Which supplementary insurance options make sense?

Almost 80 percent of all Swiss take out supplementary insurance. This allows additional benefits to be added to mandatory basic insurance. Find out here which supplementary options make sense and what you need to bear in mind when taking out insurance.

The structure of the Swiss healthcare system can seem complicated. Especially when it comes to the interaction between mandatory basic insurance and voluntary supplementary insurance. On the one hand, you want to be fully covered, but, on the other, you don’t want to pay for things you don’t need.

The premium calculator helps give you an overview of the individual supplementary insurance options, their scope of benefits, and costs.

What does basic insurance cover?

Mandatory health insurance (basic insurance) must be taken out by everyone who is resident in Switzerland. The benefits of this basic insurance are the same with all health insurers. It guarantees basic healthcare for those living in Switzerland and also includes preventive measures. The federal government’s catalog of benefits defines what basic health insurance must pay.

Since health insurers’ premiums vary considerably depending on age and place of residence, it’s worth comparing all basic insurance options every year – ideally with the help of an independent premium calculator.

Do I really need supplementary insurance?

Many benefits are included in basic insurance. With supplementary insurance, however, you also insure benefits that are not covered or insufficiently covered by basic insurance. Depending on your needs and your situation in life, a variety of supplementary insurance options can therefore make sense.
 
Here are some examples:

• You travel often and want the best possible protection – supplementary insurance protects you in an emergency against high consequential costs that are not adequately covered by your basic insurance.

• If you have a visual impairment and need glasses or contact lenses, your supplementary insurance will contribute to the costs.

• You regularly go to the gym or are a member of a recognized sports club – supplementary insurance helps support your active lifestyle.

• You want to benefit from a comprehensive offering of complementary medicine – supplementary insurance covers part of the costs of the treatments.

Which supplementary insurance options are worthwhile?

In general, a distinction must be made between supplementary outpatient insurance (outside a hospital context) and supplementary hospital insurance (for inpatient treatment). In addition, there are other supplementary offerings such as dental insurance, private accident insurance, and Capital insurance.

Supplementary outpatient insurance

Supplementary outpatient insurance covers personal health needs that are either not included in mandatory basic insurance or are covered only to a limited extent. This includes outpatient services, such as preventive examinations where there are no absolutely compelling medical grounds or complementary medicine, contributions towards glasses, contact lenses, or gym memberships, as well as medical massages. Domestic help, medical transportation and aids, medicines not covered by basic insurance, etc. may also be included in the insurance.

Please note: Every supplementary insurance offering is different! Check the scope of benefits carefully before deciding on an offer.

When does supplementary outpatient insurance make sense?

Since both your needs and the supplementary insurance packages on offer vary considerably, there’s no one single answer to this question. For healthy people, supplementary outpatient insurance options such as those offered by AXA can be of interest in the following situations:

• You want to take advantage of complementary medicine treatments.

• You train regularly in gyms, group courses, or clubs.

• You have a visual impairment and wear glasses or contact lenses.

Supplementary hospital insurance

Mandatory healthcare insurance covers a stay in a general ward in your canton of residence. For hospital treatment outside of your canton, mandatory insurance will pay a maximum of the rate that applies at your place of residence.  Supplementary hospital insurance , on the other hand, makes treatment at most hospitals in other cantons possible, or – depending on the benefit package – in a semi-private or private ward.

When does supplementary hospital insurance make sense?

Since each insurer puts together its own product packages, the benefits must always be looked at carefully. The following are common reasons for taking out supplementary hospital insurance:

• You want to be flexible when it comes to choice of hospital , even outside of your canton of residence.

• You want a free choice of doctor as well as greater comfort and privacy (semi-private, private).

• It’s important to you that a contribution is made toward the costs incurred by your accompanying person while you’re in hospital.

Private accident insurance

People who have an employment contract in Switzerland have compulsory cover against occupational accidents and diseases. Anyone who works at least eight hours a week for a company is also insured against non-occupational accidents through their employer. The insurance does not cover children, students, housewives/househusbands, or retired persons. These categories have to insure themselves against accidents through mandatory basic insurance.

When does private accident insurance make sense?

The problem with accident cover under basic insurance: It is not comprehensive enough for all people and life situations. Supplementing it with private accident insurance can be worthwhile to insure yourself against high costs and consequential costs in the event of an accident. This includes, for example, rescue missions, rehabilitation, or childcare during your hospital stay.

Supplementary dental insurance

In Switzerland, you have to pay your dentist and orthodontist out of your own pocket (exception: accidents and extreme misalignments with health consequences). Basic insurance does not contribute to the costs. To pay for dental treatment, you therefore need  supplementary dental insurance (or just dental insurance, for short).

Does supplementary dental insurance make sense?

• Potentially yes, if you want to receive regular treatment from a dentist,  orthodontist, and/or  dental hygienist .  Supplementary dental insurance covers part of the treatment costs for adults.

• No, when it comes to accident-related damage to your teeth . This is covered by accident insurance or basic insurance (if you are insured against accidents in this segment).

• No, if it is for a child . For children, orthodontic treatment is often covered via supplementary outpatient insurance (up to a certain age limit).

In short: These types of insurance make sense

The range of supplementary insurance options is huge. What’s more, the benefit packages are structured differently from one insurer to another, which makes it difficult to compare individual supplementary insurance options. But it’s worth choosing your supplementary insurance very carefully and checking whether the current insurance product still meets your needs. If you are young, healthy, and have no pre-existing conditions, you can often switch easily. Later on, being unconditionally accepted for supplementary insurance is less straightforward.

Supplementary insurance: the key benefits

With supplementary insurance that can be put together flexibly and on a modular basis, you avoid unnecessary costs. Think about which elements are relevant to you and then look for the right benefits package. Some examples:

• Gym membership or course offerings

• Glasses or contact lenses

• Complementary medicine therapies (osteopathy, medical massages, etc.)

• Psychotherapy with psychologists

• Dental treatment

• Prevention (preventive gynecological examinations, screenings, etc.)

• Check-ups and vaccinations

• Domestic help, house-minding, or care services

• Rescue and transportation in Switzerland and abroad

• Treatments abroad

• Stay in a rehabilitation clinic or a psychiatric clinic

• Spa treatments and convalescence treatment

• Hospital stay on a general ward throughout Switzerland

• Hospital stay in a semi-private or private ward