Moving to Switzerland – Healthcare

The healthcare system in Switzerland is very different from what you’ll find elsewhere in Europe.

There is no public, state-funded system and no liability for an employer to contribute to a healthcare scheme. Instead, the responsibility lies solely with the individual to obtain healthcare coverage. In general, you must arrange this within three months of arrival.

Every provider on the list must accept anyone who applies, regardless of any existing condition. Therefore no-one is left without a decent level of healthcare insurance. You can of course purchase an additional cover to enhance the package, but every provider must provide what Switzerland specifies as the minimum standard.

As you might expect, the healthcare standards in Switzerland are very high with some of the best facilities in the world. Even with healthcare cover individuals will have to pay a small proportion of any costs but are free to choose any doctor or hospital they want.