Switzerland's health system has its own vocabulary — and it runs in four official languages (German, French, Italian, Romansh). This article covers the essential terms across the two main health service languages (German and French), with Italian for Ticino, plus the insurance concepts that shape how everything works.

The Insurance System: Core Concepts

Understanding Swiss health insurance vocabulary is non-negotiable. The system is genuinely different from both the NHS model and most continental systems, and the terminology directly affects your decisions.

LAMal / KVG (Mandatory Health Insurance)

French: LAMal — Loi sur l'assurance-maladie (Health Insurance Act) German: KVG — Krankenversicherungsgesetz

The mandatory basic insurance that every resident in Switzerland must hold. Covers the core benefits package. All insurers must offer it; the premium varies by insurer, canton, and age.

Franchise (Deductible)

French: Franchise German: Franchise (same word)

The annual amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance starts contributing. Choices: 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, or 2,500 CHF. Most young people choose the maximum (2,500 CHF) to reduce monthly premiums — this means they personally pay the first 2,500 CHF of all healthcare bills each year.

Selbstbehalt / Quote-Part (Copayment)

French: Quote-part German: Selbstbehalt

After your franchise is met, you pay 10% of remaining costs — capped at 700 CHF per year. So the maximum annual personal exposure under base insurance is: franchise (up to 2,500 CHF) + copayment (up to 700 CHF) = 3,200 CHF.

Complémentaire / Zusatzversicherung (Supplementary Insurance)

French: Assurance complémentaire German: Zusatzversicherung

Optional additional coverage beyond LAMal. Highly variable between insurers. May cover dental, alternative medicine, private hospital rooms, and sometimes items relevant here like hepatitis vaccination or additional screenings. Check your policy.

Tarmed

The official fee schedule that doctors and hospitals use to bill insurance in Switzerland. Tarmed rates are higher than the cash prices at Checkpoints — which is precisely why paying cash at a Checkpoint for anonymous testing can be cheaper than billing insurance if your franchise isn't met.

Anonyme / Anonym (Anonymous Testing)

French: Dépistage anonyme German: Anonymer Test

Testing at a Checkpoint paid for in cash, not billed to your insurance company. Results are not tied to your identity and do not appear in your medical record. Usually cheaper than the insured nominal rate for people with a high franchise.

Nominal (Nominal / Named Testing)

French: Test nominal German: Nominaler Test

Testing billed to your insurance under your name. Covered by insurance, but triggers the deductible. Appropriate once your franchise is met, or if you have supplementary insurance that covers it.

Key Institutions

Checkpoint (German and French)

The community-run sexual health clinics operated by the regional AIDS and gay health organisations. Your primary access point for testing, vaccination, PrEP enrolment, and counselling. Present in Zürich, Geneva, Lausanne/Vaud, and Bern. Explicitly welcoming to gay and bisexual men.

Aids-Hilfe Schweiz / Aide Suisse contre le Sida

The national Swiss AIDS and sexual health umbrella organisation. Website: aids.ch. The Checkpoints operate under the auspices of the regional member organisations.

Dialogai

Geneva's primary LGBTQ+ and gay health organisation. Operates Checkpoint Genève and provides counselling, community events, and health advocacy for French-speaking Switzerland. Website: dialogai.org

Pink Cross

Switzerland's national gay men's organisation. Advocates on LGBTQ+ rights and health policy. Website: pinkcross.ch

Universitätsspital / Hôpital Universitaire (University Hospital)

The major cantonal university hospitals — USZ (Zürich), HUG (Geneva), CHUV (Lausanne), Inselspital (Bern), USB (Basel). Where you go for PEP, complex STI treatment, and HIV specialist care.

BAG / OFSP (Federal Office of Public Health)

German: Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG) French: Office fédéral de la santé publique (OFSP)

Switzerland's federal public health authority. Sets national vaccination recommendations, drug approval, and health guidelines. Website: bag.admin.ch / ofsp.admin.ch

Key Phrases by Language

Getting Tested

Context German French
Full STI screen "Ich möchte eine vollständige Geschlechtskrankheiten-Untersuchung." "Je voudrais un dépistage complet des IST."
Three-site testing "Ich brauche auch einen Rachen- und Rektalabstrich." "J'ai besoin d'un prélèvement pharyngé et rectal aussi."
Anonymous testing "Ich möchte anonym testen." "Je voudrais un test anonyme."
PrEP monitoring "Ich bin auf PrEP und brauche meine Dreimonatskontrolle." "Je suis sous PrEP et j'ai besoin de mon contrôle trimestriel."

Insurance and Cost

Context German French
"My deductible is 2,500" "Ich habe eine Franchise von 2500 CHF." "J'ai une franchise de 2500 CHF."
"Will this go to insurance?" "Geht das über die Krankenkasse?" "Est-ce que ça passe par l'assurance?"
"Can I pay cash?" "Kann ich bar bezahlen?" "Je peux payer en espèces?"

Starting PrEP

Context German French
"I want to start PrEP" "Ich möchte mit PrEP beginnen." "Je voudrais commencer la PrEP."
"SwissPrEPared enrolment" "Ich möchte mich für SwissPrEPared anmelden." "Je voudrais m'inscrire à SwissPrEPared."

Needing PEP

Context German French
At A&E triage "Ich hatte ein HIV-Risiko und brauche PEP." "J'ai eu un risque VIH et j'ai besoin d'une PEP."
Full sentence "Ich hatte vor [X] Stunden eine Hochrisiko-HIV-Exposition." "J'ai eu une exposition à haut risque au VIH il y a [X] heures."
Accident classification "Kann dies als Unfall eingestuft werden?" "Est-ce que ça peut être classé comme accident?"

Italian (Ticino)

Context Italian
HIV risk / PEP "Ho avuto un rischio HIV e ho bisogno della PEP."
Full STI screen "Vorrei uno screening completo per le malattie sessualmente trasmissibili."
Emergency department "Pronto soccorso"

Emergency Numbers

Number Service
144 Medical emergency / ambulance (all Switzerland)
117 Police
143 Die Dargebotene Hand / La Main Tendue — crisis line, 24/7
112 Pan-European emergency (also works in Switzerland)

Quick Acronym Reference

Term Full name What it means in practice
LAMal / KVG Health Insurance Act Your mandatory basic insurance
Franchise Deductible Amount you pay before insurance kicks in
Selbstbehalt / Quote-part Copayment 10% after franchise, max 700 CHF/year
Tarmed Fee schedule Official billing rates — higher than Checkpoint cash
PrEP Pre-exposure prophylaxis HIV prevention pill taken before exposure
PEP Post-exposure prophylaxis Emergency HIV prevention after exposure
IST / MST Infections sexuellement transmissibles (F) / Geschlechtskrankheit (G) STI
BAG / OFSP Federal Office of Public Health Federal health authority
SwissPrEPared — National PrEP cohort programme — low-cost access route

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