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| Hi All
Moving to Switzerland in next 2/3 months and had a general question regarding the coverage for Health insurance
How does it work with regards to covering prescriptions? Do you still have to pay everytime you pick it up OR is it covered? etc | |
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How health insurance works (roughly)...
For basic health insurance, prexisiting conditions don't affect the cost, or the coverage. However if you want additional insurance (e.g. dental) then prexisting conditions may not be covered.
You arrange health insurance and select a franchise (amount you have to pay before any costs are reimbursed). The franchise affects your monthly premiums. E.g. if you have a low franchise, your monthly premiums will be higher.
So say your franchise is 300chf. The first 300chf worth of medical treatment you get in one year, you pay (in addition to paying your premiums). When you've passed your franchise, you then pay 10% of any additional bills, the other 90% is reimbursed. Eventually, if you have a lot of medical bills you may pass what in French is called the 'quote part' with your 10% payments. From that point on everything is reimbursed. For example, my franchise is 300chf. This year I've also passed my 'quote part' which is 700chf (i.e. my 10% contributions have gone over 700chf). So now I don't pay anything, apart from my premiums. Until January, when it all starts again...
Some prescriptions are covered by health insurance, those on the 'List of specialities'. If you're unsure, ask your doctor before picking up the prescription if that medication is covered. Most 'usual' stuff is covered, although some surprising things aren't (like the contraceptive pill, for example).
As to if you pay when you pick up prescriptions, that depends on your insurance company. Some require that you pay and then send the bills to them to be reimbursed. I think some may pay and then take out your share (not sure as I have the first kind).
Same goes for all medical treatment. Some places (e.g. doctors) send you bills, some send the bills to your insurance...
The only exception that I know of is that if you are hospitalised, you have to pay 15fr per day. Even if you've paid your franchise and passed your quote-part. Been caught by that before...
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| If you have medical issues such as a gland issue (nothing major) , will this hugely increase the cost? | |
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Yes and no...
No, a medical condition won't increase the cost of your premiums, in and of itself. In fact, an insurance company shouldn't even ask if you have a medical condition (for basic insurance).
But if you have a 'medical issue' which you know is going to need regular check ups, medication, etc., then it may be worth going for higher premiums/lower franchise to keep your overall costs down, because while you may pay more on your premiums, you'll get through your franchise faster...
It also means you have less to worry about should you need something 'major' unexpectedly. For example, I have the lowest franchise, because I have ongoing problems. This means if something unexpected happens, I don't need to worry. I have friends, on the other hand, who have a high franchise to 'save money' on the premiums. One of them developed an unexpected health issue... and then had the added strain about worrying about all the money they would have to spend on medical care before they hit their franchise.
Of course, if you have a lot of savings, the other option is that you have a low premium/high franchise and put the amount of your franchise to one side 'just in case'!
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