English Forum Switzerland - View Single Post - VHI global (Irish health insurance) [experience with? approved?]

Blonaybear · #12 05.07.2007, 12:11

	Quote:	telandy
	We had no problem with BUPA at all, worked really well here with a family, which has included hospital stays. I just think that the Swiss should be open to other medical companies who are not based in CH. Do we really live on an island? It is my point of view, thats all. I do now have Swiss insurance, which we took based on the view that we plan to be here for the foreseeable future, however for people on short term contracts of 1-2 years then I would certainly look at the options, which may include medical insurance outside of CH. It worked for us in the time we had it and felt confident that we had the support. One issue that I have heard time and time again is that if you are a non Swiss speaker then it can be quite daunting, since most of the forms and information is written in the three main national languages and information in English is limited.

While the idea of having an insurer that is not based in CH sounds very simple it is, of course, far more complex than would at first appear.
Firstly consider that all the funds would be crossing a border to the insurer and then coming back again. There would be no local service and the insurer would have to have staff with the languages and qualifications to deal with LAMAL and operate the TarMed system. All the day-to-day contacts with the clients, cantons, communes, hospitals, doctors etc etc would all be more difficult and costly. There’s a lot more that could be said but suffice it to say that it’s just not a practical proposition.
Also consider that a Swiss krankenkasse or caisse maladie is a very different entity to a company like BUPA. A Swiss company does not make, and cannot change, the policy conditions and the premiums it charges have to be approved. It cannot refuse anyone because of their medical condition and cannot refuse to renew their policy or increase their premium because they are, or become, a bad risk. The companies are supervised by the Federal Office of Public Health (in English).
If BUPA had to operate under these conditions it would be very different indeed and I doubt that it would want to enter the Swiss system any time soon! (See this article about UK private health insurance). I’ve tried to keep this reasonably brief and just cover the basics but I hope it helps to clarify things.
I am a great fan of the Swiss system as, unfortunately, I have had first hand experience of just how good it is. A member of my family who had an excellent health record and lived a ideal healthy life style had a tumor on her spinal cord. A major operation, 3 months in rehab and now 50% disabled. The annual cost of drugs, a special high tech implant to control pain etc is about CHF 12,000. Total cost so far probably exceeds CHF 200,000 and growing. All the bills have been paid without question, the service has been superb and we have no worries that her premium may be loaded or cover refused.
Regarding having forms in English, being a contract it has to be in the language of the local court. I suppose information could be published in English but it would obviously add to the costs of health care and a lot of people would object to that. I take the view that I’ve chosen to live here and it’s up to me to adapt to that.