Supplementary insurance

With a supplementary insurance plan you buy cover for additional healthcare benefits which meet your own personal needs but which are not covered – or only partially covered – under basic insurance.

Supplementary insurance plans provide healthcare benefits which are not covered – or only partially covered – by basic insurance. You are free to choose the supplementary insurance plans which match your personal requirements.

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Complementary medicine

For everyone who requires access to alternative as well as conventional treatment methods.

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Glasses and contact lenses

For everyone who uses glasses or contact lenses every day and has to replace them on a regular basis.

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Health-promoting activities

For everyone who looks after their own health and takes regular exercise.

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Comprehensive dental treatment

For everyone who makes regular appointments for dental hygiene and check-ups. For children, in order to avoid the high costs involved in orthodontic treatment.

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Emergency treatment and repatriation

If it is not possible to provide treatment for an accident or illness which occurs abroad, emergency repatriation to Switzerland will be arranged.

Additional vaccinations and medication, check-ups or transport

For vaccinations which are not covered under the statutory benefits regulations, plus medical check-ups, medication not covered by health insurance, and emergency transport within Switzerland.

Flexible and effective – supplementary insurance from SWICA

With the supplementary Completa Top plan you can fill any gaps you may have in your mandatory basic cover. Whether it’s complementary medicine, contact lenses or repatriation costs – you enjoy full financial protection.

Overview of benefits:

Comprehensive cover for emergencies in Switzerland: search and recovery costs of up to CHF 20'000; emergency transport / transfers combined with benefits from basic insurance of up to CHF 20'000 per calendar year
Comprehensive cover for emergencies abroad: medically necessary treatment and repatriation costs, search and recovery costs of up to CHF 20'000 and emergency transport costs of up to CHF 50'000 per calendar year
Health advice by phone and personal assistance, worldwide
Comprehensive benefits for alternative medical therapies
Cover of medication – incl. homeopathic, phytotherapeutic and anthroposophic preparations – not covered under basic insurance
Up to CHF 200 for glasses and contact lenses every three calendar years
50% of costs up to CHF 10'000 per calendar year for orthodontic work until the age of 25
Comprehensive supplementary benefits for household help, medical help and prescribed spa treatment
The Benevita bonus programme rewards you for your active and healthy lifestyle with premium discounts of up to 15% (find out more) on your supplementary Completa Top, Completa Forte and Hospita insurance.

Praevita supplementary cover is the ideal addition to Completa Top. You receive attractive contributions towards health promotion and preventive healthcare.

Overview of benefits

50% up to CHF 500 for activities related to exercise, nutrition and relaxation (e.g. fitness centres, nutritional advice, yoga, and numerous sport associations) per calendar year
Up to CHF 200 for vaccinations per calendar year
Up to CHF 500 for medical check-ups for the early detection of illness every three calendar years

Optima offers worldwide private cover with special extras designed for those with higher demands. It offers additional benefits above and beyond those provided by SWICA’s mandatory healthcare insurance and the supplementary Completa Top/Completa Forte and Praevita plans.

Overview of benefits:

Full cover for conventional outpatient treatment – worldwide
Full cover for outpatient complementary therapy treatments delivered by SWICA-recognised therapists (in combination with Completa Top/Completa Forte)
90% up to CHF 1'300* for exercise, nutrition and relaxation programmes (e.g. fitness centre, nutritional advice, yoga and many sports associations) per calendar year
Up to CHF 1'200 for glasses and contact lenses every three calendar years (in combination with Completa Top/Completa Forte)
90% of the cost of vaccinations and medical check-ups to identify illness at an early stage with no upper limit (in combination with Praevita)
Generous benefits for spa and convalescence treatment, home help and medical aids

*As part of its commitment to health promotion and preventive healthcare, SWICA covers 90% of the costs under your Completa Forte supplementary plan, up to 500 francs per calendar year (up to 300 francs per type of activity). Praevita covers an additional 50% of the costs up to 500 francs per year (up to 300 francs per type of activity). Optima supplementary insurance covers 90% of the cost exceeding this amount, up to 300 francs per calendar year. This means your preventive healthcare contribution can be as much as 1’300 francs per year. For more detail see the example below:

Your teeth can cause a lot of pain – also financially. A Denta plan will help maintain the health of your teeth – and of your budget.

