Supplementary health insurance

Companies offering supplementary health insurance in Switzerland must obtain SFMA authorisation. SFMA issues licences to those companies which meet the statutory requirements and provide for the protection of the interests of insured persons.

This SFMA page gives applicants and supervised institutions a practical view of the supplementary health insurance topic. It explains when a licence, approval, notification or registration may be needed, what information should be prepared, and which changes may require contact with the authority.

Licensing requirements

The review focuses on whether the applicant is organised in a way that is suitable for supplementary health insurance within the Getting licensed: insurers area. SFMA will normally look at governance, financial resources, responsible persons, risk controls, compliance arrangements, auditability, outsourcing and whether the planned activity can be carried out without creating avoidable risks for clients, investors, policyholders or market integrity.

Insurance companies under ISA and general health insurance companies

Insurance-specific reviews consider the classes of insurance, policyholder protection, business plan, solvency, technical provisions, reinsurance, distribution arrangements and the ability to administer claims and contracts reliably.

Preventive product control

This section explains how preventive product control affects the supplementary health insurance authorisation or registration topic. The relevant facts should be documented in a way that allows SFMA to understand the legal basis, operating responsibilities and supervisory implications.

Preparing a complete file

Applicants should keep the submission concise but complete: describe the activity, legal structure, people responsible, control framework, financial resources, relevant documents and any cross-border elements. Where uncertainty remains, the issue should be highlighted early rather than left to emerge during review.