LAMal: choosing Swiss health insurance without getting trapped

Between CHF 300 and 500 per adult, every month, for as long as you live in Switzerland. Basic health insurance, LAMal, is one of an expat's biggest budget items, and one of the most misunderstood. The good news: the rules become simple once you grasp one central idea. Every fund covers exactly the same base.

Every fund covers the same base

The basic cover is defined by federal law, identical from one fund to another. Competition is only on the price of the premium, never on basic benefits. A cheaper fund does not treat you worse for the mandatory core. There is no point paying more for a "better base": it does not exist.

The deductible lever: from CHF 300 to 2,500

The deductible is the annual amount you pay out of pocket before the fund steps in. You choose it from set tiers: CHF 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 or 2,500 for an adult. The logic is inverted: a high deductible lowers the premium, a low deductible raises it. The strategy follows your health. A high deductible if you are healthy and rarely see a doctor. A low one for regular treatment or a family with children. Add the co-payment: 10% of costs above the deductible, capped at around CHF 700 a year. Your maximum predictable cost outside the premium is therefore the deductible plus CHF 700.

The insurance models: free choice, family doctor, Telmed

The model you choose also shapes the premium:

• Free choice of doctor: the highest premium, direct access to specialists.
• Family doctor: a premium reduced by about 10 to 15%, you go through your GP first.
• Telmed: you call a medical hotline before any consultation, an even lower premium.

Subsidies: do not miss out

If your income is modest, your canton may cover part of the premium. The threshold and the amount vary widely between cantons. Many eligible expats never claim it. Check with your canton of residence.

Supplementary insurance, optional

Supplementary insurance covers what LAMal does not: a private room, partial dental care, alternative medicine, glasses, wider cover abroad. Its price is free, and the fund can refuse you or set conditions for a pre-existing condition. It stays optional. If it interests you, sign up while young and healthy.

The trap to avoid and the right reflex

You have three months to enrol after arrival, but cover is backdated to your arrival date: do not drag your feet, you will pay those months either way. Conversely, do not pick the cheapest premium blindly: first match the deductible and model to your real health. Compare official premiums on priminfo.admin.ch. Since the base is identical everywhere, the goal is simple: pay the fair price, no more.

How Swiss Copilot factors in LAMal

Our questionnaire lets you enter your deductible and your insurance model, then estimates your premium within your budget and disposable income. You see the real monthly impact of LAMal before you even arrive, instead of discovering it on your first bill. 👉 Estimate your LAMal premium within your budget.