Take out supplementary insurance: what to bear in mind

Supplementary insurance complements your basic health insurance and covers treatments that are not legally mandated.

Basic health insurance does not cover all health costs. Policyholders still pay around a quarter of their medical expenses themselves (source: Federal Statistical Office). Supplementary health insurance helps to close these gaps. This additional cover is incredibly popular: around three-quarters of the Swiss population have at least one supplementary health insurance policy (source: comparis.ch).

Supplementary health insurance offers contributions towards glasses, fitness memberships, complementary medicine, dental treatments, private hospital rooms and more.

A deductible does not usually apply with supplementary health insurance. Instead, the insurer provides reduced cost coverage (for example, 90% of the bill), usually up to a set annual limit, such as 1,000 francs. Any costs above this are payable by you.