Which supplemental insurance is worthwhile in Switzerland?
In addition to basic health insurance, you can also take out supplemental insurance. There’s often potential savings. Comparis provides insights.
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1. What should I bear in mind when taking out supplemental insurance?
Unlike basic insurance, the cover offered by supplemental insurance differs according to the health insurer.
In addition, insurers are not obliged to accept customers for supplemental insurance. Most health insurers carry out a health check before accepting new policyholders. You should therefore only cancel an existing supplemental insurance policy
if you already have a new contract
when you no longer need it
If you’ve found supplemental insurance that you’re interested in, pay attention to the duration of the contract. Some insurance companies have a term of up to three years. If you don’t cancel your policy on time, the contract is automatically renewed for the specified duration.
Good to know
You can take out basic and supplemental insurance with different health insurers.
2. Which outpatient supplemental insurance products are worthwhile?
Supplemental outpatient insurance covers personal health needs that are beyond the scope of basic compulsory insurance. Examples include alternative treatment methods, medicines not covered by basic insurance and dental treatment.
Insured benefits vary from one provider to another. Health insurers often only offer supplemental insurance as packages with several components. Popular insurances include:
What you need to know
Adults must generally pay for glasses and contact lenses themselves.
Supplemental insurance will pay a contribution of between 150 and 500 francs per year towards necessary visual aids. However, there is often no supplemental insurance specifically for glasses and lenses.
Is it worth it?
Taking out supplemental insurance only because of the contribution to the cost of visual aids is usually not worth it.
Check whether you really need your current package
What you need to know
Basic insurance only pays for medicines on the list of specialties.
Not all supplementary insurance policies cover the same drugs not covered by basic insurance. The amount reimbursed also varies.
With supplemental insurance, you are entitled to cover for all drug products included in your contract. The condition is that they are not on the list of specialties (SL). They include products such as alternative and new medicines.
Vitamins and dietary supplements are usually not covered.
Is it worth it?
Even supplemental insurance does not cover certain products. In addition, there may be coinsurance of 10% or more. Check whether you really need your current package.
What you need to know
A new system was introduced in the summer of 2022. Since then:
Basic insurance covers the cost of psychotherapy prescribed by a doctor. The treating psychologist must
have further psychotherapeutic training
have authorization to practice
be recognised by basic health insurance
Supplemental insurance covers part of the treatment costs for specialists who are not recognized by basic insurance. However, they must be approved by the health insurer.
Is it worth it?
Many insurers only cover between 50% and 90% of therapy costs. The number of sessions may be limited. How much supplemental insurance pays for non-medically ordered psychotherapy can vary greatly.
Check in advance whether your desired specialist is recognized by your health insurer.
What you need to know
Basic insurance only pays for medically necessary spa therapies. These must be prescribed by a doctor. Insurers only pay for the medical and therapeutic treatments. You can receive 10 francs per day for a maximum of 21 days for accommodation and food.
Supplemental insurance covers some of the residential costs of such treatments if they are prescribed by a doctor.
As a rule, there is a limit on the cost per day and the number of days per year.
Is it worth it?
The services and premiums for spa therapy and convalescent care vary considerably. It pays to compare: some insurers in cantons near the border will also contribute to treatments in Germany.
What you need to know
Some supplemental insurance policies help cover the cost of health-promoting activities. These include nutritional advice or a gym membership. You can expect up to 900 francs per year.
Not all gyms and fitness centres are accepted.
Is it worth it?
If you train regularly at a gym, supplemental insurance may be an attractive option. Just find out which gyms are covered by which insurers.
Some health insurers also reward you if you use an app to track your fitness activities and provide the insurer with the data.
What you need to know
Acute and transitional care prescribed by a doctor directly after a stay in hospital is covered by basic insurance.
It also covers at-home nursing/care services (Spitex) prescribed by a doctor.
Basic insurance does not cover any care beyond basic requirements (e.g. showering more frequently would not be covered). Basic insurance also does not cover the costs of, for example, domestic help, meal services or hospitality costs in a nursing home. However, your local commune may pay for it. You can also cover these services with supplemental insurance.
Is it worth it?
Some supplemental insurance also covers the costs of domestic help following a stay in hospital. Insurance cover varies by insurer and product.
Check whether you really need this insurance.
What you need to know
Basic health insurance only covers certain vaccinations. It does not cover travel vaccinations (e.g. against yellow fever or rabies) or flu vaccines for healthy individuals.
Supplemental insurance usually covers some of the costs. You only have to pay the coinsurance (usually 10%).
Is it worth it?
Vaccinations are not mandatory in Switzerland. Check whether you really need your current package.
What you need to know
Supplemental dental insurance covers, among other things: Costs for dental hygiene and fillings in the event of caries. It also covers orthodontic treatments – but usually only for children.
You should take out supplemental insurance in good time. This is because ongoing treatment costs are not reimbursed. In some cases, there is also a waiting period for remuneration, known as the qualifying period.
Is it worth it?
