Free choice of doctor in Switzerland: what is covered in basic insurance?
What does free choice of doctor mean in basic insurance? Which health insurance model allows me to choose my doctor? Comparis explains.
15.08.2025
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1. What does free choice of doctor mean?
Free choice of doctor means you may decide who you want to treat you before each doctor’s appointment. This allows you to go to a specialist without a referral, for example.
Good to know: free choice of doctor is enshrined in Article 41 of the Health Insurance Act.
2. Free choice of doctor under different models in Switzerland
There are various basic insurance models in Switzerland. Whether or not you can freely choose your doctor depends on your health insurance model. You only have free choice of doctor under basic health insurance in the standard model.
In alternative insurance models, the free choice of doctor is restricted. In these cases, you must always consult the contractually agreed point of contact first. These points of contact may be as follows:
If necessary, this point of contact will refer you to a specialist. Whether you are then free to choose the specialist depends on your health insurer. Depending on the insurance company, there are exceptions when you can go directly to a specialist.
Be careful when switching health insurance
With some health insurers, you can only choose family doctors’ practices from a list in certain models. If you change your model or health insurer, you could unintentionally lose your family doctor.
Check in good time whether your new health insurer accepts your current family doctor’s practice. You can often find this information on the website. If not, it’s best to contact your new health insurer.
3. Free choice of doctor: pros and cons
Advantages of having a free choice of doctor
One advantage of having a free choice of doctor is that you can seek the right specialist for you specifically. Since you don’t need to consult a point of contact first, you save time when you need treatment.
You can also easily change practice if, for example, you don’t feel that you’re in good hands.
Disadvantages of having a free choice of doctor
The monthly premium is higher for the model with a free choice of doctor. If you take out insurance with a model that has a limited choice of doctors, health insurers will give you a discount.
Another disadvantage is that you have to coordinate your appointments and treatments yourself.
Standard model in the Comparis health insurance comparison tool
The Comparis health insurance comparison tool shows you at a glance which model a premium belongs to. This allows you to see straight away which point of contact applies to you when you take out the insurance – or whether you have a free choice of doctor.
4. Free choice of doctor in health insurance: what applies in hospital?
Generally, you don’t have a free choice of doctor in hospital. However, with semi-private or private supplemental hospital insurance you are free to choose your doctor – but only for elective procedures. In emergencies, you don’t have a free choice of doctor, even if you have supplemental insurance.
This article was first published on 28.05.2010
