If you have SGK and want to be treated at private hospitals, there are two routes. They cost very different amounts and work in genuinely different ways.
How each one works
| Complementary health | Private health | |
|---|---|---|
| Requires SGK | Yes — it does not work without it | No |
| Hospital network | Contracted with SGK and the insurer | Wider, insurer's own network |
| Who pays | SGK first, policy covers the difference | The policy carries the cost |
| Relative cost | Noticeably lower | Higher |
| Treatments SGK does not recognise | Generally not covered | May be covered |
How to choose
Start from the hospitals, not the price. Write down the two or three hospitals you would realistically go to, then check whether they are in the network. A complementary policy that excludes your nearest private hospital is cheap for a reason.
If you do not have SGK — or your employment status is about to change — complementary cover is not an option at all, because it only functions as a top-up.
For foreign nationals there is a third consideration: a residence permit application requires health insurance that meets a particular standard. Not every policy qualifies, so say at the outset that this is what the cover is for.
Questions worth asking before you sign
- Which hospitals near me are in the network, by name?
- Is outpatient treatment included, and how many visits per year?
- What waiting periods apply, and to what?
- How is my existing medical history being treated — excluded, loaded, or accepted?
- What happens to the policy if I change job and my SGK status changes?