Basic insurance only covers dental treatment that is medically required following an illness. If you cannot bear the costs of, for example, crowns and full prostheses yourself, you should take out additional insurance in good time. Important: supplemental dental insurance usually requires a dentist to certify that your teeth are in good condition.
Supplemental insurance for children is particularly recommended : Orthodontic treatments can cost over 10,000 francs. If you sign up before your child is born, there is usually no need for a health check. This also applies to small children.
What you need to know
Basic insurance only pays for treatment abroad in the event of a medical emergency.
Good supplemental insurance sometimes offers full coverage including repatriations – some even for planned treatments.
In addition, supplemental insurance pays more for emergency transport and transfers than basic insurance.
Is it worth it?
For travel in countries with high healthcare costs (e.g. Australia, Japan, Canada and the USA), it's worth taking out supplemental international insurance. Basic health insurance does not usually cover the cost of repatriation back to Switzerland.
Note: you will have to pay the coinsurance applicable in the host country. This also applies if your deductible is already used up. The coinsurance may be high depending on the country.
3. Which hospital supplemental insurance products are worthwhile?
Compulsory basic insurance only covers hospital stays in a general ward. If you are treated in a hospital in a different canton than your own, the maximum your insurance will pay is the rate applicable for your place of residence. This means you must pay the difference yourself.
If you take out supplemental hospital insurance, you are free to choose your hospital, benefits and type of room.
There are four different supplemental hospital insurance policies:
What you need to know
The supplemental insurance “general ward” is available from as little as two francs per month.
It pays if a hospital stay outside the canton of residence costs more than in the canton of residence. However, if your canton of residence does not offer the required treatment, basic insurance pays for it in another canton.
As a rule, free choice of doctor in the respective hospital is not possible.
Is it worth it?
This general supplemental hospital insurance may be useful for people living in rural regions with few hospitals. Consider whether this would be of benefit to you.
What you need to know
With the Flex model you decide at short notice which ward you want to be treated in (general, private or semi-private ward).
As a rule, there are no costs for treatment on the general ward. You have to pay a deductible in the private or semi-private ward.
Is it worth it?
The Flex model is a sensible alternative to semi-private and private insurance. However, you already have to pay a fixed amount or share of the costs yourself. The main benefit of this model is the flexibility it offers to policyholders. Despite lower premiums, you have the option of private treatment.
However, prices vary considerably from insurer to insurer. Some insurers also charge different premiums depending on gender.
What you need to know
With the semi-private ward throughout Switzerland, you are entitled to a twin room. As a rule, “throughout Switzerland” means all hospitals on the hospital list of the insurance company.
The senior physician is normally responsible for your treatment.
Is it worth it?
The semi-private ward option for the whole of Switzerland is worthwhile for people seeking a degree of comfort in a hospital setting. However, many public hospitals offer two-bed rooms that are covered by basic health insurance.
The benefit of the semi-private ward option lies mainly in the free choice of doctor. However, Flex models are significantly less expensive. Over the years, the lower premium prices often offset the coinsurance payment required for an upgrade.
What you need to know
With the private ward throughout Switzerland option, you are entitled to a single room. As a rule, “throughout Switzerland” means all hospitals on the hospital list of the insurance company.
The chief physician is normally responsible for your treatment.
Is it worth it?
Private ward is the most expensive hospital insurance. You will enjoy the comfort and privacy of your own room (if available). You will also receive treatment from an experienced chief physician.
Some packages also include additional benefits. These include:
Stays in a health resort
Emergency transportation and transfers
Domestic help and home nursing care
Compare the prices and benefits carefully. Flex models are significantly less expensive. Over the years, the lower premium prices often offset the coinsurance payment required for an upgrade.
4. Is accident insurance worthwhile?
With supplemental insurance, you can also insure against accidents. This means that costs related to recovering from accidents that exceed the accident cover under basic insurance are also covered.
With the accident cover, your supplemental insurance also pays for benefits in the event of an accident. The accident supplement is worthwhile, for example, if you do not want to do without home care, domestic help and health resorts after an accident. This also applies if you do not want to contribute to transport and rescue costs.
5. Summary: which supplemental insurance policies are worthwhile?
There is a wide range of supplemental insurance available. This means you may end up buying a package that includes benefits you will never use.
For this reason, compare the different packages offered by each insurer. Premiums also vary from insurer to insurer. Sometimes they can be higher than the actual cost.
| Supplemental insurance | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Corrective eyewear | Check the requirements |
| Non-compulsory medication | Check the requirements |
| Psychotherapy by a psychologist | Check the requirements |
| Gym membership | Useful if you train regularly |
| Travel and prophylactic vaccinations | Check the requirements |
| Spa and convalescent therapies | Check the requirements |
| At-home nursing care and domestic help | Check the requirements |
| Dental insurance | Useful for children |
| Treatments abroad | Also consider single-trip cover for holidays abroad |
| General ward throughout Switzerland | Check the requirements |
| Semi-private ward throughout Switzerland | Consider switching to the Flex model |
| Private ward throughout Switzerland | Consider switching to the Flex model |
| Flex model | Check the requirements |
| Accident supplement | Check the requirements |
This article was first published on 12.07.2021
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