LAMal: How to get health insurance upon your arrival in Switzerland

In Switzerland, basic health insurance is mandatory. If you move to the country, you must take out health insurance with a health insurer within three months of the date the insurance obligation becomes applicable. Within this period, the insurance takes effect retroactively to the beginning of this obligation, and premiums are due from that date. In the case of late enrollment, the Priminfo FAQ states that the insurance only takes effect upon enrollment.

This page follows the FAQ and information pages of Priminfo, the official premium calculator provided by the Federal Office of Public Health. It does not provide any premium amounts. It does not cite the relevant articles of the law (LAMal): the text could not be consulted. It does not address the right of option for cross-border workers, supplementary insurance, or procedures with the municipality.

Who should ensure

Priminfo's FAQ answers unequivocally: "Yes, health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland." It lists, among others, the following people.

A temporary stay abroad without establishing residency there does not exempt you from Swiss insurance: "you remain subject to the obligation to have insurance in Switzerland," states the FAQ. The specific rules for cross-border workers and recipients of a Swiss pension who live in the EU, Iceland, Norway, or the UK are not detailed here.

The three-month period and the retroactive effect

The FAQ sets the deadline: three months "from the moment the obligation to have insurance applies." Two practical consequences, according to the FAQ.

• The insurance takes effect "retroactively to the start of the insurance obligation." If you take out insurance within the required timeframe, the FAQ clarifies that premiums are due retroactively from the start of the coverage period.
• Priminfo states: "The basic health insurance premium is divisible." The FAQ uses this as a basis for calculating premiums per day for a child born mid-month. For a mid-month arrival, please contact your insurer.

According to the FAQ, the obligation begins from the moment it applies, for example, after establishing residency in Switzerland or upon the birth of a child in Switzerland. The page does not specify this moment for your particular situation (residency, permit).

If you do not take out insurance in time

• Automatic affiliation. If you do not take out insurance, "the cantonal authority will choose a health insurer for you.".
• Beginning of the cover. The FAQ states: "In case of late enrollment, the insurance only takes effect upon enrollment.".
• Premium supplement. In the case of late enrollment, the FAQ states: "If the delay is not excusable, you must pay an additional premium." The percentage and duration of the additional premium are not listed on the pages consulted. Therefore, they are not indicated here.

Exemptions upon request

Some people may request an exemption, provided they have equivalent coverage for treatment in Switzerland. The competent cantonal authorities decide on these requests (the joint institution LAMal for pensioners domiciled in the EU, EFTA, or the UK). The FAQ specifically mentions:

• persons holding a residence permit for persons without gainful employment; ;
• «"Nationals of a non-EU/EFTA/UK state who are staying in Switzerland for training purposes"; ;
• posted workers in Switzerland are exempt from the obligation to pay Swiss AVS/AI contributions under a convention; ;
• persons who reside in an EU Member State, provided that they can be exempted under the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons and its Annex II.

The specific conditions for each category are not detailed on the pages consulted. The list is not presented as exhaustive. An exemption is not presumed: it must be requested.

What you pay in addition to the premium

Priminfo reminds you that you must pay your premiums even if you don't go to the doctor. In addition, there is a cost-sharing fee, made up of a fixed annual amount, the deductible, and a co-payment.

Priminfo also presents several insurance models: the Standard model, with free choice of doctor, and models that require a specific initial point of contact (office, telemedicine, pharmacy). The site indicates that the model categories have changed compared to last year.

Choose and change cash registers

For basic health insurance, "all health insurers must accept you regardless of your age and health status." No health questionnaire is required.

To switch health insurance providers on January 1st, the cancellation notice must reach the provider before November 30th: "The cancellation notice must reach the health insurance provider before November 30th for the following year." Priminfo recommends sending it by registered mail before November 15th. The new provider will cover you from January 1st, while the old provider will cover you until the end of December. Those who have not yet paid their premiums cannot switch.

Regarding premiums, a current update: the Priminfo homepage announces, in a press release dated September 29, 2026, that "health insurance premiums are increasing by an average of 5.0%" and the calculator displays the 2027 premiums. The press release is not reproduced here: this average says nothing about your premium, which depends on your insurer, your model and your deductible.

Premium reduction

People with limited means can apply for a premium reduction. Applications are made to the canton: "You must apply to the canton." The cantons decide on the amount, the beneficiaries, and the payment method, which goes directly to the insurer. Therefore, the rules vary from one canton to another. Priminfo reports that cantons must reduce premiums by at least 80 percent for the children of those eligible, and by at least 50 percent for young adults in education or training. The website does not specify a deadline for applications: contact your canton for more information.

LAMal: numerical example (fictitious profile)

Situation. Claire, a fictional character, arrives in Switzerland with a residence permit valid for three months or more. It is assumed that the obligation to obtain health insurance applies from September 20, 2027, and that the deadline is calculated in calendar months. In scenario A, she takes out insurance on December 10, 2027; in scenario B, on January 15, 2028.

Issue. Does she respect the deadline, and how long has the insurance been in effect?

Strategy. She compares the affiliation date to the end of the three-month period, then reads the retroactive effect.

Result.

This profile is fictitious. It illustrates the timing mechanism and does not predict any outcome for your situation.

LAMal: what changes depending on your case

• Your status: domicile in Switzerland, residence permit, work in Switzerland with domicile in the EU, Iceland, Norway or the United Kingdom.
• The date on which the obligation applies to you.
• A possible exemption, subject to equivalent coverage and the decision of the canton.
• Your canton, which sets the premium reduction.
• The insurance model and deductible you choose.
• The composition of your family, especially the children.

These factors determine what applies to you. No results are promised.