What does the health insurer’s travel insurance cover?
Travel health insurance covers accidents and illnesses abroad. Comparis shows which cases this insurance covers and who it is worthwhile for.
18.06.2026
Adobe Stock / THANAGON
1. Travel insurance from the health insurer: what is it?
Travel health insurance usually applies in medical emergencies abroad. These types of insurance models are common:
Short-term travel insurance: limited to the period of a trip.
Long-term travel insurance: effective continuously for 365 days.
Travel cover in supplemental insurance: is an integral part of supplemental health insurance.
What does travel health insurance cover?
What the health insurer’s travel insurance pays depends on the benefits defined in the contract. With regard to illness and accident the following benefits are usually covered:
Medical treatment in the event of an accident or illness
Missing person searches
Rescue
Transport to the hospital
Return transport (repatriation)
Travel health insurance: differences in benefits and price
Travel coverage in the supplementary insurance can vary widely from health insurer to health insurer. So before you take out a policy, compare not only the premiums but also the benefits.
2. Hospital stay abroad: who foots the bill?
If you don’t have travel insurance, basic insurance and accident insurance will pay part of the costs. However: When it comes to cost coverage via basic insurance and accident insurance abroad, there are sometimes significant restrictions.
As a rule:
The accident insurance under the UVG organised by your employer pays for the following in the event of an accident: rescue, transport and treatment. Maximum amounts and restrictions on the choice of hospital and doctor apply depending on the country.
The basic insurance pays for at least part of the treatment required for medical emergencies, depending on the place of stay treatment.
| Benefit | Basic insurance | UVG (employer) | Supplementary travel insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical treatment – illness | 🟢 EU/EFTA: according to local rates · Third countries: max. twice what it would pay in Switzerland | 🔴 Not covered (accident only) | 🟢 Protects against gaps in cover · varies depending on the tariff |
| Medical treatment – accident | 🔴 Not covered | 🟢 EU/EFTA according to local rate · Third countries: max. twice the Swiss rate up to a maximum of CHF 29’640 | 🟢 Protects against gaps in cover · varies depending on the tariff |
| Repatriation to Switzerland | 🔴 Not covered | 🟡 Max. CHF 29’640.– | 🟢 Covered · varies depending on the tariff |
Important: In third countries, basic insurance pays no more than twice what it would pay in Switzerland. This means that, since basic insurance covers at most 45% of the costs in hospitals, it will pay at most 90% of the Swiss treatment costs outside the EU/EFTA. For insured persons living in the canton of Zug, this is currently only 2%.
Treatment costs in countries like the USA or Japan are often many times higher. You bear the remaining amount yourself. A supplementary travel insurance closes this gap. It covers costs that basic insurance and accident insurance do not cover
In the event of an accident: Accident insurance under the UVG pays for rescue and transport costs incurred abroad up to 29’640 francs.
In case of illness (e.g. e.g. heart attack): basic insurance does not contribute to rescue operations outside Switzerland or return transport to Switzerland (repatriation).
The rules also apply to accidents if you have accident cover included in your basic insurance.
In the event of an accident
The accident insurance under the UVG will reimburse for an accident abroad at most the double amount it would pay for treatment in Switzerland.
In EU/EFTA countries and the UK, it pays the costs according to local practice. It does, however, require treatment in a public hospital or medical practice that invoices according to the basic rate of the relevant country.
In case of illness
In EU/EFTA states and the UK, basic insurance covers the costs according to local billing practices – this also applies to any possible cost sharing. The Swiss system with franchise and coinsurance does not apply here.
In third countries basic insurance covers the costs of emergency treatment up to twice the amount that a comparable treatment would cost in Switzerland – provided that a return trip to Switzerland is not possible or not reasonable. Otherwise basic insurance generally does not cover towards the cost of medical treatment.
The rules of basic insurance also apply to accidents if the person has accident cover included in their basic insurance instead of Accident Insurance UVG instead of accident insurance.
3. When does travel insurance make sense?
Travel insurance is worth taking out if you want to minimise the financial risks of an accident or illness while travelling to a minimum while travelling.
Emergencies abroad can quickly cost several thousand francs. Travel insurance covers any gaps in cover.
Expert tip: Illness abroad: who pays?
Comparis health insurance expert Felix Schneuwly explains the key points about travel health insurance in the video.
4. Traditional travel insurance vs. supplemental insurance: what are the differences?
In principle, both traditional travel insurance and travel insurance from your health insurer cover medical emergencies abroad.
Here are the differences:
| Traditional travel insurance | Supplemental insurance with travel cover |
|---|---|
| You can take out traditional travel insurance for one trip or for the entire year. | You can usually take out supplemental insurance with travel cover for the entire year |
| Traditional travel insurance covers medical treatment abroad and repatriation. However, as a rule, they do not offer any other health benefits within Switzerland. Other benefits are usually included instead. Popular options include cancellation insurance, luggage insurance or vehicle assistance in the event of a breakdown. | Supplemental insurance with travel coverage from health insurers offers additional health-related benefits besides travel health insurance. These include benefits for health prevention, gym memberships, health promotion, supplemental dental cover and alternative medicine. |
Are you going abroad for an extended period?
In the article on sabbatical insurance you will find out what you need to bear in mind when spending a longer period of time abroad.
5. How much does supplemental insurance with travel cover cost?
Simple supplemental insurance for healthcare costs abroad in the event of an accident or illness, plus search and rescue and transport costs is available for around 15 francs per month.
Cover for medical emergencies abroad is usually part of a supplemental insurance package with other health benefits.
6. How do I take out travel insurance with my health insurer?
As is usual with supplemental insurance, admission is by application. You need to fill out a health questionnaire from the health insurer.
The health insurer has the right not to accept you or reservations to impose. Supplemental insurance with travel cover is taken out for the entire year.
7. Tips on your health insurer and other insurance when travelling
Don’t forget your health insurance card at home: this way you always have proof of insurance on you – and can have treatment billed directly to the card through your basic insurance.
By the way: the European health insurance card is on the back of your health insurance card.
Before you travel, check with your health insurer, your travel agent and your credit card company whether you already have international cover. This way, you avoid double insurance.
In the event of a claim contact the responsible insurance company immediately. This ensures that you can take advantage of all the services available and that your medical care and the assumption of costs are handled smoothly.
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This article was first published on 18.06.2024
