Hi Guys,

I'm very concern about my health situation, I discover that I have Asthma and I am "multiallergic" but the problem is that every time I had visited my doctor just for a Zeugnis for my job he charges more that 100 CHF, (my boss ask to bring this Zeugnis from the first day, is a new rule in some private companies).

I don't know but I think I should change my Franchise but still very scary how much do you have to pay in CH for your Health Insurance(

Does anyone has some suggestions?

doctors should work for free then?

you took a gamble with your excess and lost, simple as

Your doctor can't give you a 'Zeugnis' unless he decides you are too sick to work. Normally that means he has to examine you or at least talk to you about your symptoms - and so yes, you do have to pay for that.

If you have ongoing medical issues (i.e. even in a 'healthy' year, no unexpected illnesses, you would still have significant medical expenses) then it probably makes sense for you to take insurance with the lowest possible deductible. This insurance will cost more per month, but the amount you have to pay first before you benefit from it is lower. If you are generally healthy, not on a lot of regular medication, then a higher deductible is better. There is a calculator at http://www.comparis.ch/krankenkassen...vergleich.aspx that will help you compare.

Charge it to your boss if they want one for 1 day, it's usually needed after 3 days. No reason for you to pay, they probably won't wont one if it cost money.

very true, but maybe its a little reality check for op when you get the bill... in the uk you never see the breakdown for the cost of your appt as all paid in NI with wages. I was shocked at how much it cost for littleun's injections on the first bill we ever had as the other 2 were done in UK so all 'free'.. all claimed back and handled very quickly by the insurance but a new experience to see the cost infront of you.

The care is much better especially the checks with each injection though so worth every penny. No rushing through, appt on saturdays.

My swiss colleagues told me that they pay just for the 10 CHF for a Zeugnis but I do not know how they are manage to do that and I cannot

I know but because they are private company according to the law they can do whatever they want.... welcome to CH

Can you define what a "private company" is? There are laws in place that are valid for a wide range of employees...

Also, I guess what your colleagues are referring to, is that they pay 10 CHF for the actual Zeugnis/attestation, not the whole visit, perhaps..

Strange that you never get a receipt for the Arztzeugnis. My main house doctor also charges 10 CHF for this paper (no serial numbers, just a rubber stamp). Other doctors and the hospital seem to give it me free.

My theory is that this is the beer money / Xmas party, cash in hand perk of the job.

100 francs seems more like bribe money.

Are you able to change to another doctor? Look for one specialising in allergies and take a desensitizing course of injections.

If you continue to be sick your employer can dismiss you.

Not true, you can't be given notice when ill.

Whilst it's very interesting to see a breakdown of costs, be aware that stuff here costs way more than in the UK. For example something that here I would have been billed 500chfs for, cost just over £100 in the UK on a private prescription.'

Agreed, but the OP is not continuously ill. When OP turns up for work he can be fired.

And the employer can send you to a doctor of his choice or a doctor affiliated to the firm and get a deciding diagnose. If this doctor says you're fit enough to work then you have no other choice than to report back in to work.

Hi,

From personal experience, you can be fired when off sick...

As others have said, if you have a condition which is going to require regular visits to the doctors / medication etc, then it is worth having the lowest possible franchise, even though your monthly premiums will be higher. Also, if you are on a low income you may be entitled to help from your canton with health insurance premiums. I have no idea about the limits, and from what I can find out it varies from canton to canton.

If your condition is either causing a long term absence or is causing regular short term absences, you employer may / should (not sure which) get in contact with the AI (IV in German) offices for 'early intervention', which as I understand it has the aim of helping you and your employer make changes which enable you to stay in work.

Sorry, I know that the English in the third paragraph is poor, but that's what the (official) document says... I'll attach the source below...

I don't have any personal experience of the process, but maybe if your employer is getting concerned you could ask / suggest it? I know it won't help with your financial question, but if you are having a lot of time off work it might be a good idea to investigate it...

Hope that helps.

Or take a third opinion, of course if the work Dr is incorrect you can make a complaint, though being in CH I doubt its worth the time.

Hi,
Do not worry about my job i'm off for good from that place, the thing is that I paid the 10 CHF as well plus the 100 CHF the bills arrived after months from the visit....

I have been off twice in 7 months and I had a certificate from the hospital and from my GP as well, even the hospital wanted to do something against my company because of this first day zeugnis and they gave me a zeugnis for two days when they said that in CH is not allowed to do that they wanted to call the social services.... Long story short I did not want it to confront them...

Guys, if the quotes don't come out right and you don't know how to or simply cannot correct them, please report the post. Otherwise, when the square brackets and contents are 'removed' in the quote, the text appears as belonging to the wrong poster. Re-quoted it doesn't make sense at all. Thank you.

My main house doctor bills me every 3 months, but I go for controls on a weekly basis. My specialist bills the Krankenkasse direct.

At least it is not as bad as the Tax system where you can get hit by unexpected bills years later.

Usually I can claim the Hausarzt money from my Krankenkasse before having to pay the bill - which is good for cash flow after I have reached my Franchise level. This is usually in February due to expensive tablets.

Anyway, the main thing is to get your Asthma and allergy problems pin pointed and sorted and then worry about the money and job later.

Good luck - I hope you find the right specialist.