https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Switzerland’s insurance providers offer dozens of various coverage options to the country’s residents. How can you know which ones you really need and which are redundant — or overlapping? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240903/which-swiss-insurance-policies-are-essential-and-which-ones-dont-you-need Tue, 03 Sep 2024 13:07:09 +0200 which-swiss-insurance-policies-are-essential-and-which-ones-dont-you-need Switzerland Federal Council has made a move towards raising the country's minimum health insurance deductible by 100 francs to dissuade the public from seeking non-urgent healthcare. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260316/minimum-swiss-health-insurance-deductible-could-rise-by-100-francs Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:56:07 +0100 minimum-swiss-health-insurance-deductible-could-rise-by-100-francs While health insurance falls under a Swiss federal law, each canton is responsible for administering the system on its own territory. What happens if you need to consult a doctor or be hospitalised in another area? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220718/will-my-swiss-health-insurance-cover-treatment-in-another-canton Mon, 18 Jul 2022 16:01:46 +0200 will-my-swiss-health-insurance-cover-treatment-in-another-canton As you merrily dash down the snowy slopes of the Swiss Alps, you probably don't think about flying down and injuring yourself. But there are things you should definitely consider. https://www.thelocal.ch/20221129/reader-question-should-i-take-out-additional-insurance-before-i-go-skiing-in-switzerland Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:59:10 +0100 reader-question-should-i-take-out-additional-insurance-before-i-go-skiing-in-switzerland Each year, the cost of Switzerland’s obligatory health insurance goes up – more in some cantons than in others. What factors determine how much you pay in your place of residence? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260217/why-do-swiss-health-insurance-premiums-vary-so-much-among-cantons-in-2026 Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:52:46 +0100 why-do-swiss-health-insurance-premiums-vary-so-much-among-cantons-in-2026 Currently, people who have medical problems – or have had them in the past – can’t access Switzerland’s supplementary health insurance. But moves to change this system are gaining momentum. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260123/criteria-for-swiss-complementary-health-insurance-could-become-less-rigid Fri, 23 Jan 2026 15:53:20 +0100 criteria-for-swiss-complementary-health-insurance-could-become-less-rigid Illness and accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. What medical treatment are foreigners entitled to if they need medical care in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20221103/can-a-swiss-hospital-refuse-urgent-medical-care-to-a-foreigner Thu, 03 Nov 2022 16:51:59 +0100 can-a-swiss-hospital-refuse-urgent-medical-care-to-a-foreigner Health insurance premiums in Switzerland will increase by 4.4 percent on average in 2026 – with residents of some cantons paying even more. But a new survey shows where the best deals are. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251016/which-swiss-health-insurance-companies-are-the-cheapest-in-autumn-2025 Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:16:35 +0200 which-swiss-health-insurance-companies-are-the-cheapest-in-autumn-2025 The deadline for changing your Swiss insurance coverage - November 30th - is fast approaching. There are several things you need to keep in mind before you do so. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251105/everything-you-need-to-know-about-changing-your-swiss-health-insurance-in-2025 Wed, 05 Nov 2025 17:34:21 +0100 everything-you-need-to-know-about-changing-your-swiss-health-insurance-in-2025 Whether an insurance carrier in Switzerland can turn you down because of chronic illnesses depends on the kind of coverage you are seeking. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210827/reader-question-can-i-be-excluded-from-swiss-health-insurance-if-i-have-pre-existing-medical-conditions Fri, 27 Aug 2021 10:28:13 +0200 reader-question-can-i-be-excluded-from-swiss-health-insurance-if-i-have-pre-existing-medical-conditions Much has been said about Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance, most of it pertaining to its high — and continually growing — costs. But there is also another aspect of the scheme many people may not know about. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220912/explained-how-the-swiss-health-insurance-system-is-based-on-solidarity Mon, 12 Sep 2022 16:21:27 +0200 explained-how-the-swiss-health-insurance-system-is-based-on-solidarity Between insurance premiums and over-priced drugs and other costs, healthcare in Switzerland comes at a steep price. Clare O'Dea looks at why the costs are so high and some of the ways you can save money. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231218/how-you-can-save-money-on-healthcare-in-switzerland Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:40:23 +0100 how-you-can-save-money-on-healthcare-in-switzerland If you already have a GP doctor in Switzerland but, for some reason, need or want to switch, how easy is it to do so? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240708/how-difficult-is-it-to-change-your-doctor-in-switzerland Mon, 08 Jul 2024 17:59:16 +0200 how-difficult-is-it-to-change-your-doctor-in-switzerland Residents in Switzerland have until November 30th to switch their current health insurance policy to a new one. But there are reasons to be wary of marketing calls from various insurance companies urging you to buy their policy. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251003/why-you-should-be-wary-of-calls-from-swiss-health-insurance-companies Fri, 03 Oct 2025 12:46:22 +0200 why-you-should-be-wary-of-calls-from-swiss-health-insurance-companies The government had said health insurance premiums in Switzerland will increase by 4.4 percent on average in 2026 but, in fact, consumers may end up paying quite a bit more. https://www.thelocal.ch/20251002/7-percent-swiss-health-insurance-costs-could-rise-more-than-announced-rate Thu, 02 Oct 2025 17:06:17 +0200 7-percent-swiss-health-insurance-costs-could-rise-more-than-announced-rate Health insurance rates will rise by 4.4 percent next year, which means an average increase of 16.60 francs per month. But the situation in your Swiss canton may be different. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250924/which-swiss-cantons-will-see-highest-hikes-in-health-insurance-premiums Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:43:02 +0200 which-swiss-cantons-will-see-highest-hikes-in-health-insurance-premiums As it does each year at this time, the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) has revealed the increase in the health insurance premiums that residents of Switzerland will pay in 2026. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250923/swiss-health-insurance-premiums-to-rise-by-more-than-4-percent-in-2026 Tue, 23 Sep 2025 19:09:42 +0200 swiss-health-insurance-premiums-to-rise-by-more-than-4-percent-in-2026 Like other countries, Switzerland too is a bureaucracy, where various government agencies oversee different functions of public and private life. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240125/taxes-to-work-permits-who-deals-with-what-in-switzerland Thu, 25 Jan 2024 15:56:04 +0100 taxes-to-work-permits-who-deals-with-what-in-switzerland Health insurance premiums will see big rises in Switzerland next year but residents in certain cantons will be hit by steeper hikes. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250521/swiss-health-insurance-premiums-to-see-big-increases-in-some-cantons Wed, 21 May 2025 11:40:08 +0200 swiss-health-insurance-premiums-to-see-big-increases-in-some-cantons Whether it's depression, anxiety or stress many people in Switzerland need help for mental health conditions at some point. But will health insurance pay for the cost of this treatment? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250417/what-mental-health-care-is-covered-under-swiss-health-insurance Thu, 17 Apr 2025 18:33:09 +0200 what-mental-health-care-is-covered-under-swiss-health-insurance