Switzerland runs on compulsory private insurance, not a national health service. Every resident buys a KVG/LaMal policy within 3 months — insurers must accept you regardless of age or health, and a 68-year-old pays the same basic premium as a 30-year-old. That last part is the best-kept good news in Europe for older movers.
Figures verified 9 July 2026There is no Swiss NHS. The KVG/LaMal law makes basic health insurance compulsory for every resident, sold by competing private insurers who must offer identical basic benefits and accept every applicant. You choose the insurer, the deductible, and the care model (free choice of doctor, family-doctor model, telemedicine-first — the restricted models are cheaper). Quality and speed are among the best in the world; the bill arrives monthly, for life, and rises most years — premiums went up 4.4% on average for 2026.
Two adults at the 2026 average is about CHF 930/month in premiums before any deductible spending — budget roughly CHF 12,000–14,000/year all-in for a healthy couple, more in high-premium cantons (Geneva, Basel-Stadt, Ticino) and less in central Switzerland. Because premiums don't rise with age after 26 and acceptance is guaranteed, this is — unusually — a system where being 68 with a history costs no more than being 38 without one. Premium subsidies exist for lower incomes, but claiming them can undermine the "sufficient financial means" condition of a retiree permit — don't plan around them.
| Stage | What you need |
|---|---|
| Before the move | Nothing Swiss yet — but get quotes on priminfo.admin.ch (the official comparator) so the number is in your budget, not a surprise. |
| First 3 months | Sign up with any KVG insurer. Cover is retroactive to your arrival date — as are the premiums. Keep travel cover for trips outside Switzerland. |
| Settled resident | Basic KVG as the backbone; optional supplementary insurance (private/semi-private ward, more dental) — that part IS health-questioned and age-rated, so buy early if you want it. |
The 3-month rule, choosing deductible and model, 2026 premiums by canton, and the mistakes newcomers make.
Read the guide →What the age-rated, health-questioned top-up policies cost late in life — and whether they're worth it.
What happens to your US Medicare when you leave, and why most people keep Part A.
Model, deductible, and canton choices are worth hundreds of francs a month. We'll match you with an expat health-insurance specialist we've independently vetted for Switzerland. Free, no obligation.