Hi everyone, I need to fill my health insurance application and they ask for past illnesses or surgeries. I had a back surgery 5 years ago and I intend to declare it but I have a question. If I'll need a back surgery in the future (I always had back pains), will it be covered by the health insurance? To give you another example, if someone has diabetes and needs to apply for the health insurance, will his diabetes problems be covered by the health insurance? Thanks for your answer!

I'm no expert on this, but in general the rule is that previous conditions can not be excluded from your Swiss health cover, so yes, ongoing or future treatment for your back issues should be covered.

SWK will be along shortly with chapter and verse, I'm sure.

Well, I have diabetes for over 30 years. No problems getting health care! I am certain it is the same with your pre-existing condition.

No issues with basic cover but might be a problem with supplementary, if you are filling in a declaration I guess you are looking for supplementary coverage. It all depends what it was and how severe etc.

If it is serious they might flatly refuse you that cover or exclude anything related to the back...

This is the government website listing all the aspects health insurance companies must offer for the basic cover,

http://www.bag.admin.ch/themen/krank...x.html?lang=en

Requirement to take out insurance

Question 08. Can a health insurance fund refuse to insure me or attach conditions?
Answer. No. As far as compulsory health insurance (basic insurance) is concerned, all health insurance funds are
obliged to accept your application irrespective of your age and state of health, and without stipulating any conditions or waiting period.

Sadly we have lots of experience with this. Hubby has pre-existing back and eye conditions.

Basic insurance is not an issue as that doesn't have anything to with pre-existing so the surgery is covered, but he had to sign a waiver for the supplemental insurance that they would not cover anything for his back or eyes. This includes anything "extra" for his upcoming back surgery - so he will be in a general ward and, if it was a normal type of surgery, he would have gotten the less experienced surgeon on rotation - but as his is rather special, he gets the top guy involved too.

Not all companies will even offer that so I strongly encourage you to ensure that it is worth the extra cost of buying the supplemental from any company that does - in our case, if I had known anything back then I wouldn't have signed up as I honestly don't know what we will ever use it for, but unfortunately our broker signed us up with a company that we can't cancel for 5 years unless we leave the country!

Thank you so much guys about your answers. I read this paragraph:

09. Can a health insurance fund require me to complete a health questionnaire when I apply for basic insurance?No. In line with the obligation to provide insurance and the prohibition on stipulating conditions or a waiting period, the health insurance fund has to accept your application irrespective of your age and state of health. For this reason, you cannot be required to complete a health questionnaire.

In contrast, when you apply for top-up insurance, the health insurance fund is entitled to enquire about your state of health, to attach conditions, or simply to reject your application.
What they mean with top-up insurance, from what I know, top-ups are only about going in a private hospital or not and this kind of stuff...??So if I had a back surgery what it has to do with that? Thanks!