Taking out insurance

You must take out insurance privately from a health insurance fund of your choice. When doing so, please note the following:

• You must register with a health insurance fund within three months of taking up residency in Switzerland. Your insurance cover will take effect from the date of your registration either at the Residents' Registration Office at your place of residence (if not living in the city of Zurich) or at the relevant District Office in Zurich (¡°Kreisb¨¹ro¡±).
• If your employment contract stipulates a level of employment of at least 19.5% (eight hours per week), supplementary accident insurance can be excluded from your health insurance policy. You would then be covered through ETH Zurich against the financial consequences of accidents at or outside work.
• The premiums you pay depend on the insurance benefits you require as well as your age, gender and the region in which you live. This means that premium amounts can vary significantly.
• You must cover the excess and franchise for any insurance benefits you claim.
• The health insurance providers reset the premium rates for basic insurance each year in consultation with the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH). The FOPH is the supervisory authority for social health insurance (basic insurance) and the authorising authority for compulsory basic insurance premiums and benefits.
  

If you would like to switch to a different health insurance fund, this requires a certain amount of effort. You will have to follow the correct formal procedures and comply with any deadlines.

Comparing premiums

The institutions external page vzonline offer an overview of the health insurance options available, including a comparison of costs and benefits.

external page List of approved health insurers in Switzerland