Our top recommendations for optimal insurance cover during military or civil service
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Your mandatory basic insurance can be suspended if you perform military, civil or civil protection service for 60 or more consecutive days.
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Submit your request to suspend your basic health insurance at least eight weeks before your start your service.
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For longer periods of military or civil service, it is worth reviewing your insurance cover to make sure you are well protected but not overinsured.
The right insurance solutions for your military service
Military insurance replaces compulsory health and accident insurance during periods of military, civil or civil protection service. This means that the benefits under your basic insurance or under accident insurance are not available during this period, and are replaced by military insurance, which is managed by SUVA on behalf of the Federal Government.
Good to know
If you perform 60 consecutive days of military, civil or civil protection service, you can suspend your basic insurance and your premium payments are waived.
Mandatory health insurance provides you with sound basic medical care that is reliable and comprehensive.
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Visits to physicians and medical treatment
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Medications according to the schedule of benefits
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Hospital stays (general ward)
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Emergency care in Switzerland and abroad
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Check-ups
Outpatient supplementary insurance is also recommended for more lengthy periods of military or civil service.
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Contributions for glasses and contact lenses
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Gym memberships and other sport-related offers
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Dental treatment or orthodontic corrective work
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Vacanza travel insurance included
Military insurance covers the costs of general ward treatment in the event of a hospital stay.
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More comfort and privacy in a single or double room
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Treatment by chief physician in hospital
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Access to all acute-care hospitals in Switzerland
The Swiss National Accident Insurance Fund (SUVA) administers military insurance on behalf of the Federal Government. Key facts about military insurance:
- Military insurance covers all persons performing military, civil protection or civil service. However, this also includes persons participating in recruitment procedures, extraordinary shooting drills, deployments of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit as well as foreign peacekeeping operations of the Federal Government.
- You are still covered by military insurance even if you do not suspend your basic insurance with Visana.
- You are insured for the entire duration of your military, civil protection or civil service. This includes travel to and from service as well as periods of general and personal leave.
- Military insurance does not involve any cost contribution such as a retention fee or deductible. It is therefore important to ensure that invoices for any benefits received during the period of service are sent to military insurance.
Comprehensive information concerning military insurance and the related benefits can be found on the SUVA website.
How to suspend your basic insurance
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Send in a copy of your call-up notice or service order by email or post – Visana has to receive it at least eight weeks in advance.
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Visana suspends billing and temporarily pauses basic insurance benefits during this period.
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Basic insurance is automatically reactivated by Visana after the period of service has been completed.
Your advantages at a glance
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Before, during and after military service
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Insurance for all of life’s situations
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A decision that pays off – Wellness Cheques and myPoints from Visana
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With the Visana app
We will be happy to provide a no-obligation explanation of the advantages of the various types of insurance.
Useful services for you
Cleverly insured, optimally supported. These services assist you:
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Frequently asked questions concerning insurance during military or civil service
The insurance products that are right for you will always depend on your personal needs.
However, it is generally worth maintaining comprehensive cover, comprising the following types of insurance, during your military service:
- Basic insurance: You will retain your compulsory basic insurance. However, you can suspend it once you have completed 60 days of service.
- Top-up insurance: Is also recommended while you are doing military service, firstly so you can get contributions towards the cost of items such glasses, contact lenses or sporting activities, and secondly, so that you have greater flexibility of choice if you have to spend time in hospital.
Military insurance covers you for health issues that occur while you are performing military service or during deployment, irrespective of whether the issues were caused by an accident or by illness. It also covers you for loss of earnings resulting from your health issues.
Full information on the benefits provided by military insurance can be found on the website of Suva, which runs the military insurance scheme on behalf of the Confederation.
If your service is less than 60 consecutive days, you are insured with Suva under the Confederation’s military insurance scheme, as you would be for a longer period of duty. The only difference is that you cannot suspend your basic insurance for the shorter period. This means you will continue to pay your basic insurance premiums.
We recommend that you keep your top-up insurance while you’re doing your service. This is because your top-up insurance will pay for benefits not covered by military insurance. These include, for example, contributions to your gym membership or other exercise courses, glasses and contact lenses, or private or semi-private hospital wards.
Send a copy of your call-up papers or marching orders to your agency by post or email no less than eight weeks before you commence your service. Visana suspends billing and pauses basic insurance benefits while you are performing your service. Visana will reactivate your basic insurance at the end of your period of service.
Military insurance covers you for accidents that occur while you are doing military service. It covers treatment and recovery costs, as well as any pension benefits, and will continue to do so after your time in the military, particularly if the impact on your health is directly attributable to your military service.
The army medical service will provide initial on-site care if you have an accident while performing military service. You will be transferred to a civilian or military hospital if this is necessary. Military insurance will pay all treatment costs, regardless of where you receive treatment.
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