Health insurance web sites

DavidSJC · #1 09.10.2011, 16:16

Hi, I'm looking at the web sites of various health insurance companies like Helsana, Avanex, Visana, Sanitas, etc to see how "english friendly" they are. Some have english versions of their web site and some do not. But what puzzles me is that there doesn't seem to be a way for customers to log in.

Is that normal or I'm just not finding it? In the US almost every insurance company has a web site where customers can log in to track their claims, deductibles, and see their coverage etc. You can go back and look at your medical bills and see what was paid, what you paid, etc. Almost everything is done electronically online.

From reading previous threads, it sounds like there's a lot of paperwork going on in the insurance industry. One go to the doctor, get billed. I have to pay it and get a copy to the insurance company. Everything is done by mail. Once I reach my deductible then I start getting reimbursed. So who keeps track of the deductibles? If you have a family you can have different deductible for each member. It gets too complicated. That's why it's all done electronically in the US.

Is there an insurance company that offer what I just described with electronic record keeping?

DavidSJC

Blonaybear · #2 09.10.2011, 16:51

The KPT/CPT does.

jenny · #3 11.10.2011, 13:01

	Quote:	DavidSJC
	Hi, I'm looking at the web sites of various health insurance companies like Helsana, Avanex, Visana, Sanitas, etc to see how "english friendly" they are. Some have english versions of their web site and some do not. But what puzzles me is that there doesn't seem to be a way for customers to log in. Is that normal or I'm just not finding it? In the US almost every insurance company has a web site where customers can log in to track their claims, deductibles, and see their coverage etc. You can go back and look at your medical bills and see what was paid, what you paid, etc. Almost everything is done electronically online. From reading previous threads, it sounds like there's a lot of paperwork going on in the insurance industry. One go to the doctor, get billed. I have to pay it and get a copy to the insurance company. Everything is done by mail. Once I reach my deductible then I start getting reimbursed. So who keeps track of the deductibles? If you have a family you can have different deductible for each member. It gets too complicated. That's why it's all done electronically in the US. Is there an insurance company that offer what I just described with electronic record keeping? DavidSJC

Welcome to Switzerland

They seem to have some aversion to trees here with the amount of stuff that gets printed out and sent to you!

Some companies have log ins (like KPT/CPT as mentioned by Blonaybear) but it's not commonplace.

The Swiss like you to be "responsible" for yourself and your bills etc. and assume that you keep that kind of record for yourself at home.

Also, don't be fooled by an English website. It just means that they've paid someone to translate their website. It doesn't necessarily mean they'll have English-speakers when you call them etc. (I know people who went with certain companies specifically as they had their website in English but can't get hold of anyone that speaks English).
The majority of companies will have at least some documentation (e.g. summary of what's covered in supplementary etc.) in English even if their website isn't.

Hope this helps