Insurance system in Switzerland

In Switzerland, there is statutory and private health insurance. Private health insurance – such as that offered by coverio – and statutory basic insurance cover the same costs. In addition to the basic cover, there are supplementary insurance policies, which also come under private health insurance, but which cover costs other than the basic insurance. Find out more about the different types of insurance below.

Every person living in Switzerland must take out health insurance – whether private or statutory – within three months of entry or birth. If they don't, they will be assigned to a statutory basic insurance scheme by their canton of residence.

It is worth checking the various insurance options. Private health insurance policies cannot be taken out by all persons in Switzerland, but they are usually less expensive. You can only opt for this kind of insurance if you are not a permanent resident of Switzerland. You must, however, be exempted from the statutory basic insurance. Here you can find out more about the exemption process.

coverio is a private health insurance company that offers the basic cover required by law, similar to the statutory health insurance companies. 

The most important aspects of the basic cover that coverio offers are:

Basic insurance provides financial cover for a wide range of medical services, including visits to the doctor, hospitalizations in a general ward, necessary medication and certain medical treatments. Preventive measures such as vaccinations and preventive examinations are also covered.You can find an overview of the benefits here.

Insured persons pay premiums, the amount of which depends on various factors (for example, the choice of insurance company, canton of residence, excess, age, etc.). The excess is the amount that the insured person must pay out of their own pocket every year for treatments before the insurance covers costs. Once the excess is reached, the insurance covers a large part of the remaining costs, while the insured person must pay a small contribution (10%) towards the costs. This is known as a deductible. The deductible is a maximum of CHF 700 per calendar year.

The insured person can choose the health insurance company with which they would like to take out health insurance. Health insurance policies can only be cancelled annually at the end of September and changed at the end of the year.

Private health insurance policies offering the same cover as statutory basic insurance are usually less expensive. However, they cannot be taken out by everyone in Switzerland. Only persons who are temporarily residing in Switzerland are eligible. They must, however, be exempted from the statutory basic insurance. You will find out more about the exemption process here.

Basic insurance from health insurance funds offers the minimum health insurance cover required by law and thus the same cover as coverio. Various Swiss health insurance funds offer this basic insurance with the exact same benefits at different prices. Persons residing permanently in Switzerland can change their health insurance every year and thus choose the cheapest insurance each time. In the case of statutory basic insurance, the excess and deductible are similar to coverio when it comes to covering treatment costs. 

Supplementary insurance is voluntary and offers extended benefits that go beyond the protection offered by basic insurance. It enables the insured person to tailor their insurance cover to suit their individual needs. Here are some examples of benefits that can be covered by supplementary insurance:

Costs for dental treatments that are not covered by basic insurance, such as tooth cleaning, caries treatments or orthodontic procedures.

Better accommodation in the hospital, such as single or twin rooms and the choice of attending physician.

Costs for glasses and contact lenses that are not covered or only partially covered by basic insurance.

coverio does not currently offer any supplementary insurance.