Key facts at a glance
Contents
LAMal — Basic health insurance
LAMal (the Federal Health Insurance Act) covers physiotherapy provided you have a medical prescription. It may be issued by a doctor, a dentist (for maxillofacial conditions), or a chiropractor.
Number of sessions per prescription
Each prescription covers a maximum of 9 sessions. Treatment must begin within 5 weeks of the prescription date; the prescription is valid for 3 months. Your doctor can renew it as often as needed.
Deductible and co-payment: what you actually pay
As with all LAMal benefits, you first cover your annual deductible (set in your contract), then a 10% co-payment on the remainder.
Adult
CHF 300 to CHF 2,500 depending on your contract
Child (< 18 years)
CHF 0 to CHF 600 depending on your contract
Adult
10% of costs, capped at CHF 700/year
Child (< 18 years)
10% of costs, capped at CHF 350/year
Worked example — minimum deductible of CHF 300
If your deductible is already met for the year (you have had other medical costs), you only pay the 10% co-payment — approximately CHF 46 for 9 sessions.
Beyond 36 sessions
Past 36 cumulative sessions, your prescribing doctor must write a detailed medical report justifying continued treatment. This report is sent to your insurer, who must give written approval before treatment resumes. Silence from the insurer does not count as acceptance.
Free choice of physiotherapist
In Switzerland you are free to choose your physiotherapist regardless of who wrote the prescription. LAMal imposes no network restrictions.
LAA — Accident insurance
If your treatment follows an accident (work-related or otherwise), accident insurance (LAA) covers the costs — at 100%, with no deductible or co-payment.
- Sprains, fractures, muscle injuries, tendon ruptures
- Sports accidents, falls, trauma
- Post-operative rehabilitation following an accident
Billing goes directly to your accident insurer. Please tell us your LAA insurer when booking.
Disability (AI) and military insurance (AM)
Physiotherapy may also be covered by disability insurance (AI) or military insurance (AM), with no deductible or co-payment.
- AI: treatments related to a recognised congenital condition or health impairment
- AM: treatments following military, civilian, or civil-protection service
Contact your cantonal AI office or the military insurance directly to clarify your entitlements before starting treatment.
Supplementary insurance (LCA)
Standard physiotherapy on prescription is already covered by LAMal. Supplementary insurance comes into play in two situations:
- Sessions without a prescription: your LCA may cover part of the cost depending on your policy. Amounts vary widely between insurers.
- Treatments not covered by LAMal: therapeutic massage, alternative therapies, hydrotherapy.
Before coming without a referral: check with your supplementary insurer whether physiotherapy sessions are covered, the annual limit, and whether the practitioner needs specific accreditation (RME, ASCA). I am accredited to invoice under the requirements of the main Swiss supplementary insurers.
Consulting without a referral
In Switzerland, direct access to a physiotherapist is possible — you do not need to go through a doctor to book. This is useful for acute pain, a postural assessment, or sports follow-up.
What it means in practice:
- LAMal does not reimburse sessions without a medical prescription
- Your supplementary insurance may cover part of the cost (depending on your policy)
- The rate is agreed directly with the practice
If you are unsure about your coverage, call before you come — I can clarify what applies to your situation in a few minutes.
Worth knowing
Even if you come without a referral initially, if your doctor issues a prescription after your first session, future sessions can be covered by LAMal (not retroactively). Some patients come for an initial assessment without a referral, then regularise through their doctor.
Cross-border workers
Cross-border workers living in France and insured under LAMal benefit from the same reimbursement conditions as Swiss residents. A few specific points:
- French prescriptions accepted: a prescription from a French doctor is valid for LAMal coverage in Switzerland
- Direct billing: the practice sends the invoice directly to your Swiss health insurer
- Deductible and co-payment: same rules as for Swiss residents
If you have French supplementary insurance (Mutuelle), additional reimbursements depend on your mutual insurance contract. Check with your Mutuelle directly.
A question about your coverage?
Call before you come. I can tell you in 5 minutes what applies to your situation — prescription, accident, supplementary insurance, or direct access.
Or call +41 76 268 25 62
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to start physiotherapy?
No, you can come directly. But without a prescription, LAMal does not reimburse. If your doctor issues a prescription after your first session, future sessions can be covered.
How many sessions are covered per prescription?
9 sessions per prescription, renewable at your doctor's request. Treatment must begin within 5 weeks of the prescription date.
My doctor is in France — is their prescription valid?
Yes. Prescriptions from French doctors are accepted for LAMal reimbursement in Geneva.
I had a sports accident — who pays?
Accident insurance (LAA), at 100%, with no deductible. Please tell us your insurer when booking.
Does my supplementary insurance cover sessions without a referral?
It depends entirely on your policy. Check with your insurer before the first session: some supplementary policies cover CHF 500–1,000/year, others nothing at all.
Is physiotherapy covered for children?
Yes, under the same conditions as adults. For children under 18, the minimum deductible is CHF 0 and the co-payment is capped at CHF 350/year.