Health Insurance for Foreign Students in Switzerland

Having basic health insurance is compulsory in Switzerland, and this holds true for foreign students completing all or part of their education in Switzerland as well.

Can foreign students get Swiss health insurance?

Yes, if you need health insurance, you are entitled to get mandatory Swiss health insurance as soon as you become a legal resident. You can get insured even if you have serious health conditions. The comprehensive Swiss mandatory health insurance comparison makes it easy to find the best offer based on your age, place of residence, and preferred deductible and health insurance model.

Can foreign students get an exemption from mandatory Swiss health insurance?

For students on a tight budget who are not accustomed to Swiss prices, a look at the premiums charged for compulsory Swiss health insurance can be frightening.

But as a foreign student temporarily living in Switzerland to study, you can apply for an exemption from Swiss compulsory health insurance. You can get this exemption for three years at a time, up to a maximum of six years in total.

If you have social health insurance from the United Kingdom, or from an EFTA or EU country and have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), then you are exempted from mandatory Swiss health insurance.

If you have private health insurance, then you have to apply for an exemption from mandatory health insurance (more on this further down).

The main requirement is that you are only studying, and not working (including salaried academic positions and internships). If you become employed during your time in Switzerland, then you are required to get mandatory Swiss health insurance.

Can I get special private health insurance for foreign students?

Yes. If you do not already have foreign health insurance that matches Swiss mandatory health insurance, you can get specialized health insurance for foreign students from Swiss insurance companies and brokers. 

These specialized foreign student health insurance offers meet the requirements to be accepted as a substitute for mandatory Swiss health insurance in some or all cantons. The benefit of using these specialized offers instead of regular Swiss mandatory health insurance is that they are generally much cheaper.

After you get specialized health insurance for foreign students in Switzerland, you have to apply for an exemption from Swiss mandatory health insurance, just as you would if you had foreign private health insurance.

Table 1: Health insurance offers for foreign students in Switzerland:

*Canton of Zurich: only CHF 500, 750, 1000, 1200 or 1500.

It is important to note that although these policies offer equivalent coverage to that provided by compulsory health insurance, they are voluntary health insurance policies. Insurance providers are not obligated to accept your application. If your health is poor, your application may be denied. In that case, you will have to get mandatory Swiss health insurance.

How can I apply for an exemption from Swiss mandatory health insurance?

From the time you arrive in Switzerland, you have three months to either take out a Swiss compulsory health insurance policy or to get an exemption. To get exempted, you have to apply for an exemption at the health authority or social security office that handles exemptions for your canton of residence. Some offices give you the option of applying online.

You must submit these documents together with your completed application for exemption from mandatory health insurance:

• Confirmation of enrollment in a Swiss educational institute.

• If you have social health insurance from the United Kingdom, or from an EFTA or EU country: A copy of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if or S1/E 109 certificate.

• If you have private health insurance (including specialized health insurance offers for foreign students in Switzerland): A copy of your health insurance card or health insurance policy.

• If you have private health insurance (including specialized health insurance offers for foreign students in Switzerland): A form completed and certified by your insurance provider that guarantees that your health insurance is equivalent to Swiss mandatory health insurance. You can obtain this form from your relevant cantonal health office. You must then have your insurance provider complete it. Once complete, it must be submitted with your application for an exemption.

If you need to prove that you have health insurance before you can obtain a visa or residence permit for Switzerland, then you may need to apply for an exemption remotely from your home country.

Table 2: Cantonal offices for exemptions from Swiss mandatory health insurance

Can foreign students get Swiss health insurance premium subsidies?

Yes. If you have a low income, you can apply for Swiss health insurance premium reductions. However, this is only possible if you get regular mandatory Swiss health insurance. If you get exempted from mandatory health insurance﹘because you get special health insurance for foreign students, for example﹘you cannot apply for health insurance premium reductions.

In many cases, though, special Swiss health insurance for foreign students is still cheaper than regular mandatory health insurance, even if you can get the highest health insurance premium reductions.

Additionally, the Swiss law governing foreigners and integration (AIG/LEI) requires foreigners staying in Switzerland without employment to have sufficient finances to cover their own cost of living.

More on this topic:
Compare Swiss mandatory health insurance offers now
How to choose the right Swiss student bank account
Swiss scholarships and student loans explained
Mobile plans for students: Pointers for better deals
How to use MOOCs to save money on continuing education in Switzerland