This applies to your health insurance if you join the military
Anyone performing military service, civilian service or civil defence service may suspend their health insurance
You’ve got your marching orders and you’re going into the military? During military training (RS) or an assignment in civilian service or civil defence, you are insured against illness and accident through the Swiss federal military insurance (Suva) and can pause your basic insurance – this is also known as a suspension. The advantage: you do not pay any premiums during this time.
How to suspend your basic insurance
You are performing military service in the army, civilian service or civil defence service and your deployment takes place on at least 60 consecutive days.
In order to suspend your basic insurance during military service, civilian service or civil defence service, we require the following proof:
- Copy of your marching orders: Please send your marching orders via mySympany, by E-Mail or by post to Sympany, Peter Merian-Weg 4, CH-4002 Basel.
- Change to length of service: Please send us confirmation from your commander as soon as possible.
- For missions without a marching order, e.g. peace support, please send us your training or employment contract.
Questions and answers about health insurance during military service, civilian service or civil defence
If your deployment lasts less than 60 consecutive days (e.g. for a refresher course), you are also insured with Suva through the Swiss federal military insurance. However, it is not legally possible to suspend basic insurance, so you will continue to pay your premium. This also applies to civilian service and civil defence.
If you terminate your military service, civilian service or civil defence service so that it lasts for less than 60 consecutive days, the suspension of your health insurance will be cancelled and the premiums due for this period will then be charged to you.
This happens automatically when you end your military service, civilian service or civil defence service – you don’t have to do anything. Your marching order indicates from when to when you will be on duty. We will arrange the suspension of your health insurance for precisely this period. This means that when you return from the military, your military insurance ends and you can rely on your health insurance again.
If you receive medical benefits during military service, civilian service or civil defence service – for example, if you go to the doctor – Swiss federal military insurance (Suva) will cover the costs. You will not receive any benefits from basic insurance during this period.
Service providers (e.g. medical practices, hospitals, etc.) are legally obliged to report your treatment to the military insurance. Normally, service providers submit their invoices directly to the military insurance and you do not receive a reimbursement receipt. If you do receive one, please submit it to the military insurance company.
The costs of accidents are also covered by military insurance.
No. Your supplementary insurance policies are also active during your military service, civilian service or civil defence service and pay benefits that are not covered by military insurance. For example, military insurance covers the costs of a stay in the general ward of the hospital. If you have semi-private insurance and would prefer to lie in a two-bed room, you can rely on your supplementary insurance. In this case, please send your invoices to the military insurance company and Sympany.
Military insurance is more than just health insurance – it covers several types of insurance. Similarly to health insurance, it covers medical treatment and aids for insured persons, as well as care allowances and transport costs. It also covers damage to property in connection with the impairment to health – for example, to clothing, glasses or other items brought with you. The daily allowance and pension are also included in military insurance.
All information on military insurance and its benefits can be found at Suva (in German).
No, you do not pay any premiums during military service, civilian service or civil defence – either for basic insurance or for military insurance. Only professionally insured persons, i.e. professional military personnel, time officers and instructors, pay premiums for military insurance. You are permanently insured there.
Military insurance remains active in certain cases even after completion of military training, in particular if health consequences are directly attributable to completed military service – even if you are once again covered by your civil health insurance.
If, after your service, you discover health problems that arose during your time in the military, you can make a claim. This means that even after the end of service, military insurance covers the costs of treatments that are attributable to health impairments suffered during service. This is particularly relevant for long-term effects that only become visible after service. Important: keep all medical records in a safe place.
Facts and figures about the military and health insurance
- Military insurance helps to protect the health of service providers and to prevent them and their civilian health insurance from incurring financial burdens. It is specifically designed to take account of the special circumstances and risks of military service.
- There are around 23 military training schools in Switzerland. Every year, around 15,000–20,000 recruits start at military training school, which usually lasts 18 weeks.
- If you are ill or injured, you do not pay any cost contribution (franchise or deductible) for military insurance.
