Does the Insurer Pay Yoga, Pilates and Sauna?

1. Are costs for yoga covered by the insurer?

Mandatory basic insurance pays no share of yoga courses. For cost participation, a supplementary insurance with a tariff for prevention or health promotion is needed. This covers a part of the costs up to a maximum amount.

How much the insurer covers depends on the chosen tariff. Premium packages often also cover individual coaching. The insurer pays against presentation of the course proof and the payment receipt.

For cost coverage, supplementary insurance places certain demands on yoga courses. Some keep lists with recognised providers; others require a quality label such as Qualitop, QualiCert, Fitness-Guide, the Yoga-Switzerland label of the professional association or the EMR quality label for complementary medicine. The certification status of your desired course you clarify directly with the provider or your insurer.

2. Pilates and the insurer: how much does the insurance cover?

Pilates is likewise not covered by basic insurance in Switzerland. Supplementary insurance with prevention tariff usually pays Pilates courses in the same framework as yoga lessons. Also reformer Pilates, pelvic floor courses as well as postpartum recovery courses fall under cost participation in many tariffs.

The insurers require a recognised quality certification. Which labels are accepted differs per insurer and can vary within the same studio chain from branch to branch.

Pilates in the fitness studio

Pilates often runs as a group course in the fitness studio. It pays off to ask at one's own studio about certified hours. If the studio has a Qualitop or QualiCert certification, many insurers additionally participate in the fitness subscription itself.

More about the fitness subscription

Fitness subscription: what does the insurer pay?

Which insurer pays the fitness studio? The detail page shows the overview of the maximum cost participations for 14 Swiss providers, explains the recognised certification labels and names the most important conditions so that the insurer co-finances the subscription.

3. Are sauna and wellness covered by the insurer?

Sauna and wellness count as health-promoting measures. Many preventive supplementary insurance products participate in this, but only up to a maximum amount and mostly as part of a fitness or wellness tariff. Pure wellness stays without medical prescription are barely covered.

Anyone who wants to insure yoga, Pilates and sauna in combination finds with many insurers bundle tariffs that also cover complementary medicine and a fitness subscription. Which insurer offers the suitable tariff depends on the canton of residence and the benefits combination. The health insurance comparison shows which providers come into consideration in your region.

This article was first published on 16/02/2026