Health insurance for border-area workers in Switzerland living in France :
Signing of a new France-Switzerland Agreement
On 8 July 2019, an agreement was signed between Federal Councillor Alain Berset, Head of Social Security and Health, and Marisol Touraine, French Minister of Social Affairs and Health, regarding border-region health insurance.
What obligations do border workers have?
A new right of option for those who have not formally exercised this right
- A border-area resident currently affiliated with the CMU will have the right to exercise a new right of option and, as such, return to the Swiss health system under the Federal Health Insurance Act.
- However, a border-area resident currently affiliated with the CMU, who wishes to remain within the French health system will be obligated to exercise his/her right of option not to be automatically affiliated with the Federal Health Insurance Act as of 1 October 2017.
- A double-insured border-area resident (in Switzerland and France) who has not exercised his/her formal right of option has the opportunity to do so again. He/she may either be removed from the CMU or terminate his/her the insurance under the Federal Health Insurance Act.

Procedures
Example 1: The border-area resident in question did not exercise his/her formal right of option
Example 2: The border-area resident is double-insured in France and Switzerland
- To be insured in Switzerland:
- To be insured in France:
Swiss Risk & Care keeps you informed
Helpful information
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The right of option will take effect between 01/10/2016 and 30/09/2017.
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Border-area residents who have not formally indicated their choice must necessarily formally exercise their right of option to be exempt from insurance under the Federal Health Insurance Act.
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IMPORTANT: If in doubt, contact the Health Insurance Service of the Canton where your workplace is located to request confirmation of the chosen option.
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Only the new right of option allows for the exemption from the Swiss health insurance as of 1 October 2017.
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The right of option is an exemption from the Swiss health insurance. Without this exemption, affiliation with the insurance under the Federal Health Insurance Act will be automatic on 10/01/2017. This may have a negative economic impact for people with small or medium incomes, or those who are married with dependent children.