I've been looking at all the threads on this topic so far and and can see that the general recommendation is to take out health insurance (if it's anything but just basic) for your baby pre-birth.

However I'm really confused as to what the specific benefits are for doing this and what kind of supplementary coverage you would need to take out to make it worthwhile doing it ahead of time. If the basic insurance will cover your baby for any conditions/disabilities it might be born with or any that develop during or just after birth what exactly would you usually expect to get in addition if you take out some sort of supplementary insurance? Extra therapies, option to see specific consultants?

I've been sent some proposals for the baby from the insurance company my partner and I use (Sanitas) but the information about the different options was the same as ours (all about private/semi-private rooms etc) and our agent doesn't seem to know anything specific about baby insurance.

Any guidance/information would be gratefully received as my pregnant brain is struggling with this!

Hi

The reason for taking it out before, as I understand it, is to get the policy you want ready - you can leave the name and policy start date empty - until the birth. Then when the baby is born the policy kicks in straight away (just a phone call to the insurance co with name and dob). There are so many things to think about and deal with after the birth that getting it out of the way early is helpful.

I've not heard of any special baby insurance, just the usual options you'd get for yourself. If your baby is born with a "condition" it may be covered by the insurance or by the Govt. The Swiss Govt have a list of "conditions / illnesses" that are covered, these are congenital conditions. This is called IV (Invalid Versicherung I think). My baby is IV for her condition and it just means that any treatment or tests to do with this condition are paid for by the Govt and not by the insurance company.

Hope I've cleared up some of your thoughts??!!
Good luck!!!

Cakerunner

when we moved to switzerland, i was pregnant with our second child. when we signed up for our insurance, we were given a "proposal" to approve for a level of coverage for the baby. we approved it with the other insurance for the rest of us and when he was born we just provided the insurance company with his name and date of birth and he was all set up.

-alison

I suggest you contact forum member Jenny for advice.

For the first month after birth, you baby is covered by your insurance anyway- but you usually have your hands a little full, and tend to forget mundane things like sorting out health insurance, (& paying bills, showering, sleeping...)

You could also ask your obstetrician or midwife.

That is very wrong!

As mentioned before, you must simply apply to the insurance company for the unborn child, and sign the proposal. The child doesn't have to be insured with the same company, but probably easier if it is.

If there are difficulties with the birth, and for instance your newborn needs oxygen to recover (As mine did) you will be charged for this and if you have not insured the baby you will pay for this. There is also the possibility the newborn needs a child specialist doctor, and the mother's insurance does not pay for this!

This also happened with my baby - oxygen for 2 hours and specialist doctors coming down from Winterthur Hospital just to see her. Insurance is the last thing on your mind - get it sorted before the birth!!

I stumbled upon this link:

http://www.ch.ch/private/00045/00047/00586/00593/index.html?lang=en

Hospital stay for "healthy" new born are covered under mother's insurance. If we take the assumption of "healthy newborn", then he/she needs to be registered with insurance company with in 3 months after birth.

And Of course, insurance company will charge the premium from the day baby was born.

However, as pointed out by many on this forum - it is very wise to arrange the insurance before they are born to cover the cost of "special" care which may be needed.

I was under the impression that in Switzerland, by law insurance company can not deny/refuse compulsory health insurance for people with pre-existing medical condition. Why this does not include new born childern ?

In my opinion, special care for new born should be considered as pre-existing condition.

Hello!

There are a few reasons why you wish to do this before birth:

1) The practical part: indeed, after birth the last thing you wish to do is sort through insurance proposals....

2) If you wish to have a complementary insurance for things like teeth etc, doing it before birth allows you a hassle free entry. If you sign up after birth, then the insurance will ask lots of questions and may exclude certain coverage depending on the baby's helath/birth etc

3) Not having even the basic insurance, there are instance where the isnirance will refuse to pay and claim the disability one should pay and whilst they sort this out, you are left with invoices

4) If you have a complementary and are planning to give birth in a klinik, some insurances require that the baby has the same coverage as you in order to cover the klinik costs

Since there are absolutely no disadvantages to signing up before hand, I would strongly advice you to do so

Simpler is indeed to go with the same company as everyone in the family provided you are happy with their services.

Ciao
C

This is however only true for public hospital in general ward. If you opt for semi private etc many insurers will require you to have arranged same coverage for your baby.

K