Health Insurance for Cross-Border Workers: Swiss or Home Country Coverage?

Working in Switzerland while living in a neighboring country (France, Germany, Italy, Austria) comes with many benefits—but also key decisions to make. One of the most important is choosing your health insurance scheme.

Should you be insured in Switzerland or stay insured in your country of residence?

This guide explains in a simple way:

• How health insurance works for cross-border workers
• The differences between Swiss insurance and home-country insurance
• How to choose the best option based on your personal situation

Table of Contents

1. Health Insurance Obligation: What Does the Law Say?
2. Key Differences Between Swiss Insurance and Home Country Insurance
3. How to Choose the Right Health Insurance?
4. Be Careful with Deadlines and Procedures
5. Summary: Which Health Insurance is More Advantageous?
6. Conclusion

Health Insurance Obligation: What Does the Law Say?

If you work in Switzerland, you must have valid health insurance from your first day of work.

General rule:You are insured in the country where you work (Switzerland).

But if you live in France, Germany, Italy, or Austria, you benefit from the insurance option right.

This gives you 3 months from the start of your contract to choose:

• Swiss health insurance (LAMal)
• Or stay insured in your home country (French CMU, German GKV, Italian SSN, etc.)

⚠️ Important: Once your choice is made, it cannot be changed except in very specific cases.

Key Differences Between Swiss Insurance and Home Country Insurance

How to Choose the Right Health Insurance?

Choose Swiss Insurance (LAMal) if:

• You have a high or increasing income
• You live near the Swiss border and often get treatment there
• You want fast care and free choice of doctors
• You are young, single, and without children

Choose Home Country Insurance if:

• You have a medium or low income
• You have a family with several children
• You mainly get medical care in your home country
• Your spouse is insured at home, and your children are dependents

Be Careful with Deadlines and Procedures

Remember: You only have 3 months from the start of your job in Switzerland to exercise your insurance option right.

If you choose home country insurance, you must:

• Fill in the official form to waive Swiss insurance
• Have it validated by your local health authority (e.g., CPAM, ASL, Krankenkasse)
• Send it to the cantonal authorities in Switzerland

Summary: Which Health Insurance is More Advantageous for Cross-Border Workers?

Conclusion

There is no universal perfect choice.

The best health insurance option for a cross-border worker depends on:

• Your personal situation
• Your healthcare habits
• Your current and future income

Take the time to carefully analyze the pros and cons of each option and make an informed decision: it is an important and often definitive choice.

Note: This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult official sources or a professional advisor before making your final decision.