Starting January 1, 2027, billing for health promotion and prevention services will have to be done using Tarif 590.
Discover in this article whether you are affected, how billing works, which Tarif items exist, and how to prepare for this new Tarif.
What is Tarif 595 and who is it for?
Definition and legal framework
Tarif 595 is a harmonized Swiss billing standard (VVG/LCA) for health promotion and prevention services. It is governed by supplementary insurance law, not by the KVG/LAMal.
Tarif 595 is not a certification system, not proof of recognition, and not a guarantee of reimbursement by health insurers. It only regulates the billing format.
Who is affected by Tarif 595?
Tarif 595 is aimed at a wide range of professionals active in health promotion and prevention. For example:
- Fitness centers and sports studios
- Yoga, Pilates, Qi Gong, Tai Chi, aerobics, and meditation instructors
- Health coaches and nutrition advisors with a preventive approach
- Corporate prevention and workplace health promotion providers
- Physiotherapy practices, medical practices, and hospitals offering prevention courses
Complementary medicine therapists are explicitly excluded. They continue to bill via Tarif 590, because their services are considered curative and therapeutic, not preventive.
What changes on January 1, 2027?
Until now, it was common to justify memberships using paper certificates or informal supporting documents. Starting January 1, 2027, these formats will no longer be accepted.
Instead, the use of certified billing software compatible with XML 5.0 will become mandatory.
These changes are intended to provide:
- Greater transparency
- Fewer sources of error
- Less work related to paper invoices
- Lower postage costs
- Simplified automated processing by health insurers
Please note that existing recognitions issued by certification bodies such as Fitness-Guide, Qualitop, Qualicert, or Emfit remain fully valid. Switching to Tarif 595 requires no additional certification.
Discover our solutions for your health promotion activity
How does billing work with Tarif 595?
RCC and GLN numbers
Two identification numbers are required to bill correctly under Tarif 595.
The GLN (Global Location Number) is a unique personal identifier. It is also assigned by certification bodies.
The RCC number is assigned by certification bodies (Emfit, Fitness-Guide, Qualitop, Qualicert). It identifies the provider to the health insurer.
If you are an instructor without your own RCC number, it is possible to bill via the course organizer’s RCC.
If you have two RCC numbers because you are active in two different fields, for example fitness and complementary medicine, your invoices cannot include both services on the same invoice. Each invoice will have its own RCC number.
Which Tarif items exist in Tarif 595?
Structure of Tarif items
Tarif items describe the type and format of the service provided.
They do not define the price, but the service category. As a provider, you set the price freely and assign the corresponding Tarif item to each service.
The items are reviewed every year on January 1 and may be adjusted. Software providers must therefore offer updates at the beginning of the year.
Which Tarif items to use in which context
Although Tarif 595 is less complex than Tarif 590, it includes many Tarif items. To make sure your invoice is compliant, here are a few rules to follow:
- Single entry or individual class: the quantity corresponds to the number of lessons or sessions.
- Multi-session memberships: these are generally billed by multiplying the single-entry item by the number of sessions.
- Monthly or annual memberships: specific items exist depending on the duration of the membership.
- Multi-year memberships: a separate line must be entered for each year.
- Group training: from 2 participants, the service is considered a group service.
- Personal training: the item for the method used is supplemented by a specific item for individual training.
- Live online classes: a specific item applies when the class takes place in real time with interaction.
- Recorded online classes: Tarif item 1105 is used for on-demand videos or prerecorded content.
- No suitable item: Tarif item 9999 can be used with free text.
Tarif 595 vs. Tarif 590: What is the difference?
The two Tarifs may seem similar, especially because some services may appear in both Tarifs. The main difference lies in the nature of the service.
- Tarif 595 applies to preventive measures and health promotion.
- Tarif 590 applies to curative complementary medicine treatments.
The following table shows the main differences:
| Criterion | Tarif 595 | Tarif 590 |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Prevention and health promotion | Therapeutic, curative treatment |
| Legal basis | VVG/LCA, supplementary insurance | VVG/LCA, supplementary insurance |
| Format | Individual or group | Individual |
| Target providers | Fitness providers, instructors, coaches | Complementary medicine therapists |
| Pricing | Free to choose | Free to choose |
Does Tarif 595 guarantee reimbursement by the health insurer?
No. Tarif 595 is only a billing format. It allows you to transmit services correctly to health insurers, but it does not guarantee reimbursement.
Each insurer decides freely, according to the conditions of its supplementary insurance policies, whether it covers a health promotion service and under what conditions.
Prepare now for the switch to Tarif 595
Tarif 595 marks an important step in standardizing billing for health promotion and prevention services in Switzerland.
This change does not affect your prices, your existing recognitions, or the reimbursement conditions of each supplementary insurance provider. Above all, it introduces a more structured, more transparent billing framework that is easier to process. The main challenge for you is to identify the services concerned, use the right Tarif items, and equip yourself in time with a suitable billing solution.
Sources
- Helsana Versicherungen AG. (2026). Wegleitung zum Tarif 595 und zur Nutzung des einheitlichen Rechnungsformulars.
- Qualitop. (s. d.). Tarif 595: Der neue Abrechnungsstandard für Gesundheitsförderung – Pflicht ab 1. Januar 2027.
- Bundesamt für Gesundheit (BAG). (2014). Verordnung über die Anpassung von Tarifstrukturen in der Krankenversicherung: Inhalt und Kommentar.
- SWICA Krankenversicherung AG. FAQ Tarif 590: Fragen und Antworten für Leistungserbringer.
- Therago. (s. d.). Tarif 590 vs 595 : quelle différence ?.
- Mefit. (s. d.). Tarif 595 : Informations pour les animateurs de cours.
