Compulsory Insurance

Every person with residence in Switzerland or their legal guardian is reqiuired within three month from taking up residence or of birth in Switzerland to take out basic compulsory health insurance. If the insurance is joined on time (within three months) the cover will begin at the time of birth or from taking up residence in Switzerland . If the insurance is joined with delay the cover will start at the time of participation and in case of an unexcusable delay will lead to surcharge being added to the premium. Information concerning the insurance premiums can be found under www.priminfo.ch.

The residence is located wherever a person intents to remain. The registration at the municipal administration is not the only criteria to determine one’s residence. The residence remains unchanged until a new one will be established.

On the basis of the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between the European Union and Switzerland, the EFTA Convention and the Switzerland-UK Social Security Agreement, persons who live in the EU, Iceland, Norway or the UK and work in Switzerland (e.g. cross-border workers) are also subject to compulsory insurance in Switzerland.

The obligation of insurance extends to unemployed family members unless they are subject to compulsory health insurance in their country of residence. Family members include the spouse and children until the completed age of 18 and full-aged children entitled to aliments.

The insurance begins with the taking up of an economic activity in Switzerland.

Persons with residence in the EU/EFTA/UK are subject to compulsory health insurance if they receive a Swiss pension from the federal old-age and survivors’s insurance (AHV), disability insurance (IV), military insurance (MV), accident insurance (UV) or occupational benefit plan (BV). Within the scope of BV this is also valid for lumpsum payments if the official retirement age is reached.