident insurance with their health insurer. Remember this when signing up to the insurance!
Share