Depending on the plan you choose, SWICA pays between CHF 500 and CHF 2'000 a year for dental treatment such as:

Check-ups
Dental hygiene
Dental treatment
Orthodontic work

Orthodontic work for children and young adults has become widely accepted and very expensive. This is why SWICA pays twice the sum insured for orthodontic work up to the age of 25.

Save even more money on premiums by adopting a healthy lifestyle

The Benevita bonus programme and health platform

As a SWICA customer you can sign up for the Benevita bonus programme and enjoy a premium discount of up to 15% (find out more) on the Completa Top and Hospita supplementary insurance plans thanks to your healthy lifestyle.
You will also regularly receive useful and interesting tips on health issues. You can register and use the bonus programme free of charge.

How your premium discount breaks down

The discount can be used on Completa Top / Forte and all Hospita supplementary insurance plans (excluding Hospita General)
You collect points in the Benevita app by completing challenges and
the Benevita discount is based on the number of points you have accumulated. There are three possible discount levels. The Special Conditions set out the details of the Benevita bonus programme.
You have to complete all three levels to secure the maximum discount (2'500 points):

Supplementary insurances	Completa Top Completa Forte	Hospita (excluding Hospita General)
Grado discount 1: 300 points	5% discount	5% discount
Grado discount 2: plus 700 points	5% discount	10% discount
Grado discount 3: plus 1'500 points	5% discount	15% discount

Calculate your premium now and get immediate advice

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Date of birth*

You can contact our customer service desk on +41 58 800 99 43 or +41 52 244 28 28 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ask for personal advice

The health insurance system in Switzerland

Who is obliged to have basic insurance cover?

Under the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG), every person resident in Switzerland must have at least mandatory basic insurance.
Families must take out separate basic insurance for each member of the family, regardless of age.

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When does health insurance have to be purchased?

You have three months from the date on which you register with the residents' registration office to register with a health insurer for mandatory basic insurance. Because insurance cover begins as soon as you register with the residents' registration office, the premiums for basic insurance are owed with effect from the month of registration. This means that you may have to make more than one month’s payment when you pay for the first time.

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Which benefits are provided under basic insurance cover?

The medical benefits covered are regulated by law and are the same with all insurance providers. Insurance companies are obliged to accept all applications for basic insurance.

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Do I have to contribute towards my healthcare costs?

Yes, it is obligatory in Switzerland to contribute towards your own healthcare costs. This contribution is levied through the annual excess and the deductible. The excess is the annual amount which the insured person must contribute towards the services which he/she uses. Individuals can select the level of excess that suits them. The options for excesses are defined in law and are set at CHF 300 to CHF 2,500 for adults. Once the excess has been paid, the insured person is also responsible for paying the deductible, which is 10% of the relevant healthcare costs. However, the deductible never exceeds 700 francs per calendar year. So, with an excess of CHF 300, the maximum cost to the insured person would be CHF 1,000.The excess and deductible are lower for children. The larger the excess, the lower the monthly premium.

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How do I choose the right excess?

The right choice of excess depends on the expected healthcare costs. The larger the excess you choose, the lower your monthly premium will be. Therefore, if you expect your monthly healthcare costs to be low, you would usually choose a large excess and so keep your insurance costs to a minimum. The options for excesses are defined in law and are set at CHF 300 to CHF 2,500 for adults.

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If the benefits provided by all insurers are the same, why do the premiums for basic insurance vary so much?

The basic insurance provides all insured persons with the same scope of cover. The premium to be paid depends on the insured person’s place of residence and age. However, insurance costs can be significantly reduced depending on the basic insurance model chosen.

