Hello all,

I don't recall this subject being discussed before so I thought I'd start a thread.

I have totally maxed out my CH2k Franchise over the last 4 months! and I am now in a situation where basically any medical related bill will theoratically be paid by the insurance (at least the majority of them). So I want to take advantage of this and was wondering if there is any medical related check up I should ask for that would otherwise require me to pay through the nose again once the new year starts.

Any recommendations are welcome, I will be arranging an appointment with the doctor anyway over the next few days and ask him for a full Swiss MOT / MFK!

Cheers,

TLD

Hmmm, no wonder then!?!

Don't forget you'll still have to pay 10% of the bills up until you've paid another 700CHF! (I'm pretty sure about this but not 100%)

Yes you're quite right... It's called the 'quote-part' in French speaking Switzerland. I'm in the position (for the second year running) of having passed my franchise and my quote-part... my goal for next year being to avoid any hospital stays so that doesn't happen again!

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any check ups... do you have any medication you take regularly?

I thought I might have to pay something as well, but I have a complimentary insurance where they pay 100% of the amount over the franchise amount which I'm going to ask them about today.
They're closed for an hour and a half over lunch though! So I have to wait...

I don't take any long term medication so was just thinking of things like doing blood tests, and making sure everything is still honkey dory as otherwise these test would cost a lot otherwise...

Please excuse me if I'm wrong.... but I think you're a bloke?
So you could ask for a full MOT, consisting of tests that fellows 'need' past a certain age perhaps?
My old man was put through this by his GP a few years ago; and she took an unhealthy delight in sending him off for certain things.
Colonoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, prostate biopsy (followed by an MRI as they found a shadow).... the list seemed endless. And it was all horribly expensive!

A

You're not wrong

Ouch had to look up the second word but it seems I might skip those three tests

I'm in my late twenties, generally healthy, non smoker, my uncle passed away because of bowl cancer though so maybe that Colonoscopy might have to be performed at some point in my life...

As I said, my GP took an inordinate pleasure in sending him for that lot; she figured he'd not been supportive enough over the past few years and this was his 'punishment'!

Glad to hear you're fit and healthy, just bear in mind the horrors that await you when you're older; and don't avoid getting these done when you're 50 or so.

What about a more simple MOT, just to make sure you're firing on all cylinders, so to speak? An echocardiogram or an electrocardiogram? Bloodwork as you've mentioned, blood pressure.... I'm sure your GP can come up with several others if asked.
Have 'fun'!

The health system is under great strain, and Premiums going up all the time. Doing loads of un-necessary tests in a healthy young man - just to cost the maximum to the system as franchise reached- really does no make sense. Hopefully this is exactly what your Doctor will say - but as they get paid for doing x-rays and tests, I suppose they might go ahead.

Maybe you were joking? Maybe not? Accumulating as much cost as possible for the sake of it is really daft and irresponsible- sorry.

I hear what your saying however I have paid enough over the last few years in Switzerland that I don't feel guilty about some check ups that are likely to cost less than my yearly premiums for this year alone.

I have to agree with Odile here. The system only works if everyone does their best to stay healthy and NOT use it unless they absolutely must.

By the same token, if I go for a check-up and it uncovers a preventable medical problem, it will probably save everyone a lot more than just waiting for things to happen...

I can sympathise, though. A number of family members (immediate and not so close) have succumbed to a range of preventable / treatable conditions and diseases over the last 3 or 4 years and it's hard to fight the urge not to go running to the doctor demanding that they scrutinise every cell of my body just as a precaution.

I do the usual 12 month "lady-checks" as a nod in the direction of screening as prevention but so far haven't asked for a battery of checks for anything not necessarily "lady-related".

It's a great idea ... in theory.

But I reckon, at your age, you'd need to present with symptoms to get any 'serious' test such as a colonoscopy... plus believe me.. it's not something you should be volunteering for

I go every year for a lady-check, and the result is always negative.

Turns out, I'm not a lady.

Better luck next year, Village Idiot!

I bet that speculum makes your eyes water, though...

Yep. Speculums are my favourite cookie.

A friend of mine was in the same position last year, and as he had a few skin tags he wanted removing, he chose to have it done then as he had gone over his franchise. Made sense.

Health Insurances here are not like Bupa, etc, in the UK - they have to be non-profit making- and currently making big losses requiring premiums to go up. This is partly due to the CH system of patients shopping around for 2nd, 3rd, 10th opinions - repeating tests and diagnoses. Which is why many insurance now have cheaper premiums for GP first systems. Some tests can be positively dangerous if repeated un-necessarily (like x-rays, etc) and even a colonoscopy can result in infection or tear, or other complication/s.

Anyone signing up for an unnecessary colonoscopy should probably sign up with a psychiatrist at the same time...