Health · Legal basis: LAMal
Basic health insurance (LAMal): mandatory, identical everywhere, except the price
Benefits are set by law: only premiums differ. Deductible, model and accident cover are your three levers.
Updated 5 September 2026 · Information drawn from official legal texts (fedlex.admin.ch), the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and Swiss federal data.
What LAMal covers
Outpatient and hospital treatment (general ward of your canton), medicines on the official list, maternity, defined preventive exams, emergencies abroad (within limits). Not covered: routine dental care, adults' glasses, private ward, that is what supplementary plans (LCA) are for.
The three dials of your premium
1. The annual deductible
What you pay out of pocket before any reimbursement.
| Profile | Available deductibles | Rule of thumb |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | CHF 300 / 500 / 1,000 / 1,500 / 2,000 / 2,500 | CHF 2,500 if low medical costs; CHF 300 with regular treatment |
| Children | CHF 0 to 600 | Usually CHF 0 |
2. The co-payment
Beyond the deductible you still pay 10% of costs, capped at CHF 700 per year (CHF 350 for children), plus a daily hospital contribution.
3. The insurance model
- Standard: free choice of doctor, the most expensive.
- Family doctor: see your GP first, typical 10–20% discount.
- Telmed: first contact by phone.
- HMO: group practice, often up to about 25% off.
Good to know: employed more than 8h/week with the same employer? You are already covered for accidents through their LAA. Exclude accident cover from your LAMal and save a few extra percent.
Which deductible + model combination fits you?
Three questions, an adviser computes the cheapest combination for your canton.
Get my free calculation📖 Official legal texts: LAMal / KVG (SR 832.10) · fedlex.admin.ch
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