LaMal or CMU? According to my situation (with calculator)

You work in Switzerland and live in France, you may be wondering what employment regimehealth insurance choose between LAMal or CMU?

We tell you everything in the next few lines!

Remember that once the choice is made, you cannot change it.

The calculated figures are estimates, please contact our team for the final amounts.

Advice depending on your situation

Person living alone with modest income

Working in Switzerland, single, without children, with a monthly income of less than 5,000 Swiss francs?

Financially the CMU remains slightly advantageous, but the gain remains, depending on whether you are close or not to the anecdotal 5,000 CHF. CMU offers limited access to care in Switzerland, which may be restrictive. In addition, if you plan to evolve professionally, being affiliated with LaMal will be financially better later. Reminder: you will not be able to change your health insurance plan once the choice is made.

Person living with family and a modest income

Married with children, with a monthly family income of less than 5,000 Swiss francs?

There CMU will be more advantageous for you, the CMU contribution is based on 8% of the reference tax income, so you will be under the 400 CHF premium, which may be more affordable than the high fixed rate of the LAMal, especially when the income does not greatly exceed the threshold where the LAMal would become advantageous. In addition, CMU offers coverage for eligible beneficiaries (spouse and children) at no additional cost, which greatly reduces the financial burden.

Person with high income and a family

Working in Switzerland, married with children, with a monthly income greater than 5,000 Swiss francs?

There LaMal is financially more advantageous for you, but you will have to take out LaMal insurance for each member of the family. Note that the costs of LaMal for children remain lower. If you are close to 5000 CHF of total family income with 2 children and your partner, the CMU will be financially better for the whole family. In the same situation, but with 10,000 CHF of family income, LaMal will be the best choice.

Person with high income and no family

Single, without children, working in Switzerland, with a monthly income significantly higher than 5,000 Swiss francs?

There LaMal will be more advantageous for you, because the premium is fixed and independent of your income, unlike CMU where the cost is proportional to the reference tax income (8%). In addition, LAMal offers the advantage of better access to care in Switzerland.

Person with fluctuating or non-salary income

Independent or with fluctuating income, including rental income, dividends, or capital gains?

Everything depends on the amounts of income you receive, but the fixed LAMal premium offers a simple financial forecast unlike the CMU, where contributions vary according to annual income.

The big differences between LAMal and CMU

Similarities between CMU and LAMal

There are 3 similarities between CMU and LAMal:

1. Reimbursements of services in France : For care in France, reimbursements are identical between LAMal Frontalier and CMU Frontalier, and both entitle you to a Vitale card.
2. Insufficiency of basic insurance : Whether with LAMal or CMU, basic insurance is considered insufficient, and it is strongly recommended to take out mutual insurance or additional health insurance to improve reimbursements.
3. Tax deductions : Contributions for CMU Frontalier and premiums for LAMal Frontalier are eligible for tax deductions

Comparison of cost structures between LAMal and CMU

• LAMal: The contribution is fixed and does not depend on income. It varies according to three age groups.
• CMU: The cost is based on the Reference Tax Income (8% of it), so the higher the income, the higher the contribution.

This cost structure shows that LAMal may be more beneficial for those with higher incomes, while CMU may be more suitable for those with lower incomes.

Differences in access to care in Switzerland and France

The differences in access to care in Switzerland and France between LAMal and CMU are as follows:

• LAMal Borderier: Allows access to healthcare networks in Switzerland and France. This is a notable advantage for cross-border workers working in Switzerland, as it offers the possibility of receiving care close to the workplace. This is particularly useful in French border regions with few medical services.
• CMU Border: Mainly offers access to the healthcare network in France, with certain conditions for accessing healthcare in Switzerland. This regime is less flexible for cross-border workers who want or need care in Switzerland.

Impact of income changes.

Concerning the impact of changes in income between LAMal and CMU:

• LAMal: If the salary increases or if other income is added (for example, rental income or inheritance), the amount of the LAMal health insurance premium does not change.
• CMU: If the salary increases or if other income is added, the amount of the CMU contribution increases, because it is based on the reference tax income.

Influence of family situation

The influence of the family on the choice between LAMal and CMU is as follows:

• LAMal: If the spouse does not receive income in France and you have children, each member of the family must be insured individually, without the notion of free beneficiaries.
• CMU: From a similar perspective, family members are covered as free beneficiaries, that is to say without additional contribution

FAQ: LAMal or CMU