Supplementary health insurance Switzerland: what it adds

Supplementary health insurance in Switzerland is a separate, optional contract. It is not part of the compulsory scheme that every resident must take out. For a mobility manager, the question is simple: does your policy stop at the basic scheme, or does it also fund extra cover for the transferee and family?

This page explains what supplementary cover is, how it differs from the basic scheme, and where it fits in the timeline of an international move. It gives the general rule only. A specialist can examine the individual case through the request at the bottom of the page.

Basic scheme and supplementary cover: two different contracts

Switzerland runs a two-layer system. The first layer is the compulsory basic scheme (LAMal in French, KVG in German). The second layer is a range of voluntary products, usually called supplementary insurance (assurance complémentaire, Zusatzversicherung).

Anyone who lives in Switzerland must take out basic insurance no later than three months after taking up residence. If the deadline is met, cover is backdated to the date of taking up residence, and premiums are due retroactively. If it is missed, cover starts at affiliation, a premium surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority may assign an insurer (Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)). The full rule is covered in Is Swiss health insurance mandatory?.

Supplementary cover has no such obligation. Nobody has to buy it, and no authority assigns it. It is a private contract between your employee and an insurer, with its own conditions.

What supplementary cover typically adds

The basic scheme pays for a defined catalogue of treatment. Supplementary products are built around what that catalogue leaves out or restricts. The exact content depends on the insurer and the product, so treat the list below as categories to check, not as a fixed offer.

Hospital comfort. Choice of room type or of doctor during a hospital stay.
Choice of hospital. Wider freedom to be treated outside the area covered by the basic scheme.
Complementary and alternative medicine. Treatments that the basic scheme restricts.
Dental care. Routine dental work is generally not covered by the basic scheme.
Glasses and contact lenses. Often a partial contribution only.
Cover abroad. Treatment during travel, which is limited under the basic scheme.
Prevention and fitness. Contributions to check-ups or sports activities.

Your transferee should ask each insurer for the written conditions of the product. Names and labels differ widely between insurers, and the same word can cover different benefits.

Why supplementary cover works differently from the basic scheme

The basic scheme accepts every resident who applies. Supplementary cover does not follow the same logic. Insurers generally assess the applicant before issuing a contract.

In practice, this means:

The applicant answers health questions in a questionnaire.
The insurer may accept the application, accept it with an exclusion, or decline it.
An exclusion removes a known condition from the cover, even though the rest of the contract applies.
Premiums can depend on the applicant's profile, and conditions can change at renewal.

For an employer, the consequence is practical. A transferee who arrives with a medical history may find that some products are closed or restricted. The questionnaire must be completed accurately. An inaccurate answer can later give the insurer grounds to contest a claim.

The main points for a global mobility policy

Most international assignment policies address health cover in one of three ways. Check which one your policy follows before the move is communicated to the employee.

Basic scheme only. The employee takes the compulsory insurance and nothing else. Out-of-pocket costs stay with the employee.
Basic scheme plus employer-funded supplementary cover. The policy states which products are funded and up to what level.
Basic scheme plus employee-chosen supplementary cover. The employee decides, and the policy may allow a contribution or none.

If your policy funds supplementary cover, write the scope into the assignment letter. Silence invites disputes after the first claim.

EU/EFTA and third-country transferees

Switzerland applies two regimes for admission: one for nationals of EU/EFTA states and one for nationals of third states (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)). The basic insurance duty applies to residents under either regime.

For supplementary cover, the nationality matters less than the history. Health cover in the home country may not transfer. A transferee from the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Germany, France, Canada, China, Japan, the Emirates or Australia arrives with a different baseline. Some home schemes include dental or private-room cover that has no direct Swiss equivalent. Your employee should list what the current policy pays for before departure, so that gaps can be identified.

Timeline: where supplementary cover fits

The basic scheme has hard deadlines. Supplementary cover has none set by law, but its practical timing is tied to them. The aim is to avoid a period without the intended cover, and to complete health questionnaires while the facts are fresh.

From pre-departure to supplementary cover

The commune registration step matters here. On arrival, the employee announces themselves to the commune within 14 days. The documents requested include an identity document, a residence or work permit and proof of health insurance (ch.ch). The exact rules may vary by commune or canton, so confirm locally. The basic insurance proof is the one the commune asks for. Supplementary cover is not part of that file.

Pitfalls to check

Assuming supplementary cover is included. A basic-scheme certificate says nothing about supplementary products.
Late questionnaires. A health condition that appears between the application and the start date may need to be declared.
Exclusions read too late. Check the written exclusions before accepting the contract.
Cover abroad assumptions. Do not assume that travel cover is complete. Ask for the written scope.
Family members. Each person has an individual contract. A spouse or child may be treated differently from the employee.
Contract length and notice. Supplementary contracts may carry notice rules that differ from the basic scheme. Ask the insurer in writing.
Accident cover. Accident insurance is usually arranged through the employer and is a separate topic. See accident insurance through the employer.

