A new zero-index metasurface (ZIM) structure is proposed to improve the bandwidth and gain of the microstrip patch antenna. A single-sided 8 x 8 set of metasurface elements is embedded over the radiating patch to enhance the performance of a coaxial probe fed slotted circular patch antenna. The proposed ZIM cover-assimilated antenna were designed on a high permittivity (epsilon(r) = 15) ceramic-filled bio-plastic sandwich structured dielectric substrate and fabricated for experimental verification of the performance characteristics. A significant improvement of bandwidths and gains of the proposed antenna were observed by incorporating the metasurface cover over the radiating patch with the gap of 10 mm. The experimental results showed that the bandwidths of the proposed metasurface-covered antenna widened by 54.5%, 68.5% and 61.1% and gains also improved by 133.40%, 73.30% and 72.06% at three resonant frequencies, namely, 3.7 GHz, 8.95 GHz and 10.3 GHz, respectively, compared to the patch alone. The performance characteristics of the proposed ZIM cover-incorporated antenna make it suitable for ultra-wideband (3.4-4 GHz, 6.45-8.2 GHz and 10.0-10.9 GHz) applications. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.