Can I apply for the subsidy mid-year after a drop in income?

Yes. An update request to the SAM adjusts your subsidy to your current income, backdated to the start of the year.

Does a birth change the subsidy amount in Geneva?

Yes. Each dependent child adds CHF 132 per month of subsidy (groups 1 to 8 of the 2026 scale) and raises the income thresholds by CHF 6,000.

Home › Subsidy after a change in financial or family circumstances

Subsidy after a change in circumstances, financial or family

Your RDU is calculated from a past tax assessment: it doesn't always reflect your reality today. After a drop in income, job loss, a separation or a birth, you can ask for your subsidy entitlement to be updated, during the year.

Calculate my subsidy → Get free help

🔒 Free estimate, no obligation · The final decision rests with the SAM.

Financial situation · Family situation

Which changes can open up or increase an entitlement?

Lower income: reduced working hours, end of a contract, falling self-employed income
Job loss: unemployment, end of benefits, social assistance
Separation or divorce: your tax household changes, and so does your individual RDU
Birth or adoption: each dependent child adds CHF 132 per month of subsidy and raises the thresholds by CHF 6,000
Retirement: your income often drops significantly

Why act without waiting for the next tax assessment?

The RDU used by the SAM is based on your latest tax assessment, sometimes two years old. Without action on your part, an entitlement created by your new situation can stay unused for months. An update request adjusts your subsidy to your current income, backdated to the start of the year.

💡

Example: a couple with two children whose income falls from CHF 110,000 to CHF 75,000 moves from group 7 to group 4 of the 2026 scale: their monthly subsidy rises from about CHF 438 to CHF 656.

Documents you'll need

Proof of the change: termination letter, unemployment statement, separation ruling, birth certificate
Proof of the household's current income
Proof of LAMal enrolment

How we help you, free of charge

Our advisers assess how your change in circumstances affects your scale group, put together the update file and submit it to the SAM with the right supporting documents. You pay nothing.

Frequently asked questions

File the update request as soon as possible with your supporting documents (termination letter, unemployment statements). The SAM processes files within 4 to 6 weeks and the new entitlement is backdated to the start of the year.

Each dependent child qualifies for a subsidy of CHF 132 per month (groups 1 to 8) and raises the income thresholds by CHF 6,000: your household may therefore change group and see its subsidy increase on two fronts.

Yes. If your situation improves on a lasting basis, the subsidy may be reduced or withdrawn at the next RDU update. Reporting the change protects you from being asked to repay later.

Official resources

Official scale and forms (ge.ch)

Official documents from the State of Geneva (Health Insurance Service, in French). We help you choose and complete the right form for free.

📊 2026 subsidy scale, official amounts and RDU thresholds.
📄 Form 4 - Change in economic or family circumstances, the form matching your situation.
🗂️ All 2026 application forms, full list on ge.ch.

External links to the official ge.ch website. Private site, not affiliated with the State of Geneva.

Your subsidy in 2 minutes

Calculate your 2026 subsidy for free

Estimate your monthly support on your LAMal premium in 2 minutes, with no sign-up and no obligation. The result is shown on screen straight away.

✓ Free estimate, no obligation

✓ End-to-end support with your file

✓ Answer within 24h

Calculate my subsidy →

Prefer to be called back?

Leave your details and an adviser will contact you within 24h, free of charge.