Complementary top-up insurance at a glance
Alternative medicine consists of therapies such as homeopathy, acupuncture or traditional Chinese medicine that have no affiliation with conventional medicine. They focus on people in their entirety rather than only on individual symptoms. The term derives from the fact that they are used to complement conventional medicine, but they can also be used as an alternative to conventional medicine.
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Complementary top-up insurance is the ideal add-on to basic insurance if you wish to include alternative treatments. There is a choice of three benefit levels to suit every budget and need.
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Visana recognises a comprehensive choice of therapists, naturopathic doctors and naturopathic practitioners.
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Coverage for complementary medicines.
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Complementary top-up insurance gives you a choice of three levels: Complementary I, II and III. Each level offers a different scope of choice of recognised complementary doctor or therapist and different benefit amounts.
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The services covered by top-up insurance for complementary medicine are provided in Switzerland and neighbouring countries (within 100 km of the Swiss border). The same contributions are paid towards emergency treatment by state-recognised doctors and therapists outside Switzerland.
Top-up insurance for alternative medicine: the three benefit levels compared
Compare the scope of benefits available for our top-up insurance for complementary medicine and find the right protection for you:
Discounts
You can use the following options to save on your premiums:
You get a 50% discount on top-up insurance premiums for your second child and every additional child in your family who is insured with Visana. You will receive this discount until your child turns 18.
Get a premium discount of 2% or 3% respectively when you sign a three- or five-year contract for Outpatient top-up insurance. In addition, collect points worth up to CHF 120 a year in our digital myPoints bonus programme when you sign up.
Is top-up insurance for alternative medicine right for you?
Visana’s Complementary top-up insurance is suitable for you if you:
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want to make use of alternative treatment methods such as acupuncture, homeopathy or osteopathy and receive financial support with this.
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attach importance to holistic medical care and prefer complementary therapy to conventional medicine.
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use complementary medicines and want help with the costs.
How top-up insurance for alternative medicine works
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You cannot access benefits under Complementary I top-up insurance unless you have a medical prescription.
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Before you start treatment, consult our list of therapists or your agency to find out whether the therapist you want for your treatment is recognised by Visana. Visana will only reimburse you for the services of non-recognised therapists if you take out Complementary III insurance.
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Once you have completed treatment, send us your invoice. If you have Complementary I insurance, you will also need to send us a copy of your medical prescription.
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Visana will automatically check if you are entitled to a cost contribution from your complementary medicine top-up insurance.
Your advantages with Visana complementary insurance
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Covers alternative therapies; three flexible benefit levels
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Access to many Visana-assessed therapists, naturopathic doctors and naturopathic practitioners
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Cost coverage for alternative medicinal products and preparations
We will be happy to take the time to explain the advantages of the various top-up insurance products to you at no obligation.
Useful services for you
Having good insurance is half the battle. These services assist you:
See at a glance which benefits your basic insurance covers and what additional advantages our top-up insurance models offer.
You can easily upload invoices and reimbursement receipts via the myVisana app or myVisana customer portal.
With ‘Emergency-Finder’, you are optimally equipped in critical medical situations. This app helps you to assess your symptoms correctly and shows you the nearest emergency ward in real time, along with its current capacity.
The cost-free service is available in the City of Bern and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Insurance that complements this product
Frequently asked questions about top-up insurance for alternative medicine
Alternative medicine includes methods such as:
- Acupuncture
- Ayurvedic medicine
- Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
- Osteopathy
- Kinesiology
- Homeopathy
- Shiatsu
Not all methods in the domain of alternative medicine are recognised by Visana. All Visana-recognised methods can be found in the exhaustive list of recognised forms of therapy.
Please note that benefits for complementary medicine are only provided if the respective therapists and naturopathic practitioners are recognised by Visana.
Conventional medicine is based on scientifically tested methods and applied in hospitals, as well as at doctors’ practices. It focuses on treating symptoms and illnesses.
Alternative or complementary medicine takes a holistic approach to the body, mind and spirit. It is often used to complement conventional medicine, for instance, in cases of chronic symptoms.
When conventional and alternative medicine are combined, this is known as “integrative medicine”.
Basic insurance covers the costs of alternative medicine if the treatments are carried out by doctors who are qualified specialists and have completed further training in complementary medicine. However, only five treatments are covered and the costs are also offset against your deductible.
For treatments carried out by therapists who are not trained as doctors, you either need top-up insurance, or have to cover the costs yourself.
This depends on the chosen top-up insurance model. With Complementary I, a doctor’s prescription is required. With top-up insurance models Complementary II and III, treatment is also possible without a doctor’s prescription.
However, the costs are only covered if the treatment is a recognised form of therapy, carried out by a Visana-recognised doctor, naturopathic practitioner or therapist.
Downloads
Conditions of insurance
Overview of benefits
Prescriptions and forms of therapy
