I went to an ENT specialist a month before, bcoz of my sinus trouble....

First visit, the doctor just examined and asked to go for a scan

Second visit, the doctor just did the same examination, took a view on my scan report and recommended another doctor in University

Some days before I got a bill for CHF 297.....

Explanations in that goes like this....

Examination before medicine - CHF 45, for medicine - CHF 15, after medincine..... bla bla bla...... Reading the reports in tha absence of patient .....bla bla bla.....

I actually gave my insurance details...... But still they sent the bill to me and when I check, they said I have to pay from my pocket and need to claim from the insurance group.....

I paid..... But then since the insurance I took won't pay anything till I pay the franchise amoutn CHF 300, mine is gone.....

Me not working here and dependent of my husband..... With one salary, we guys really suffer with such ad-hoc shocking bills

This is how insurance with a franchise works. The bills are hardly ad-hoc. "Bcoz" you used the services, you have to pay. Now that you have covered the 300 francs, further treatment this year will be covered by the insurance.

CHF297 for 2 visits to a specialist including 2 examinations, mediciine, probably some lab tests (scan report?) seems pretty typical to me.

Scan Test I did separately..... Not included in this doctor's bill

And by the way (ref thread title), killing costs money too:

http://www.dignitas.ch

Well, as Jekyll said, this is how it works here with your franchise. Note that when you've reached your franchise, your insurance will pay you back only 90% of your bills, and you have to pay yourself for the last 10%. The only exception is pregnany: here your insurance pays for the full 100%.

We all have to pay our medical bills first, and claim for your money back. The only exception is if you have to be hospitalised: the hospital deals with your insurance istelf, and you usually don't have to advance any money.

Concerning the bill, it looks like the normal price for a specialist. Health care is very expensive in Switzerland, and we're all complaining about it. On the other hand, we have a very high medical standard, and you probably had to wait only a few days to meet the specialist... Try to see a GP in the UK or go the EU in the US, and you'll see the difference..

I'm sorry to hear about the unexpectedly high bill but would just like to clarify that ALL insurance has a minimum franchise of CHF 300 per year (you can pick a higher one of course). Every year, you cover the first CHF 300 of your medical costs, followed by 10% of the cost incurred thereafter.

As I don't make a lot of money myself, I understand how having or not having that money can be a big worry. I would recommend not going straight to a specialist in future unless it is strictly necessary. Usually you go and see a GP who will refer you if needs be.

Wonder if it's reimbursed by the insurance....

A big unexpected bill is always bad, and i'm sorry for you - there are often add ons and you do wonder how they could charge for every single detail. It is also a bad time of the year for a big bill.

Look at it in the positive light that you have now reached your threshold as Jekyll says. You have to use this experience to understand the system. Your insurance states you pay up to a certain threshold (in your case CHF 300), then they pay the majority of anything above it. You won't see more big bills if you need further scans/other exceptional things this year (I hope you don't need them). The only thing is that there isnt a lot left of this year so you will have the same issue next year.

I would never hesitate to do something necessary i.e. anything to do with your health. I do have to have lots and lots and lots of ad hoc things throughout the year (MRI last Friday for example) and so I see a lot of bills. (I think I am my insurance company's favourite customer with the amount of things I send them.) Anyway, the system is good, you just have to understand it.

I know in the UK (for example) it is all free, but here you have to pay that first bit. The service is in my opinion better and faster over here. It's also a reasonably fair system and one that wont bankrupt the country (unlike the NHS potentially). Most people go through the year without having to use that first CHF 300 at all.

Bottom line, don't avoid something that you need to have done, just ask in advance the likely cost. Speak to your insurance company if in doubt and they will explain the system. At least you will be prepared for the bill when it comes.

The charges for medical treatment are all specified under a system called TARMED . The value of each procedure is stated as a number of points and each canton specifies the value of these points.
You can find a a complete list of all medical charges here (in French but also available in German and Italien).

Thanks all.... I was not much aware of the system here..... First time when I went to University Hospital, they troubled me a lot like asking "Why you came here instead of going to your doctor?... We generally attend only emergency cases, etc..."..... I said I'm new to Switzerland and so not yet identified a family doctor.....

Then they asked me to wait..... I waited there to meet doctor for nearly 5 hrs..... believe me, 5 hrs, and not exaggrating..... I went at 5 pm and when I came out of hospital, it was 10.15 pm...... The horrible part was, me and my husband couldn't manage our 14 months old son (now 18 months old) for that 5 hrs..... Thats why I went to a specialist, just at the appointment time and came back home within 30 mins..... But didn't think in the point of fee as not much aware of it.....

Anyways, thanks for the suggestions and I'll be more careful....

You'll also have to pay the first 300sfr if you go to the DR in January as it's a new year.

Ya I know.... that is another shock gift of New Year

We have to pay CHF600 (for me & husband..... thankfully nothing for my son)