Supplementary Health Insurance and Premium Subsidies
What supplementary insurance covers, when it pays off and how to claim cantonal premium reductions.
5 min read · Insurance & Health
Basic health insurance is the same for everyone, but you can add supplementary cover and may be entitled to help with the premium.
What supplementary insurance covers
- Hospital stay in a semi-private or private room and free choice of doctor.
- Alternative medicine, dental treatment, glasses, and fitness contributions.
- Worldwide emergency cover and repatriation.
These policies fall under insurance contract law, not the basic insurance law. Insurers can refuse applicants, add exclusions or raise prices by age.
Example with default values. Open the calculator →
Is it worth it?
Check how often you would really use the benefits. A policy costing CHF 100 per month is CHF 1,200 per year, which can exceed what you claim. Dental and alternative medicine plans rarely pay back for healthy people. Hospital cover matters more for people who value choice or family stays.
Cancel carefully
If you cancel supplementary insurance, you may not get back in later without health questions. Do not cancel before you have a new offer accepted.
Premium subsidies (IPV)
Cantons reduce premiums for households with modest income and wealth. You often have to apply; some cantons send a form automatically. Rules, income limits and amounts differ by canton, so check your cantonal office each year.
Compare yearly costs with the premium comparison calculator.