Alternative and complementary medicine
What does health insurance cover?
Naturopathic treatments are popular. However, basic insurance only contributes to the costs for a few methods and under certain conditions. It therefore makes sense to take out supplementary insurance.
From pain and allergies to nervousness and sleep problems, complementary and alternative medicine therapies are used to treat all kinds of ailments and are in high demand:
- This was shown by the 2022 Swiss Health Survey, in which around 30% of respondents stated that they had used a complementary medicine method in the previous year.
- They were most commonly used for neck and back pain.
Supplementary insurance protects against high costs
The benefits of basic insurance are limited when it comes to complementary and alternative medicine. Accordingly, there is a high risk of gaps in cover – areas with no or only insufficient cover from basic insurance.
Fortunately, however, there is a cure for high treatment costs: With supplementary outpatient insurance from Sympany, you ensure that you do not have to pay for recognised complementary medical treatments on your own.
Complementary medicine: What does insurance cover?
Here you will find answers to relevant questions about benefits and covering costs under basic or supplementary insurance:
Basic insurance covers the costs of treatments in these five areas of complementary medicine:
- Acupuncture
- Anthroposophic medicine
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pharmacotherapy
- Classical homoeopathy
- Phytotherapy (herbal medicine)
The treatment must be provided by a doctor with appropriate training and it must be medically necessary.
Important:
- Even if basic insurance covers treatment, policyholders must contribute to the costs via the franchise and deductible.
- Basic insurance does not cover any costs for treatment by doctors without appropriate training or by alternative medicine therapists or for any other complementary medicine methods.
Whether you regularly rely on alternative medicine or just want to supplement conventional medical treatment in special cases, supplementary outpatient insurance covers a wide range of complementary medicine methods and medications and is valid for all Sympany-recognised therapists.
The benefits vary depending on whether you choose plus or premium. Advanced treatment methods and even higher benefits can be insured with the natura supplement.
Covering costs for recognised methods
- plus: 50% of the costs, max. CHF 3,000 per calendar year
- premium: 50% of the costs, max. CHF 6,000 per calendar year
- plus natura: 80% of the costs, max. CHF 6,000 per calendar year
- premium natura: 80% of the costs, max. CHF 10,000 per calendar year
Covering costs for advanced treatment methods
- plus natura: 50% of the costs, max. CHF 1,000 per calendar year
- premium natura: 50% of the costs, max. CHF 2,000 per calendar year
Covering costs for remedies
- plus: 80% of the costs, max. CHF 3,000 per calendar year
- premium: 80% of the costs, max. CHF 6,000 per calendar year
- plus natura: 80% of the costs, max. CHF 6,000 per calendar year
- premium natura: 80% of the costs, max. CHF 10,000 per calendar year
Alternative medicine methods >
Please also see the Information on cost coverage >
Conclusion: Compare what's covered
Supplementary outpatient insurance is a cost-effective option for filling existing gaps in basic insurance cover. Get advice and compare what's covered:
Useful information
Alternative treatment methods: How they differ from conventional medicine
Conventional medicine examines symptoms and physical changes and relies on scientifically researched treatments that have been proven to be effective.
Complementary or alternative medicine takes an individual and holistic approach. It also considers, for example, the living circumstances and the background of a disease. Complementary or alternative medicine methods are considered to be gentler and intend to activate the self-healing powers. There is often no scientific proof that they are effective.
Complementary and alternative medicine are (almost) the same thing
As a rule, both terms refer to the same methods. However, the terms express a different understanding. Anyone who talks about complementary medicine primarily sees it as a supplement to conventional medicine. Alternative medicine, on the other hand, is seen as an alternative and therefore a replacement for traditional medicine. Sympany uses the two terms as synonyms.
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