X-Ray Cost in Switzerland
What you actually pay under LAMal mandatory insurance and at private clinics. Last reviewed April 2026.
Quick Overview
Switzerland runs a mandatory private health insurance system (LAMal / KVG) — every resident must hold a basic plan with a Krankenkasse. You pick an annual deductible (franchise / Franchise) between CHF 300 and CHF 2,500; higher franchise means lower premium. You pay 100% of covered costs until you hit the franchise, then 10% co-insurance (quote-part / Selbstbehalt) up to CHF 700/year. From January 2026, the long-standing Tarmed outpatient tariff is replaced by TARDOC + Pauschalen, but patient out-of-pocket rules are unchanged.
🏥 LAMal Basic Insurance
- Franchise CHF 300–2,500 (you choose; sets your premium)
- Then 10% co-insurance to CHF 700/year
- Kids under 19: CHF 0 franchise, CHF 350 co-insurance cap
- Same tariff public or private — but supplemental insurance matters in hospitals
🩻 Typical X-Ray Tariff
- Chest X-ray at clinic tariff
- Value varies by canton and tax-point value
- Multi-view or specialist studies: CHF 200+
- Paid via franchise + 10% unless already exhausted
🔄 2026 Tariff Update
- From January 2026
- TARDOC = single-service replacement for Tarmed
- Pauschalen = flat rates for common outpatient bundles
- Patient rules (franchise, 10%) unchanged
Indicative X-Ray Pricing
The figures below reflect typical tariff amounts for common X-ray exams in Switzerland as of April 2026. Your actual out-of-pocket depends on your remaining franchise and co-insurance cap. Kantons apply different tax-point values, so absolute CHF amounts vary by location.
| X-Ray Service | Typical Tariff (CHF) | Your out-of-pocket (post-franchise) |
|---|---|---|
| Chest (one or two views) | 80–180 | 10% of tariff (up to yearly cap) |
| Limb / joint / extremity | 80–180 | 10% of tariff |
| Spine — single segment | 130–220 | 10% of tariff |
| Spine — full / multi-view | 220–350 | 10% of tariff |
| Abdomen | 100–200 | 10% of tariff |
| Pelvis / hip | 100–200 | 10% of tariff |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | 60–150 | Dental scope — limited LAMal coverage |
| Dental intraoral | 30–80 | Dental scope — limited |
Tariff amounts vary by canton. Until the franchise is met, the patient pays the full tariff. After franchise + CHF 700 co-insurance cap, further covered imaging is free for that calendar year.
How Swiss Mandatory Insurance Works
Who is covered
- All Swiss residents — mandatory basic insurance (LAMal / KVG)
- Choice of Krankenkasse; same basic benefit package
- Employers do not provide health insurance
- EU/EEA/Swiss visitors with EHIC (for emergencies)
- Children under 19 on special low-cost plans
What it costs
- Premiums: full cost paid by the insured (not payroll)
- Adult monthly premium: CHF 250–450+ depending on canton, franchise, model
- Franchise: CHF 300–2,500 chosen annually
- Co-insurance: 10% of covered costs up to CHF 700/year
- Low-income subsidies: available via canton
How to get an X-ray
- Most plans require a GP referral (family doctor / HMO / Telmed)
- Go to a contracted Röntgeninstitut or hospital radiology
- Bring your insurance card and photo ID
- Pay provider directly, submit receipt to Krankenkasse for reimbursement
- Or: provider bills Krankenkasse directly and you pay only the franchise / co-insurance share
Where to Get an X-Ray
🏥 Public / University Hospitals
- Universitätsspital Zürich
- Inselspital Bern
- Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG)
- CHUV — Lausanne
- Universitätsspital Basel
🏥 Private Hospital Groups
- Hirslanden — 17 clinics nationwide
- Swiss Medical Network — 25+ clinics
- Schulthess Klinik — Zürich
- Klinik Pyramide — Zürich
- Regional Röntgeninstitute in every canton
💡 Practical tips
- Basic insurance pays the same regardless of hospital — supplemental insurance matters for room class and specialists
- Check your HMO/Telmed model before choosing a radiologist directly
- Compare premiums annually on priminfo.admin.ch — switching is easy
- Digital imaging delivered via patient portal or DVD
Guide by Patient Type
🇨🇭 Swiss residents
- Choose franchise strategically: high franchise if you're healthy, low if you need frequent care
- Once franchise + CHF 700 are spent, rest of year is covered
- Low-income residents: apply for cantonal premium subsidy (Prämienverbilligung)
- Children (under 19): no franchise, CHF 350 co-insurance cap
🇪🇺 EU / EEA visitors
- EHIC covers medically necessary care at LAMal tariffs
- You pay provider directly, seek reimbursement via home insurer
- Planned medical tourism is not EHIC-covered — self-pay
- Visit a contracted hospital/clinic to avoid non-covered supplements
✈️ Non-EU visitors
- Self-pay at the LAMal tariff — CHF 80–200 per X-ray view
- Emergency care always provided
- Travel health insurance strongly recommended — Swiss care is expensive
- Long-term residents must buy mandatory basic insurance within 3 months
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Passport or Swiss ID
- Krankenkasse / LAMal insurance card or EHIC
- GP referral (if required by your insurance model)
- Prior imaging on CD/USB
- Credit card for co-payment
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: immediate
- Routine imaging: days
- Private with self-pay: same day
- Results: 1–3 working days for full report
💡 How to save money
- Pick a higher franchise if you rarely need care — lower premium
- HMO / Telmed / family doctor models cost less in premium
- Compare premiums annually and switch if cheaper
- Low income? Apply for Prämienverbilligung from your canton
FAQ
How much does a chest X-ray cost in Switzerland?
At the LAMal tariff, a chest X-ray is roughly CHF 80–180 depending on canton and whether single or multi-view. You pay 100% of that until your annual franchise is exhausted, then 10% co-insurance up to the CHF 700/year cap.
What is my annual franchise?
You choose it annually from CHF 300–2,500. Higher franchise = lower premium. If you rarely need care, a CHF 2,500 franchise saves money; if you're sick, CHF 300 is usually better. Kids under 19 have a CHF 0 franchise.
What does the 10% co-insurance actually mean?
After you've spent your franchise, you pay 10% of additional covered costs up to CHF 700/year. So the absolute maximum you can pay out-of-pocket for covered services in a year is your franchise + CHF 700.
What changed with TARDOC in 2026?
From January 2026, Tarmed was replaced for outpatient care by TARDOC (single-service tariffs) and outpatient Pauschalen (flat rates). It rebalances how providers are paid; patient out-of-pocket rules (franchise + 10% + CHF 700 cap) are unchanged.
Is Swiss healthcare expensive?
Yes — among Europe's highest premiums (CHF 250–450+/month) but with excellent access, short waits, and free choice of provider. Out-of-pocket for most people is capped at franchise + CHF 700/year.
Can I use EHIC in Switzerland?
Yes, for medically necessary care. You typically pay the provider, then seek reimbursement from your home country's insurer at the Swiss LAMal tariff. Planned medical tourism is not EHIC-covered.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- Federal Office of Public Health (BAG) — LAMal franchise and co-insurance rules
- TARDOC and outpatient Pauschalen — 2026 replacement for Tarmed
- eonum.ch — Tarmed / Tarmed-Tardoc outpatient tariff explainer
- Comparis / priminfo.admin.ch — premium comparison 2026
Last reviewed: April 2026. Premiums and franchise options change annually — compare on priminfo.admin.ch.