Choosing Between CSS and Sanitas? We Help You Find What's Right for You.
Making the Right Choice Isn't Easy
Choosing between CSS and Sanitas isn't simple. Prices, benefits, and acceptance rules differ — and what's best for one person may not be for another.
We've helped hundreds of expats find which insurer fits their lifestyle, budget, and long-term plans.
Here's how they compare — and why personal advice matters more than price.
Before deciding, let's look at the essentials side-by-side.
CSS vs Sanitas — At a Glance
Key facts and features compared side-by-side for expats in Switzerland.
| Founded | 1899 | 1958 |
| Headquarters | Lucerne | Zurich |
| Clients | ~1.8M | ~850K |
| Languages | DE, FR, IT, EN | DE, FR, IT, EN |
| Strengths | 2nd largest insurer, competitive premiums, strong regional presence | Strong English support, digital services, expat-friendly |
| Limitations | English support varies by region | Mid-range premiums, smaller network |
| Digital Services | Basic online portal | Advanced app, telemedicine |
| English Support | ✅ Good | ✅ Excellent |
| Ideal for | Traditional approach, stability | Tech-savvy expats, digital health |
Source: BAG data and insurer reports (verified Oct 2025).
Understanding the basics is just the start — let's see how this applies to your situation.
Which Insurer Is Right for Your Situation?
There's no single "best" insurer — it depends on your age, stay duration, lifestyle, and health needs.
That's why we review every client's situation individually before recommending CSS, Sanitas, or another provider.
Choose your situation
Every situation needs a different insurance approach.
Here's how we guide you depending on your case:
🏠 New in Switzerland
You need to register for Swiss health insurance within 90 days — but what's best depends on how long you'll stay.
CSS offers stability and broad network coverage, while Sanitas provides modern digital tools and excellent English support for tech-savvy expats.
We'll help you balance setup simplicity with future flexibility, so your first plan fits your real life in Switzerland.
We'll help you evaluate all this based on your age, plans, and lifestyle.
These examples show why a tailored review always beats a generic online calculator.
Every factor — age, canton, stay duration, health history, and lifestyle — affects what's truly right for you.
That's what our free consultation is for — we analyze your full picture and find the insurer that fits.
Our consultation goes beyond comparing prices — we analyze your profile, age, canton, and health situation to recommend the optimal insurer and plan combination.
Data matters — but experience matters more. Here's what our independent advisors see.
Independent Expert Perspective
Every day, we benchmark CSS, Sanitas, Helsana, and Swica — evaluating real claim experiences, acceptance criteria, and pricing logic for expats. Our goal: to make sure you choose an insurer that fits your real life in Switzerland — your plans, your health, and your peace of mind.
With over a decade of experience comparing insurers daily, we know exactly where the differences matter — in service behavior, long-term premium structure, and how flexible each provider truly is when your situation changes.
"Health insurance is the only investment we hope to never see a return on — because true value lies in the peace of mind that we're protected when it matters most."
Robert Kolar
FINMA-certified Insurance Broker
"We analyze CSS, Sanitas, Helsana, and Swica daily — not from marketing materials, but from real expat experiences. The best insurer isn't always the cheapest — it's the one that stands by you when life gets unpredictable."
Our review process is straightforward and transparent — so you always understand what we recommend and why.
Every consultation follows the same transparent process.
How It Works
Understand exactly what happens when you book a consultation.
30–60 min consultation
We listen to your goals, canton, and health situation.
We send both quotes
CSS & Sanitas + side-by-side comparison.
Personal recommendation
You decide with confidence.
We set up everything
Forms, submission, and yearly updates.
Completely free — we're paid equally by either insurer, never by the client.
You don't just get quotes — you get clarity, protection, and long-term support.
What We Help You Solve
Truly independent advice
We work exclusively in your interest — never influenced by insurer commissions or sales targets.
Complete profile analysis
We evaluate your age, canton, health situation, and long-term plans to recommend the optimal coverage.
Pre-existing condition support
We help structure applications strategically to maximize acceptance chances and avoid rejections.
Broker group discounts
Access to exclusive broker-only discounts that can significantly reduce your total insurance costs.
Yearly premium optimization
Continuous service with annual premium reviews and optimization recommendations.
English-speaking support
Full English support even outside office hours, with native English-speaking advisors.
*Free, independent, and fully compliant with Swiss FINMA regulations.*
That's why every good decision starts with a short consultation — no guessing, just clarity.
Every year, hundreds of expats rely on our independent comparisons — here's what they say.
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★ Rated 4.9 / 5 by expats across Switzerland
Real experiences from people who got independent insurance advice.
"Robert helped me understand the real differences between CSS and Sanitas. The digital services comparison was eye-opening — I went with Sanitas for their app and telemedicine, saving me hours of waiting at doctors."
Sarah M.
Zurich
"As a family with kids, we needed stability and good coverage. CSS was recommended for our situation, and we've been very happy with the traditional service and broad network coverage."
Michael & Lisa K.
Basel
"The comparison was incredibly detailed. I learned that Sanitas' digital health features would save me time, while CSS offered better premium stability. The choice became clear after the consultation."
Emma R.
Geneva
That's why every good decision starts with a short consultation — no guessing, just clarity.
Find Out Which Insurer Fits You Best
Get independent, FINMA-certified advice — completely free and in English.
Fully independent — no sales pressure, just clarity and honest guidance.
Common Questions About CSS vs Sanitas
Quick answers to help you understand the key differences.
You can switch basic insurance annually by submitting cancellation by 30 November for the following year. Supplementary insurance requires a separate health questionnaire and acceptance. We help you navigate the process strategically to maximize approval chances and manage all deadlines.
The consultation takes 30-60 minutes. We listen to your goals, canton, and health situation, then send both quotes (CSS & Sanitas) with a side-by-side comparison within 24 hours. You decide with confidence, and we handle all forms and submissions.
Basic insurance must accept everyone regardless of health. For supplementary insurance, both CSS and Sanitas conduct health checks and may exclude conditions or load premiums. We help structure applications strategically, leverage group discounts, and improve your acceptance odds.
Yes, 100% free. We're FINMA-certified brokers paid equally by either insurer, so our advice is completely independent. No hidden fees, no sales pressure — just clear, personalized guidance for your peace of mind.
For basic insurance with standard models, yes — you can keep any licensed doctor in Switzerland. For HMO or GP models, you choose from a network. For supplementary hospital insurance, specific hospitals may apply. We explain all options clearly during consultation.
Sanitas leads in digital innovation with their Sanitas app and telemedicine services, while CSS offers solid online portals and customer service. Both provide English support, but Sanitas has more advanced digital health features. We help you choose based on your tech preferences.
For short stays, you still need basic Swiss health insurance within 90 days. We recommend cost-effective basic models with higher deductibles (CHF 2,500) to minimize premiums. Supplementary insurance may not make sense for short-term stays. We help you choose the most economical option for your stay duration.