Complementary Insurance in Switzerland

Understand how complementary insurance in Switzerland complements your compulsory health cover, and what to check before you sign.

Short Answer

Complementary insurance in Switzerland (LCA) is optional cover you add on top of compulsory basic health insurance (LAMal) to pay for services LAMal does not include, such as private hospital rooms, dental care, glasses or alternative medicine. Unlike LAMal, insurers can ask health questions, apply exclusions or refuse an application, so it pays to compare offers and apply early, ideally before you have a Swiss medical file.

Anyone living in Switzerland must take out compulsory basic health insurance, known as LAMal. It covers a defined, identical set of services regardless of the insurer, but it leaves gaps: private or semi-private hospital rooms, most dental treatment, glasses and contact lenses for adults, and many forms of alternative medicine are only partly covered, if at all. Complementary insurance in Switzerland exists to close these gaps.

Complementary insurance is not governed by the same rules as LAMal. It falls under ordinary insurance contract law, which means each insurer sets its own premiums, benefits and admission conditions. Before you assume a policy will cover what you need, it is worth understanding how this market works and when to apply.

How complementary insurance differs from basic LAMal cover

Basic LAMal insurance is compulsory for every resident of Switzerland. Every insurer must offer the same catalogue of covered services at the basic level, and premiums differ only by canton, insurance model and chosen deductible. Insurers cannot refuse an applicant for basic insurance or apply conditions based on health.

Complementary insurance works on a different logic entirely. Each insurer decides freely what it covers, how much it charges and who it accepts. Applying typically means answering a health questionnaire, and the insurer may accept you, accept you with exclusions on a specific condition, or decline the application altogether.

What complementary insurance typically covers

Complementary policies are usually sold as separate modules, so you can combine only what you need rather than buying a single bundled product. The main categories are described below.

Hospital cover (semi-private or private)

This module typically gives you a shared room for two (semi-private) or a single room (private), a wider choice of treating physician, and in some cases access to hospitals beyond your canton or region of residence. Because it changes how and where you are treated, it is one of the modules insurers underwrite most carefully.

Dental care

Routine dental treatment is not covered by LAMal, which only intervenes in specific accident or illness-related situations. Complementary dental cover typically reimburses a share of costs up to an annual limit set by the insurer, and often applies a waiting period before the first reimbursement, so timing your application matters.

Glasses, contact lenses and optical care

Basic insurance offers only limited support for glasses and contact lenses for adults. A complementary optical module typically reimburses a set amount per year or over several years toward frames, lenses or contact lenses.

Alternative and complementary medicine

Therapies such as acupuncture, osteopathy, naturopathy or homeopathy are covered, if at all, only partly under basic insurance and usually only when delivered by a physician. Complementary modules can extend this to non-medical practitioners, provided the practitioner holds a recognised professional certification accepted by the insurer.

Travel and medical assistance abroad

For anyone who travels regularly, this cover addresses medical costs abroad, medical repatriation and, depending on the policy, trip cancellation. It is a distinct product from health insurance and is often available as a low-cost add-on or a standalone annual policy.

The health questionnaire and why timing matters

Applying for complementary insurance almost always starts with a health questionnaire covering your recent medical history. Answering it accurately matters: an omission or inaccurate answer discovered later can lead the insurer to reduce or refuse a reimbursement, or in serious cases to terminate the contract.

If your history includes a condition the insurer considers material, it may apply a reservation, meaning it excludes that condition from cover for a defined period or permanently, or it may decline the application for that module altogether. This is the main reason advisers recommend applying for complementary cover as soon as possible after arrival, before a Swiss medical record accumulates, and applying for children early, since insurers generally apply lighter underwriting to very young applicants.

Comparing complementary insurance offers and reading the fine print on exclusions and waiting periods takes time you may not have during a move. Our consultants help you map your household's needs against the market and coordinate with qualified insurance specialists so you apply once, with the right modules, rather than discovering a gap later.

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How to compare offers without overpaying

Apply for complementary cover soon after you arrive, ideally before any Swiss medical consultation is on record
Insure children early: most insurers apply simpler, lighter underwriting to infants and young children than to adults
Compare modules separately rather than buying the first bundled package offered, since your needs for dental, optical and hospital cover rarely align
Ask about waiting periods before each type of benefit becomes payable, particularly for dental and maternity-related cover
Keep your existing complementary cover in force until you have written confirmation that the new insurer has accepted you
For any question about tax treatment or how complementary cover interacts with other insurance you hold, speak with a qualified specialist rather than relying on general guidance

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Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if my application for complementary insurance is refused?

Insurers assess complementary applications individually, and criteria differ from one company to another, so a refusal by one insurer does not mean every insurer will refuse you. You can approach other insurers, ask about cover with a reservation on the condition concerned, or apply for a narrower module that raises fewer questions, such as travel or optical cover.

Is complementary insurance worth it for children?

Many families take it out for children mainly for dental care, including orthodontics, and for glasses, since these costs are not covered by basic insurance and can be significant. Insurers generally apply simpler underwriting to infants and young children, which is why advisers recommend subscribing early rather than waiting.

Can I switch complementary insurer later if I am not satisfied?

You can, but it is riskier than switching basic insurance, because the new insurer will ask you to complete a fresh health questionnaire and may apply new exclusions or decline your application. Notice periods depend on your contract's terms. Never cancel an existing complementary policy before you have written confirmation that the new insurer has accepted you.

Does complementary insurance replace basic LAMal insurance?

No. Complementary insurance only adds cover on top of compulsory basic insurance and cannot replace it. Everyone residing in Switzerland must hold LAMal cover regardless of any complementary policy they choose to add.

When is the best time to apply for complementary insurance after moving to Switzerland?

As soon as practical after you arrive, and ideally before you have had any medical consultation in Switzerland. The longer you wait, the more likely a new health issue will surface in the questionnaire and lead an insurer to apply an exclusion or decline part of your application.

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