Medical care and mental health

In Switzerland, all residents must be insured against illness and accident. New residents must take out insurance within the three months of arriving in Switzerland. Insurance policies generally remain in force when you move to Switzerland. Employees are generally insured against accidents through their employer.

The Swiss Red Cross has a webpage with information about health and life in Switzerland in different languages: Health information for everyone

As health insurance premiums represent a significant financial burden for lots of people and families, it is possible to apply for a premium reduction. Click here for the application for a premium reduction, where you can also calculate your eligibility: Premium reduction | WAS Luzern

If you’d like to compare different offers from health insurers, we recommend using the premium calculator: Premium calculator 2025 – Priminfo

If you have any further questions about medical care or mental health, please visit the website of the Canton of Lucerne: Health – Canton of Lucerne

In Switzerland, the general practitioner or paediatrician’s practice is the first point of contact for medical questions. It is best not to leave it until you have an urgent medical issue to make contact, but to check beforehand whether the practice is still accepting patients.

In urgent medical cases and if your doctor is not available, contact the on-call service at Lucerne railway station, the children’s on-call service at Pilatusstrasse or the emergency department of Lucerne Cantonal Hospital LUKS. 

On-call service at Lucerne railway station

Children’s on-call service

Emergency department

In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call the emergency services on 144.

The city of Lucerne also has a large network of pharmacies and drugstores that can help you with questions about health and well-being.

Other emergency numbers

People with disabilities 

In the city of Lucerne, the Pro Infirmis advice centre offers information on a variety of topics ranging from disabilities to social advice and direct financial aid: LU – Pro Infirmis

Another source of information is Procap, Switzerland’s largest self-help and membership organisation for people with disabilities. It offers professional advice in the areas of social security law, construction, living and travel: Procap – For people with disabilities – No ifs and buts – Procap

IV Lucerne

Invalidity insurance (IV) is available throughout Switzerland. Its purpose is to guarantee the livelihoods of people who are unable to work for an extended period of time due to illness or accident. IV exists to cover the resulting loss of earnings.

More information can be found here: Disability benefits WAS Luzern