X-Ray Cost in Switzerland
What you actually pay under mandatory basic insurance (KVG / LAMal), accident insurance (UVG), as a self-paying patient and as a visitor. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Switzerland?
A plain X-ray costs roughly CHF 150 per body region (about $190) — Radiologie Zürich, for example, publishes CHF 149 per region with a referral. If a doctor orders it, your Krankenkasse pays under basic insurance (KVG / LAMal), but you pay in full until your chosen annual franchise (CHF 300–2,500) is used up, then 10% up to CHF 700 a year. After an accident, employees insured under UVG (e.g. Suva) pay nothing.
Quick Overview
Switzerland has no tax-funded national health service. Every resident must buy basic health insurance (Grundversicherung, KVG in German, LAMal in French and Italian) from a private Krankenkasse within three months of arrival, and every insurer covers the same benefit list at the same official tariffs. X-rays ordered by a doctor are on that list. What you pay depends on your cost-sharing: an annual franchise you choose (adults CHF 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 or 2,500; children CHF 0–600), then a 10% co-payment (Selbstbehalt / quote-part) capped at CHF 700 a year for adults and CHF 350 for children. Since 1 January 2026, outpatient care — including radiology — is billed under the new TARDOC tariff and outpatient flat rates (ambulante Pauschalen), which replaced TARMED. Accidents are handled separately: employees are covered by mandatory accident insurance (UVG / LAA) with no franchise.
🏥 Basic insurance (KVG / LAMal)
- Doctor-ordered X-ray billed at the official tariff
- You pay 100% until the franchise is reached
- Then 10%, capped at CHF 700/year (children CHF 350)
- Same tariff at public hospitals and private institutes
🦺 Accident insurance (UVG / LAA)
- Employees working 8+ hours/week for one employer
- Covers work and leisure accidents (Suva or private insurer)
- No franchise, no 10% co-payment
- Report the accident to your employer
💳 Self-pay
- Per X-ray region at a private radiology institute
- Relevant if your franchise is high or you are uninsured
- Referral usually still required
- CT from about CHF 429, MRI from about CHF 430
X-Ray Prices in Switzerland by Exam: Insured vs Self-Pay
Few Swiss radiology institutes publish prices, because nearly all doctor-ordered imaging is billed to the Krankenkasse at the official tariff, whose franc value depends on the cantonal tax-point value. The self-pay column uses the published list of Radiologie Zürich (X-ray CHF 149 per region) as a reference point; other institutes, and hospital emergency departments, can charge more. Studies covering two regions — for example cervical and lumbar spine — are billed as two regions.
| Exam | With basic insurance (KVG) | Self-pay (CHF) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Knee X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Cervical spine X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Two spine regions (cervical + lumbar) | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 300 | $375 |
| Pelvis / hip X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Abdomen X-ray | Covered — franchise, then 10% | approx. 150 | $190 |
| Dental panoramic (OPT / OPG) | Generally not covered (dental) | approx. 140–200 | $175–250 |
| Bone density (DXA) | Covered when medically indicated | 119 | $150 |
| Ultrasound | Covered — franchise, then 10% | 299 (joints) – 449 (abdomen) | $375–560 |
| CT scan | Covered — franchise, then 10% | 429 (spine) – 549 (abdomen) | $535–685 |
| MRI scan | Covered — franchise, then 10% | 430 (knee / ankle) – 1,190 (head) | $540–1,490 |
Self-pay figures for X-ray, DXA, ultrasound, CT and MRI from the published price list of Radiologie Zürich (prices incl. VAT; complex exams may cost more). Dental OPT range from advertised prices of Swiss dental practices; the Geneva university dental clinic's 2022 tariff listed CHF 156.90 for a panoramic. USD at approximately CHF 1 = $1.25; exchange rates move. Insured patients pay their share of the tariff amount actually billed, not these self-pay prices.
