Here's how much health insurance companies pay for your gym membership

Are you wondering if your health insurance covers the cost of your gym membership? Good news: Many Swiss insurers do contribute to the cost of your gym membership. However, you’ll need supplemental insurance for this, as basic insurance generally does not cover gym costs.

The amount covered varies widely and differs significantly depending on the provider and product. With the right supplemental insurance, you can receive between CHF 50 and CHF 1,300 per year toward your gym membership—a significant difference that’s definitely worth looking into.

How does insurance coverage for gyms work?

Requirements for a refund

To qualify for coverage, you must meet a few basic requirements. First, you need supplemental insurance through your health insurance provider that covers fitness services. Second, you need a membership at an approved fitness center. Many insurers only recognize gyms that are certified by Qualitop, QualiCert, or Fitness-Guide, or that are registered with university sports organizations.

The gym membership must also have a minimum term. In most cases, this is at least a six-month membership, though some insurers accept as little as three months. A few insurers even require a doctor’s note confirming that the exercise is medically advisable (for example, to prevent back problems).

Submission and Payment

The reimbursement process is simple. You collect your receipts and subscription confirmations and submit them to your insurer—via the app, online portal, or by mail. The insurer then checks to make sure everything meets the requirements and transfers the reimbursement to your bank account, which usually happens within a few weeks.

Generally, you don't need to provide proof of your visits to the gym. All you need is your membership confirmation and payment receipt. So you can sign up for a membership without actually using it (though we wouldn't recommend that).

How much do health insurance companies cover for a gym membership?

The following table provides a comprehensive overview of the largest Swiss health insurers and their coverage for fitness costs:

An Overview of the Most Generous Insurers

1. SWICA tops the list and, with its combination of COMPLETA FORTE, COMPLETA PRAEVENTA, and OPTIMA, offers the highest total coverage of up to CHF 1,300 per year.
2. CSS is also very generous. With the Premium Health Account, CSS reimburses you 50% of the costs up to CHF 500 per year—and when combined with other health promotion benefits, this can amount to up to CHF 1,200 per year. That’s an excellent rate for your fitness training.
3. With its COMPLETA EXTRA insurance plan, Helsana offers up to CHF 800 per calendar year for all areas of health promotion combined (fitness, back training, classes, nutrition, relaxation). When combined with COMPLETA and COMPLETA PLUS, you can receive benefits comparable to those offered by CSS.
4. With Sanitas VITAL PREMIUM, you can receive up to CHF 400 for gym memberships and classes, with a total subsidy of up to CHF 800 per year for all health-related activities.
5. With its wellness vouchers, Visana offers up to CHF 350 per year—a solid option with a high degree of flexibility.

The more budget-friendly options

Not all insurers are that generous. Here's where you'll get the least money for your gym membership:

1. KPT's Pulse Eco plan covers up to CHF 50 per year. That's significantly less, but it's still enough for a small contribution.
2. Innova limits the subsidy to 75% up to a maximum of CHF 250—a good compromise.
3. Sumiswalder offers different insurance tiers: from CHF 100 (general) to CHF 300 (private) per year.

List of all providers

Here is an overview of all Swiss health insurance providers, including product names, coverage details, and the requirements for receiving reimbursement for your fitness expenses:

*Discontinued product: No longer available for purchase, but existing customers will continue to receive service.

**Only with the "Lifecycle" option

***With the "Lifecycle" option: +50% up to a maximum of CHF 100 per year

****Multiple wellness options (e.g., fitness + sauna) can be combined up to CHF 500.

How much can you save with the right supplemental insurance?

An average annual gym membership in Switzerland costs between CHF 1,200 and CHF 1,500. With comprehensive supplemental insurance, you can save:

Example 1: With SWICA COMPLETA FORTE

• Annual gym membership fee: CHF 1,200
• SWICA covers: 90% up to CHF 300 (or more for saunas/baths)
• Your savings: up to CHF 300 or more
• You pay yourself: starting at CHF 900

Example 2: With CSS Health Account Premium

• Annual gym membership fee: CHF 1,200
• CSS covers: 50% up to CHF 500
• Your savings: CHF 500
• You pay yourself: starting at CHF 700

Example 3: With Sanitas VITAL SMART

• Annual gym membership fee: CHF 1,200
• Sanitas covers: 50% up to CHF 200
• Your savings: CHF 200
• You pay yourself: starting at CHF 1,000

What's particularly interesting is that most of these supplemental insurance plans cover not only the gym membership itself, but also fitness classes, yoga, Pilates, and other health-promoting activities. This means you can spread your budget across multiple activities.

Key requirements of individual insurers

There are a few important details you should keep in mind to ensure you actually benefit from the coverage:

Fitness Center Certification
: Most insurers only recognize certified fitness centers. Your gym must be certified by Qualitop, QualiCert, Fitness-Guide, or a university sports organization. Some insurers, such as Visana, also accept fitness plans through platforms like Fitpass or myClubs.

Subscription Duration
: While most insurers require a minimum six-month subscription, others, such as KPT, also accept three-month subscriptions or even 10 individual gym visits. This gives you more flexibility if you don't want to commit long-term.

Doctor's Prescription
: At innova, a one-time medical confirmation is required stating that fitness training is medically advisable—for example, to prevent back problems or injuries. This requirement is not standard practice with other insurers.

Financial Limits
: Pay attention to the limits for each category or for all categories combined. With CSS, for example, you can receive up to CHF 500 per year for the fitness category, but no more than CHF 700 in total from your health account for all categories (family, fitness, exercise, miscellaneous).

When is it worth getting supplemental insurance for fitness?

Supplemental insurance to cover gym expenses is generally a good idea for anyone who goes to the gym regularly. However, you should factor the cost of the supplemental insurance into your decision.

Scenario 1: You go to the gym regularly
. If you work out at least 2–3 times a week and sign up for an annual membership (approx. CHF 1,200), a supplemental insurance plan with an annual benefit of CHF 200–500 might be worth considering. Compare this to the supplemental insurance premium, and you’ll quickly see whether it’s worth taking out.

Scenario 2: You combine multiple health-related expenses
. If you need to cover not only gym costs but also yoga, physical therapy, or other health-promoting activities, supplemental insurance is often more cost-effective, as the coverage is spread across multiple areas.

Scenario 3: You only need occasional support
. If you only go to the gym occasionally, a more budget-friendly option like KPT Pulse Eco might be sufficient.

Conclusion: The best supplemental insurance for your gym

Whether supplementary insurance for your gym is worth it depends on several factors: how often you work out, the cost of your membership, the amount of the supplementary insurance premium, and your other health needs.

The most generous insurers are clearly SWICA, CSS, and Helsana. They offer up to CHF 1,300 per year for gym memberships and health promotion activities.

For an average gym budget of CHF 1,200 per year, you should aim for supplemental insurance with an annual benefit of at least CHF 200–300. This will still cover 17–25% of the costs.

Important: Always compare the premiums of different supplemental insurance plans with the benefits they offer. A lower premium with fewer benefits can end up costing more than a higher premium with greater coverage—especially if you go to the gym regularly.

The best approach: Use a health insurance comparison tool, contact your insurer directly, and calculate your personal savings. That way, you’ll make the right choice for your health—and your wallet.

Note: The information in this article was researched in November 2025. The exact benefits and requirements are subject to change. Please check the current terms and conditions directly with your insurer or on their website.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gym Memberships and Supplemental Insurance