Flex hospital insurance in Switzerland
A flexible solution in case of hospitalization: Comparis provides you with the most important information about flex insurance.
10.10.2024
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1. What is flex insurance?
Flex insurance – also called flex health insurance – is a form of supplemental hospital insurance. It allows you to choose between a general, semi-private and private ward during a stay in hospital, depending on your needs and financial situation. The ward is chosen when admitted to hospital.
2. Flex insurance benefits
If you opt for medical treatment in the general ward, flex insurance usually covers all costs. If you are treated in a semi-private or private ward, you must pay the coinsurance. This means that you must bear the costs yourself up to a specified amount.
In the following table you’ll find information on the amount of the coinsurance from different providers (list not exhaustive, some links not available in English):
| Health insurance | Product | Coinsurance per calendar year: semi-private | Coinsurance per calendar year: private |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assura | Optima Flex Varia | CHF 100 per day (max. 15 days), max. CHF 4,500 | CHF 300 per day (max. 15 days), max. CHF 4,500 |
| Atupri | Spital Opti |
|
|
| Concordia | LIBERO | 20%, max. CHF 2,000 | 35%, max. CHF 4,000 |
| CSS | myFlex |
|
|
| Groupe Mutuel | H-Bonus | CHF 100 per day, max. 30 days | CHF 200 per day, max. 20 days |
| Helsana | Hospital Flex |
|
|
| KPT | Flexible supplemental hospital insurance |
|
|
| ÖKK | Hospital Flex | 15%, max. CHF 1,500 | 25%, max. CHF 4,500 |
| Sanitas | Hospital Standard Liberty | 75%, max. CHF 10,000 | 50%, max. CHF 20,000 |
| Swica | Hospita Flex | CHF 300 per day, max. CHF 6,000 | CHF 400 per day, max. CHF 8,000 |
| Sympany | Hospita Flex | 85%, max. CHF 1,500 | 75%, max. CHF 4,500 (per family) |
| Visana | Spital Flex |
|
|
Information correct as of October 2024
*depending on the chosen level of insurance
Flex insurance: costs
The monthly premiums for flex insurance are around 25–80 francs.
3. Family discount for flex insurance
Some health insurers grant a family discount if all family members take out flex insurance. This limits the maximum coinsurance for all family members in the same household to a fixed amount. Ask your health insurer whether they offer such a discount.
For example: your family has flex insurance with a maximum coinsurance for a private ward of 2,000 francs. Your child needs medical treatment in a private ward for 1,200 francs. In the same year, you need treatment for 1,800 francs, also in a private ward. As a family, you only pay 800 francs for the second treatment instead of the full 1,800 francs, as the maximum coinsurance has already been reached.
4. Flex insurance: pros
The biggest advantages of flex insurance are flexibility and cost control. Depending on your financial and medical situation, you can choose between different wards. If you don’t need private care, you can save on costs. The premiums for flex insurance are also usually cheaper than the premiums for semi-private or private hospital insurance.
5. Flex insurance: cons
A disadvantage of flex insurance is the high out-of-pocket expenses for treatment in a semi-private or private ward. There is also not always the same free choice of hospital and doctor as with semi-private or private insurance.
6. FAQs on flex insurance
Conventional supplemental hospital insurance covers treatment in either a semi-private or private ward. With flex insurance, you can decide in which ward (general, semi-private or private) you want to be treated before each hospital stay.
Yes, it is generally possible to switch from existing supplemental insurance to flex insurance. However, this depends on the conditions of your health insurer. A health check may be required. Find out from your health insurer.
The cancellation periods for flex insurance policies are based on the conditions of the respective health insurance company. As a rule, the cancellation period is three months until the end of the year. This means that your cancellation must reach the health insurer on the last working day of September.
Yes, most flex insurance policies have a minimum term of one year.
This article was first published on 10.10.2024
