In Switzerland, mandatory health insurance (LAMAL) constitutes the fundamental basis for access to medical care. However, in 2025, the basic coverage gaps became increasingly evident with the continuous increase in health costs and the sophistication of medical care. Therefore, for optimal protection, complementary health insurance is essential as a necessity.

In this article, we will discuss in detail the reasons why additional insurance is essential today, the services they offer, the admission criteria, as well as some practical tips to choose the best additional coverage in Switzerland.

The limits of the Lamal: Why is it insufficient?

If the Lamal guarantees access to essential attention, it has clear limits. Among the main gaps in 2025, we find in particular:

  • LIMITED ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: Basic insurance only covers alternative care provided by recognized doctors. Therefore, consultations with naturopaths, acupunctors or independent alternative therapists are generally not reimbursed.

  • Restricted hospital comfort: With Lamal, it is limited to a common room in a public hospital in its canton of residence. Access to semi -relieved or private rooms, ensuring better intimacy and greater comfort, causes significant costs not covered by Lamal.

  • Low medical transport repayments: Ambulance costs are reimbursed to only 50%, with a modest annual roof (500 CHF). This often leaves important invoices payable by patients.

  • Lack of coverage abroad: Lamal does not cover medical attention abroad outside the emergencies limited to Swiss prices, which can be very insufficient, particularly in case of regular trips or prolonged stays abroad.

These defects explain why more than two thirds of Swiss insured people today choose complementary to strengthen their protection.

Complementary insurance: a complete response to health needs

Complementary health insurance effectively fill the deficiencies mentioned above by offering a wide range of personalized services, such as:

  • Dental care: Refund of current dental expenses (orthodontics, implants, aesthetic attention) not backed by Lamal.

  • Extended alternative medicine: Access to a wide range of natural and alternative therapies, such as homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, without an obligation to use exclusively for convenient doctors.

  • The free choice of the hospital and the doctor: Access to any establishment or specialist in Switzerland, even abroad, without restriction of Canton, to benefit from the best possible attention.

  • Private or Semiprivated Rooms in the Hospital: Support for costs that allow a better comfort in the hospital, with more careful attention.

  • Complete International Coverage: Indispensable for expatriates, frequent travelers or partial residents abroad, this coverage offers administration of medical care abroad, as well as emergency repatriations.

  • Varied additional services: Aptitude costs, specific aesthetic care, contraception or even home attendance after hospitalization.

Tax and Tax Economy: Additional financial interest

Choosing a complement can also represent a great financial interest. For example, by increasing its deductible in mandatory insurance (moving from a Chf 300 franchise to Chf 2,500), the insured saves on average Chf 1’440 per year. Part of these savings can be reinvested in a complementary one, which allows to benefit from extensive coverage without a significant increase in the total health insurance budget.

Admission conditions: the medical questionnaire and reservations

Unlike mandatory health insurance, access to additional insurance is not guaranteed and depends on your health status at the time of registration. Each insurer uses a medical questionnaire to evaluate potential risks. According to the results:

  • Your application can be completely accepted,

  • It can be accepted with certain reservations (exclusion of certain pre -existing conditions),

  • Or even be rejected.

Therefore, it is advisable to consider these insurance as soon as possible, when the state of health is optimal, to ensure sustainable and advantageous coverage.

How to choose the best additional health insurance?

There is no unique answer to this question. Several criteria must be taken into account:

  • Your personal needs (alternative medicine, dental care, international coverage, etc.).

  • Your available budget.

  • The reputation and financial solidity of the insurer.

  • The opinions of the insured and independent evaluations (Helsana, CSS, Visana, Mutuel, Assura, Swica, etc.).

Compared market offers regularly are essential. Specialized services such as those offered by Romandia Partner allow you to quickly identify the most appropriate offer for your personal situation.

Conclusion: Why opt for additional health insurance in 2025?

Given the obvious deficiencies of Lamal, subscribing additional insurance becomes a logical option to guarantee complete medical coverage adapted to their needs. Not only fills the financial and practical limits of mandatory insurance, but also offers essential tranquility in a context where health costs constantly increase.

In Romandia Partner, we support you to choose the most advantageous additional health insurance, adapted precisely to your profile and your budget.

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