
Genève pratique
Practical Geneva
Health insurance
Everyone living and working in Switzerland must have compulsory basic health insurance. There is no family coverage, only individual coverage.
There are certain exceptions for employees of permanent missions, international organisations and their families, provided that they are insured by their employers. More information on the website of the Swiss mission:
- Regulations applicable to staff members of the permanent missions (PM), staff members of the international organisations (IO) and their family.
After arriving, you have 3 months to choose an official health insurance company. In addition to the compulsory basic insurance, a variety of supplementary insurance options or ‘complémentaires’ is also available to meet your specific lifestyle needs.
You’ll pay a monthly premium, based on an annual contract. The ‘franchise’ is the ‘deductible’ amount you pay towards your treatment costs each year. Once the deductible is reached, the insurance company will then cover the costs.
Basic information on health insurance in Switzerland on the website ch.ch, a service of the Confederation, cantons and communes
To compare health insurance company offers, visit the website comparis.ch
Registration
It is a requirement to present a copy of your health insurance membership when you register your arrival with the local commune as a private citizen, or with the Swiss Mission to the UN for permanent mission and international organisation employees.
Changing health insurance providers is only possible once a year and must be done before November 30.
Accident insurance for occupational and non-occupational accidents is generally covered by your employer. Self-employed professionals need to take out their own accident insurance.
Complementary information
Regulations applicable to local employees of permanent missions with regard to mandatory Swiss social security insurance and Swiss income tax.
Manual: Private employees: Ordinance addressed to employers who wish to engage a private employee with a legitimation card and to those who already have one working for them, and to the private employees themselves.