Cross-border workers in Geneva: are you entitled to the health insurance subsidy?

Do you work in Geneva while living in neighbouring France? Depending on your health insurance cover, you too may be entitled to the Geneva subsidy. Here is how it works for cross-border workers.

The droit d'option: the key to the subsidy

As a cross-border worker, you had to exercise your droit d'option (right to choose): either you are insured under LAMal in Switzerland, or you fall under the social security of your country of residence (the CMU in France). This is decisive: only cross-border workers insured under LAMal can claim the Geneva subsidy, since the subsidy reduces a Swiss health insurance premium.

The conditions for a cross-border worker

If you are insured under LAMal, the conditions are the same as for residents:

• be insured under basic health insurance (LAMal) in Switzerland;
• have a connection to the canton of Geneva (gainful activity in the canton);
• have a determining income (RDU) below the cantonal thresholds.

The threshold details are on our eligibility and entitlement page, and a specific form exists for people resident in an EU/EFTA country.

How your income is taken into account

The subsidy depends on your unified determining income (RDU), which factors in household income and a share of wealth. For a cross-border worker, the administration uses the available income information; if in doubt, an adviser helps you gather the right documents.

Your subsidy certificate

If the subsidy is granted, you receive a subsidy entitlement certificate and the amount is deducted directly from your LAMal premium by your insurer. Keep this document: it may be requested during your procedures.

We check your entitlement, for free

Cross-border workers' situation is often misunderstood, and many miss a real entitlement. The easiest first step is to estimate your subsidy in 2 minutes, then get free support for your application. Our advice is independent and without obligation.