English-speaking physiotherapist at home in Geneva

Healthcare in Switzerland feels different. Here’s the version that actually matters when you need physio.

Switzerland has the world’s most expensive healthcare system, and you pay for it monthly through your LAMal premium. The upside: when you need physio, the system works smoothly : once you understand a few rules. This page is for international residents in Geneva who want a home physiotherapist who speaks English. We’ll cover what you actually need to know: who pays, how, and how to start.

The 60-second version

• Get a prescription from a doctor. Your GP, a specialist, or a telemedicine service (Medgate, Soignez-Moi) : all valid. The prescription is what unlocks LAMal coverage.
• Send us the prescription by WhatsApp, email or via the form. We match you with a partner physio (RCC-registered, LAMal-conventioned) within 24-48h.
• Sessions happen at your home, anywhere in Geneva canton. Same clinical standard as a clinic visit, with the bonus that your physio sees your real environment (desk, mattress, stairs).
• You pay your franchise + 10% co-payment; LAMal covers the rest via direct billing (tiers payant). No upfront cash.
• Without a prescription: CHF 150.-/hour private rate, possibly partly reimbursed by your supplementary insurance (LCA).

What “LAMal” means for you

LAMal is the Swiss federal mandatory health insurance : every resident has it. It covers physiotherapy on a doctor’s prescription. The standard prescription is for 9 sessions, renewable once by the same doctor (so up to 18 sessions per “case”). Beyond that, the doctor sends a justified request to your insurer’s medical advisor (médecin-conseil) : usually granted for chronic conditions, post-op rehab, neurology.

What you pay out of pocket = your annual deductible (which you choose between CHF 300 and CHF 2’500) + 10% co-payment capped at CHF 700/year. Once both ceilings are reached, everything is 100% covered until December 31.

What “LCA” is and when it matters

LCA = supplementary health insurance, optional, sold by private insurers (Helsana, CSS, Swica, Visana, Sanitas, Groupe Mutuel, Concordia…). It covers what LAMal doesn’t: physio without a prescription, “alternative medicine” (osteopathy, acupuncture), private hospital rooms, and sometimes telemedicine physio. If you’re on a private contract from your employer (UN, banks, NGOs often offer them), you likely have richer LCA than the average resident : check your “Médecine alternative” or “Physiothérapie ambulatoire” annex.

Practical answers for international Geneva

The questions we hear most often from new residents and short-term assignments.

Areas we cover

Anywhere in the canton of Geneva, no extra travel fee. Most-requested zones below.

What it costs

With a prescription (LAMal)

Standard sessions are billed via the Swiss tariff structure (positions 7301–7340). Approximate amounts in 2026 in Geneva: CHF 48–52 per 30-min session, CHF 75–80 for a 45-min initial assessment, plus CHF 33 home-visit supplement (position 7354) when justified. You pay your annual deductible + 10% co-payment only : the rest goes directly to your insurer via tiers payant.

Without a prescription (private)

CHF 150.-/hour at home, travel included. Useful when: prescription is delayed, you want preventive sessions, or your insurer doesn’t require one (some LCA plans). Some supplementary insurances reimburse 50–80% of private sessions : check your policy.

Concrete example

9 home sessions on prescription, billed at CHF 52 each = CHF 468 total. If your annual deductible (CHF 300, CHF 1500, CHF 2500…) is already met for the year: you pay 10% = CHF 47 total. If not yet met: you pay CHF 468 (which counts toward your deductible). Once met, all subsequent sessions are 10% co-pay, then free after the CHF 700 annual cap.