Health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory in Switzerland. You must take out Swiss health insurance within three months. Certain groups of people can be exempted from the insurance obligation.

 

 

Mandatory health insurance

In principle, anyone living or working in Switzerland is required to take out a health insurance policy. Every family member must be insured individually. After arriving in Switzerland, you should quickly take out the relevant insurance (no more than 3 months after arrival). 

You are free to choose which Swiss health insurance company you take out your basic insurance with. Every approved health insurance company must include you in the basic insurance regardless of your age or state of health.

As the legal requirements for medical services are the same for all health insurance companies, it is worth comparing premiums. As a general rule, you can cancel your insurance contract in November each year and switch to a different company.

 

Exemption options

In the canton of Bern, exemptions from compulsory insurance are possible under certain conditions and proof of recognized, equivalent insurance coverage for:

  • international students / basic and continuing education and training
  • employees posted to Switzerland
  • persons who have compulsory health insurance from a foreign country (outside EU)
  • cross-border commuters

(non-exhaustive list)

If you live in the canton of Bern, you must submit an application for exemption online to the Social Insurance Office (Canton of Bern).

Emergency

The City Emergency Center in Bern ("City Notfall Bern") is a central point of contact for emergencies that do not require immediate hospital treatment. The walk-in emergency clinic provides rapid emergency medical care without an appointment and is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.