How do you choose and register for health insurance in Switzerland in 2026?

KVG is the German abbreviation for Switzerland's compulsory basic health insurance system. LAMal is the French abbreviation for the same system. If the Swiss insurance duty applies to you, enrol within three months after taking up residence. Timely cover runs back to the date the duty began, so eligible treatment can be reimbursed and premiums are also owed from that date.

If you register late without a valid reason, cover begins only when you enrol and a premium surcharge can apply. The canton, meaning one of Switzerland's 26 regional governments, enforces the duty and can assign an insurer if you fail to choose one.

Certain diplomats, posted workers, students with equivalent cover, and people insured under cross-border rules may qualify for an exemption. Apply to the canton-approved authority within its stated period. Foreign insurance by itself does not create an exemption.

Every authorised basic insurer must accept a person subject to compulsory cover in its service area, regardless of health. The statutory benefits are the same, but premiums, customer service, and access models differ. A family-doctor, telemedicine, or restricted-network model can cost less but requires you to follow its first-contact rules.

The deductible, called Franchise in German, is the yearly amount you pay for covered care before normal insurer payments begin. After it, you usually pay a co-payment, meaning a share of further covered bills, subject to the legal annual cap. A higher optional deductible lowers the premium but increases what you may pay when you need care. Compare the full risk, not only the monthly bill.

Accident cover depends on work. If one employer covers you under Swiss accident insurance for the required working pattern, you can ask the health insurer to remove accident cover after providing proof. Otherwise, include it. Confirm the position for children, non-working adults, and anyone with several small jobs.

Supplementary insurance pays for optional extras under a separate private contract. Unlike basic insurance, its provider may ask health questions, exclude conditions, or refuse the application. Do not cancel existing supplementary cover until the new provider confirms acceptance in writing.

People with limited means can seek a cantonal premium reduction. Each canton sets eligibility and procedure; some identify recipients automatically, while others require an application. Registering for basic cover does not automatically submit that request everywhere.