How the Krankenkasse Pays for an X-Ray
1. The tariff: TARDOC since 2026
- Outpatient medical services were billed under TARMED until 31 December 2025
- From 1 January 2026: TARDOC (single services) plus 300+ outpatient flat rates
- Each case is billed under one system or the other — never mixed
- Francs per tax point differ by canton, so the same X-ray costs slightly different amounts in Zurich, Geneva or Ticino
- Patient cost-sharing rules were not changed by the reform
2. Your share: franchise + Selbstbehalt
- Adults: franchise CHF 300 (minimum) up to CHF 2,500
- Children (to 18): franchise CHF 0, optional up to CHF 600
- Co-payment: 10% after the franchise, max CHF 700 (children CHF 350)
- Hospital stay: plus CHF 15 per day (not for children or young adults in training)
- A draft revision consulted on in 2026 proposes raising the minimum franchise to CHF 400 — not yet in force
3. Billing: tiers garant or tiers payant
- Tiers garant: you receive the invoice, pay it and send it to your insurer for reimbursement above your share
- Tiers payant: the provider bills the insurer, which later invoices you for your franchise and 10%
- Hospitals usually bill the insurer directly
- Keep the invoice copy (Rückforderungsbeleg) for your records and taxes
Where to Get an X-Ray in Switzerland
🏥 University & Cantonal Hospitals
- Universitätsspital Zürich (USZ)
- Inselspital — Universitätsspital Bern
- Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève (HUG)
- CHUV — Lausanne
- Universitätsspital Basel
- Cantonal hospitals such as Kantonsspital Aarau, Kantonsspital St. Gallen and Luzerner Kantonsspital
🏥 Private Clinics & Radiology Institutes
- Hirslanden — private hospital group with clinics across Switzerland
- Swiss Medical Network — private clinics in all language regions
- Schulthess Klinik — orthopaedics, Zurich
- Radiologie Zürich — publishes self-pay prices (X-ray CHF 149 per region)
- Independent radiology institutes (Röntgeninstitute / instituts de radiologie) in every canton
💡 Practical tips
- Basic insurance pays the same tariff at public and private providers
- Many GP practices and walk-in clinics (Permanence) have their own X-ray unit
- On a Hausarzt, HMO or Telmed model, call your gatekeeper first
- Images usually come via patient portal or CD
Insurance Models, Premiums and Regional Differences
📋 Basic insurance models
- Standard: free choice of doctor, highest premium
- Hausarzt / family doctor: your GP refers you for imaging
- HMO: a health centre coordinates care
- Telmed: phone or app consultation first
- Skipping the gatekeeper can mean the insurer refuses to pay
💶 Premiums 2026 / 2027
- Average monthly premium approx. CHF 393 in 2026
- BAG announced an average of CHF 412 for 2027 (+5.0%)
- Adults average CHF 487.60/month in 2027
- Geneva is the most expensive canton (adults approx. CHF 610.60)
- Compare and switch on priminfo.admin.ch; low incomes can get cantonal premium subsidies (Prämienverbilligung)
➕ Supplementary insurance (VVG)
- Optional; covers dental care, private hospital wards and alternative medicine
- Dental policies can reimburse part of dental X-rays
- Does not replace the KVG franchise or 10% co-payment
- Insurers can refuse applicants or exclude pre-existing conditions
Guide by Patient Type
🇨🇭 Swiss residents
- With a high franchise, a single X-ray is effectively self-paid
- Once franchise + CHF 700 are reached, covered care is free for the rest of the year
- Accident? Report it to your employer — UVG pays without franchise
- Newcomers must take out basic insurance within 3 months
🇪🇺 EU / EFTA / UK visitors
- EHIC or UK GHIC: treated at Swiss basic-insurance tariffs
- Flat contribution of CHF 92 (adults) / CHF 33 (children) per 30 days instead of a franchise
- Plus the 10% co-payment
- Dental care not covered except after an accident or serious illness
- Questions: Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG, Olten
✈️ Other visitors
- Pay the full bill — expect about CHF 150+ per X-ray region, more in an emergency department
- Emergency care is always provided; hospitals may ask for payment or a deposit
- Travel insurance strongly recommended — hospital stays are very expensive
- Keep itemised invoices and reports for your claim
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Referral (Zuweisung / bon de radiologie) from your doctor
- Insurance card (Versichertenkarte) or EHIC / GHIC
- Passport or ID
- Accident claim number if UVG applies
- Previous images on CD / USB
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: triaged on arrival
- Plain X-ray: often same day, at the GP practice or a walk-in clinic
- CT / MRI: usually days to a few weeks
- Report: typically 1–3 working days
💡 How to save money
- Expect frequent care? A lower franchise can be cheaper overall
- Healthy? A higher franchise lowers premiums, but you pay small bills yourself
- Check whether an injury counts as an accident (UVG)
- Ask for the price before self-paid or dental X-rays
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Switzerland?
A plain X-ray costs roughly CHF 150 per body region (about $190) — Radiologie Zürich, for example, publishes CHF 149 per region with a doctor's referral. With mandatory basic insurance (KVG / LAMal) the insurer pays the bill, but you carry the cost yourself until your annual franchise (CHF 300–2,500 for adults) is used up, then pay 10% of further costs up to CHF 700 a year.
