Hospital Insurance Private: What Does It Mean?

1. What does privately insured mean?

Privately insured means: you have a hospital supplementary insurance that covers the single room and the chief physician treatment during an inpatient hospital stay. It counts among the highest level of supplementary insurance in Switzerland.

The term comes from room choice: privately insured persons receive a single room with maximum privacy. So "private", the highest of the three levels above semi-private (twin room) and the general ward (multi-bed room). Compared to the basic insurance of Swiss insurers, the scope of benefits additionally comprises maximum comfort, free choice of doctor with chief physician treatment and hospital choice Switzerland-wide including private clinics.

At conclusion, the insurer examines the health condition. The health questionnaire decides on admission and conditions. With existing illnesses, policy restrictions or rejection are possible.

2. Which benefits does the private hospital insurance cover?

The exact benefits differ between insurer and tariff. Privately insured persons usually have entitlement to:

• Single room: You receive a single room with maximum privacy.
• Free choice of doctor with chief physician: Treatment by chief physician, senior physicians or visiting doctors.
• Switzerland-wide hospital choice including private clinics: Prerequisite is a tariff contract between hospital and insurer.
• Medical second opinion: Entitlement to second assessment before larger interventions.
• Co-determination right for elective interventions: You plan operation dates together.
• Extended hotel services: À la carte meals, transfer and rooming-in depending on tariff.
• Abroad coverage: Contributions to emergency treatments abroad, with tariff limit.

3. Advantages and disadvantages of the private hospital insurance

Whether the private hospital insurance pays off depends on personal needs. The following points help with the decision:

Advantages

• Single room with maximum privacy
• Free choice of doctor with treatment by chief physician
• Switzerland-wide hospital choice including private clinics
• Entitlement to medical second opinion
• Co-determination right for operation dates
• Extended comfort and service benefits
• Abroad coverage for emergency treatments

Disadvantages

• Highest monthly premium of all three hospital models
• Obligation for health questionnaire before conclusion, admission not guaranteed
• Policy restrictions possible with existing illnesses
• Premium rises strongly with age (three- to fourfold between 30 and 65 usual)
• Single room without guarantee at full occupancy
• Possible waiting periods for maternity benefits (often 270 to 365 days)
• Hospital choice limited to hospital list of the insurer

The hospital supplementary insurance exists in three models: private with single room and chief physician treatment, semi-private with twin room and senior physician treatment as well as Flex with freedom of choice during hospital stay and own share at upgrade.

4. What does a private hospital insurance cost?

The premium depends on the following factors:

• Age at conclusion
• Canton of residence
• Insurer and tariff
• Gender (in some tariffs)
• Chosen deductible in basic insurance

Reference values 2026 by age:

Besides the premium, providers also differ in hospital list, private clinics selection and abroad coverage. The premiums rise significantly with age, often by three- to fourfold between age 30 and 65.

This article was first published on 14/02/2026