Checklist for HR

Read the mobility policy and note what it says about supplementary health cover
Ask the transferee to list the current home-country cover
Confirm whether the employer funds any supplementary product
Plan the basic insurance within the three-month limit
Prepare proof of basic insurance for the commune registration
Ask for the written conditions and exclusions of any supplementary product
Record the decision in the assignment letter

How this connects to other insurance topics

The choice of deductible and insurance model belongs to the basic scheme, not to supplementary cover. It is explained in deductibles and insurance models. Premium levels are covered in how much health insurance costs. For the broader HR picture, read the overview of Swiss health insurance for expatriate employees. Liability, legal protection and car cover are in other insurance in Switzerland.

If you want a specialist to look at a specific assignment, the request at the bottom of the page puts you in touch with a relocation company that handles insurance questions. The site itself does not advise on insurance and does not sell policies.

Frequently asked questions

Is supplementary health insurance compulsory in Switzerland?

No. Only the basic scheme is compulsory. Supplementary cover is a voluntary contract that your employee may take out, or not.

What does supplementary health insurance cover?

It depends on the product. Typical categories are hospital comfort, choice of hospital, complementary medicine, dental care, glasses and cover abroad. Always ask for the written conditions.

Does the basic scheme pay for dental care?

Routine dental care is generally not part of the basic scheme. Supplementary products may contribute. The product conditions define the scope.

Can an insurer refuse supplementary cover?

Yes. Insurers generally assess health information before issuing a contract. They may accept, accept with an exclusion or decline.

What is an exclusion?

An exclusion removes a named condition from cover. The rest of the contract still applies. Read it before signing.

Is there a deadline for supplementary cover?

The law sets no deadline. The basic scheme has a three-month limit after taking up residence (Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)). Supplementary timing is a practical choice.

Should the transferee buy supplementary cover before leaving home?

The assessment may depend on the insurer and the product. A specialist can examine the specific case. In general, the employee should not assume that a home-country policy continues to apply once residence changes.

Does the employer have to pay for supplementary cover?

No rule requires it. It is a matter for your mobility policy and the assignment letter. State it in writing.

Does supplementary cover count as proof of insurance for the commune?

The commune asks for proof of health insurance when the employee registers (ch.ch). That is the basic insurance. Confirm the exact requirement with the commune.

How long does commune registration take after arrival?

The announcement to the commune is due within 14 days. The period may vary by commune or canton, so confirm locally.

What happens if basic insurance is concluded late?

If the three-month limit is missed, cover starts at affiliation. A surcharge may apply for an unexcused delay, and the cantonal authority may assign an insurer (Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH)).

Are premiums backdated?

For basic insurance concluded on time, cover is backdated to the date of taking up residence, and premiums are due retroactively.

Are family members covered by the employee's contract?

Insurance contracts are generally individual. Each family member needs to be insured. Ask the insurer how family members are handled.

Does nationality change the supplementary offer?

The basic insurance duty applies to residents under both the EU/EFTA and third-country regimes (State Secretariat for Migration (SEM)). For supplementary cover, insurers look mainly at the applicant's health and the product conditions.

Can an employee with a pre-existing condition get supplementary cover?

Possibly, but with an exclusion for that condition, or a refusal. The outcome depends on the insurer and the product.

Is accident cover part of supplementary insurance?

Accident insurance is a separate matter, usually arranged through the employer. See the dedicated page on accident insurance.

Does supplementary cover include treatment abroad?

Some products include it, with limits. Read the written scope and the territorial conditions.

Can the employee change supplementary insurer later?

Possibly. Notice rules and new health questions may apply. Ask the insurer for the written terms before signing.

Does supplementary cover change the basic scheme deductible?

No. The deductible and the insurance model belong to the basic scheme. See the page on deductibles and models.

Who decides the insurer for supplementary cover?

The employee, unless your policy says otherwise. No authority assigns supplementary cover.

Does the relocation company arrange the policy?

The site connects you with a relocation company that suits the request. What that company offers on insurance is agreed between you and it.

What should HR put in the assignment letter?

State whether supplementary cover is funded, which categories, any ceiling and who pays when the policy ends. Clear wording prevents later disputes.

Where can official information on the insurance duty be found?

The Federal Office of Public Health publishes the rules on the duty to be insured for residents. The link is in the sources below.

Does the type of permit change the insurance duty?

The duty depends on residence in Switzerland. For short stays, see Permit L and ask the authority how the duty applies.

Supplementary health cover: what the basic scheme does not pay