Does the Krankenkasse (KVG / LAMal) pay for X-rays?
Yes. Medically necessary X-rays ordered by a doctor are covered by basic insurance at the official outpatient tariff (TARDOC since January 2026). Your share is the franchise you chose, then a 10% co-payment (Selbstbehalt / quote-part) capped at CHF 700 per year for adults and CHF 350 for children. Once both are reached, further covered imaging that calendar year costs you nothing.
Why did I get a bill for my X-ray even though I have insurance?
Most likely because your franchise has not been used up yet. Until you have spent your chosen franchise in a calendar year, you pay covered costs in full. Many providers also bill you directly (tiers garant): you pay the invoice and send it to your Krankenkasse, which reimburses whatever exceeds your franchise and co-payment.
Is an X-ray after an accident covered differently?
Yes. Employees working at least 8 hours a week for one employer are insured against occupational and non-occupational accidents under the accident insurance law (UVG / LAA), for example with Suva. Accident-related X-rays are then paid by the accident insurer without franchise or 10% co-payment. People without UVG cover (children, students, retirees, self-employed) are covered for accidents by their KVG basic insurance with the usual franchise and co-payment.
How much does a private MRI, CT or ultrasound cost in Switzerland?
Published self-pay prices give a guide: Radiologie Zürich lists MRI of the knee, elbow, foot or ankle at CHF 430, MRI of the head at CHF 1,190, CT of the spine at CHF 429, CT chest at CHF 449, CT abdomen at CHF 549, and ultrasound at CHF 299 (joints / soft tissue) to CHF 449 (abdomen). A preventive whole-body MRI costs around CHF 1,980–1,990 and is not covered by basic insurance.
How much does a dental panoramic X-ray (OPT / OPG) cost in Switzerland?
Swiss dental practices typically charge about CHF 140–200 for a panoramic X-ray (Orthopantomogramm / OPT), and roughly CHF 20–25 for a small intraoral image. Dental care, including dental X-rays, is generally not covered by basic insurance unless linked to an accident or a serious illness, so most people pay themselves or claim from a supplementary dental policy.
What changed with TARDOC in 2026?
On 1 January 2026 the outpatient tariff TARMED was replaced by a combined system: the single-service tariff TARDOC plus more than 300 outpatient flat rates (ambulante Pauschalen). Each case is billed under one or the other. This changes how doctors and radiology institutes are paid; the patient cost-sharing rules (franchise, 10% co-payment, CHF 700 cap) did not change.
Can tourists use the EHIC for an X-ray in Switzerland?
Yes. Visitors from the EU/EFTA and the UK with an EHIC (or UK GHIC) are treated at Swiss basic-insurance tariffs for medically necessary care. Instead of a franchise they pay a flat contribution of CHF 92 for adults or CHF 33 for children per 30-day period, plus the 10% co-payment. Visitors from other countries pay the full bill and should carry travel insurance.
Do I need a referral for an X-ray in Switzerland?
For the Krankenkasse to pay, the X-ray must be ordered by a doctor (or chiropractor). If you have an alternative insurance model — family doctor (Hausarzt), HMO or Telmed — you must contact your gatekeeper first, or the insurer can refuse to pay or sanction you. Radiology institutes such as Radiologie Zürich only perform plain X-rays with a referral.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- Federal Office of Public Health (BAG / FOPH) — outpatient medical tariff (TARDOC and ambulante Pauschalen from 1 January 2026)
- BAG — press release on 2027 health insurance premiums (29 September 2026) and cost-sharing for insured persons living abroad / EU visitors
- Federal consultation (2026) on raising the minimum franchise to CHF 400
- CSS Versicherung — franchise and Kostenbeteiligung explainer (franchises, 10% / CHF 700 / CHF 350 caps, CHF 15 hospital contribution)
- Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG — billing information for EHIC holders (CHF 92 / CHF 33 flat contribution)
- European Commission — using the EHIC in Switzerland
- Radiologie Zürich — published self-pay price list (X-ray, DXA, ultrasound, CT, MRI)
- Swiss dental practice price lists and Geneva university dental clinic tariff (2022) — panoramic X-ray prices
- Berner Ärztegesellschaft and Swiss Society of Radiology (SGR-SSR) — TARDOC and flat-rate tariff position papers
Last reviewed: October 2026. Tariff values, premiums and self-pay prices change — ask the provider for a quote before a self-paid exam and check your insurer's conditions.