Supplementary insurance (VVG)
Basic cover and supplementary policies fall under neither the same law nor the same logic. Confusing the two is the costliest mistake when switching insurer.
Two laws, two worlds
Basic cover falls under LAMal: guaranteed acceptance, an imposed catalogue, no selection. Supplementary policies fall under the insurance contract act: the insurer chooses whom to accept, at what price, and with what exclusions.
In practice: you can switch basic cover with no risk at all, but you can permanently lose a supplementary policy if you cancel it and another insurer refuses you.
What they usually cover
- Semi-private or private hospital rooms, with free choice of doctor in hospital.
- Complementary medicine not covered by basic insurance.
- Dental treatment, glasses, fitness, depending on the contract.
- Treatment abroad beyond what basic cover reimburses.
The questions to ask before signing
- Is there a health questionnaire, and what exclusions may the insurer apply?
- How long does the contract run, and what is the notice period — often three months before expiry?
- Do premiums rise with age, and on what scale?
- What happens to the supplementary policy if I cancel my basic cover with this insurer?
Why we do not compare them
No official register publishes the tariffs and terms of supplementary policies. They are negotiated case by case, with medical selection. A supplementary-cover comparison built without public data would be a sales pitch in disguise, not a comparison.