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Who pays the health insurance premiums?

In Switzerland, unlike in other countries, premiums are paid in full by the insured person. Depending on the insurance company, the insured person can choose the payment frequency.

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What happens if you miss the three-month deadline for registering with an insurance company?

If you miss the registration deadline, you will be assigned to a statutory health insurer by your municipality and a premium surcharge will apply.

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Does the basic insurance cover treatment costs in my home country?

You can only have medical treatment in Switzerland, even if the costs are lower in your home country.

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How are the costs reimbursed to the insured person by the insurance company?

Normally the doctor's bill is sent directly to the health insurer from the doctor’s practice. To take advantage of this facility you must present your insurance card when you register with a doctor. The practice may, however, send the invoice directly to you. In this case you would pay the bill and submit the paid invoice to the health insurer. If you are entitled to reimbursement, the amount in question will be transferred to you by the health insurer.

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Where can I find more detailed information about the benefits that are covered by the mandatory basic insurance?

Every health insurer will be happy to provide you with more detailed information about the benefits available under the mandatory basic insurance. Make an appointment with the health insurer of your choosing.

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How can I reclaim from the insurer the money that I myself have paid for treatment?

As a rule, invoices which you have settled yourself can be submitted to the health insurer either digitally or by post. Submitted invoices are checked and, if you are entitled to reimbursement, the sum in question will be transferred to you. This process generally takes a few days.

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What insurance cover do I have under the law in Switzerland?

In Switzerland there are a number of statutory social insurance providers and schemes. You'll find an overview in our fact sheet on social insurers in Switzerland.

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Do I have to take out supplementary insurance?

No, supplementary insurance is voluntary. It is used to top up the benefits available under the mandatory basic insurance in line with the insured person's individual needs.

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Which benefits does supplementary insurance provide?

Supplementary insurance tops up the benefits available under the mandatory basic insurance in line with the insured person's individual needs. For example, supplementary insurance could cover benefits in the field of complementary medicine, the cost of glasses and contact lenses, dental treatment and much more. Personal advice from an expert will help you to find the supplementary insurance plan that is right for you.

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When can I purchase supplementary insurance?

Supplementary insurance can be purchased at any time.

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How can I take out supplementary insurance?

An insurance advisor is the right person to approach for advice in this area. He will put together a personal quotation that is tailored to your needs. You will have to complete a medical check before you can buy supplementary insurance. This will also be provided by the insurance advisor. The insurance application is then submitted and checked by the health insurer. Usually you will be informed in writing if your application is successful. Health insurers are entitled to accept an application in full, accept it with certain exclusions, or reject it.

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Can a health insurer turn down my application for supplementary insurance?

Yes, health insurers can reject an application in part (i.e. by specifying exclusions) or in full if the applicant has previously suffered a serious illness or accident. However, it is always possible to take out basic insurance.

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Do I have to take out hospitalisation insurance?

No, under the Federal Health Insurance Act only the basic insurance is mandatory for people living in Switzerland.

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In which hospitals will I be treated if I don’t have hospitalisation insurance?

As a matter of principle you can be admitted to any hospital in Switzerland. However, if you do not have hospitalisation insurance, the costs are only covered up to the amount that would be covered for the same treatment in your canton of residence. Since treatment costs vary from canton to canton, insured persons may face additional costs as a result. The only exception is if the treatment required is unavailable in your canton of residence.

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What level of costs can I expect if I receive inpatient treatment?

When you buy hospitalisation insurance, you select a deductible of between CHF 0 and CHF 5,000, representing your contribution towards the cost of hospital treatment.

SWICA is the only health insurer that applies co-payments from basic insurance to those of its supplementary insurance, which means the annual co-payments will be much lower when compared to other health insurers.

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Supplementary insurance

With a supplementary insurance plan you buy cover for additional healthcare benefits which meet your own personal needs but which are not covered – or only partially covered – under basic insurance.