Dear all,

My family and I are planning to move from Italy to Switzerland before the summer, (my husband already works there and we seem to have just found an apartment in Lausanne)
We are also thinking of trying to conceive a third baby but here is the issue: I am sure my pregnancy will be a high risk one. This is because I have already had two pregnancies with pre-term labour and births (28th and 32th weeks preemies respectively). I have already taken the medical controls suggested prior to another pregnancy and the only thing that has come out is that I have a slightly arcuate uterus, but this, in itself, -they tell me- is not considered to be risky. It’s rather my obstetrical history that classifies me at high risk.

I am therefore looking for information about the healthcare cover that I may seek in my situation (I have already searched the forum but have not found anything related)

Typically form my experience in Italy, I would have to take monthly vaginal swabs and very frequent transvaginal ultrasounds to check the cervical length. Furthermore a very probable event that may occur would be to be prescribed hospitalised bedrest and be given drugs for contractions and other typical medications of the case (for instance surfactant shots to develop lungs of the babies)

- Would all of these events be covered by basic healthcare and on what terms?
- I seem to understand that any high risk pregnancy event would be considered as illness and therefore would be subject to deductible and retention. Is this correct? (Or is there a possibly worse scenario)
- If I were to move to Switzerland already throughout my pregnancy, would I still be able to get healthcare insurance or is there a waiting period not covered?

And what about the baby? Typically preemies of that gestational age have to be hospitalised for weeks, initially in Intensive Care Units, and they receive very costly cares

- Is it possible that the baby be refused such cares?
- Who would pay for those and to what extent?
- Can I assume that the baby is entitled in any case to basic care but that he could be refused additional insurance for years (for instance lest neurological or motor problems come up when he grows up)
- I have read that it is possible to negotiate insurance before the birth of the baby, would this be a suggested option in my case?

I would really appreciate if anyone who has had experiences with high risk pregnancy could help understand what I am to expect...
(and I hope what I wrote is clear as I am not native English)

Thanks!

"Yes" to all. Pre-term labour hospital stays are classed as illness and incur a 10% deductible (up to your 700 fr. max per calendar year). The shots to develop babies lungs fall under your insurance. All meds for contractions/drips are also with the 10% deductable. All your extra scans and checks with your normal doc are 100% covered.

It depends on what exactly the extra scans are for. For example, I just gave birth to my 2nd son 3 months ago, and my GYN told me that insurance companies are no longer paying for toxoplasmosis tests, they fall under your deductible.

However, if you are getting scans and checks that you really feel are necessary, don't hesitate to fight the insurance companies. Get letters from your GYN that these tests are necessary for your pregnancy, and they might turn around and cover these at 100%. I did that this year, and my insurance company ended up covering an amnio, that was originally taken off of my deductible.

For the baby, I assume that the baby would be covered like any other child, 90% of the costs, up to a certain amount per year (I have no idea what that magic number is, maybe someone else does). And thay can't deny care to a child. Your best option though is when you get insurance yourself here, go ahead and sign up insurance for your new baby. I got a discount because I signed my son up 3 months before he was born.

I don't have much to add other than to wish you the best. I had a high-risk pregnancy here in Canada (Ottawa) and we got amazing care. I'm sure everything will work out great! You sound like you're on the ball (but, isn't that what mother are naturally )

I would like to thank you for your replies,
(sorry I could not do it earlier but for some technical issues I have not been able to connect to this forum up to now - one of the servers had got in the black list of my internet provider and they took ages to solve it)

I seem to understand that indeed everything would be fine in case of another pregnancy :-)

Valeria

You need to organise health insurance for the new baby before it is born. If you misscarriage, or stillbirth, the premium will not be charged. If you want private hospital insurance, you need to sign up 12 months before the birth (Yeah work that one out, need good family planning!)

I had my 2nd child here, having gone into prem labour at 32 weeks with my first.

With my 2nd ...
I had extra scans, bed rest, hospitalization and in the end he was born at 33 weeks, with breathing problems.

He was looked after inthe CHUV in Lausanne, it is the specialist centre for neonatal in the French part of switzerland and the care we received was amazing.

For me, my additional tests and hospital trips were classed as illness and subject to my deductible, as soon as this was used up then everything was covered.

For the baby, we received copy's of all the bills and we didn't pay anything. I believe that the insurance companys can claim money back from the government, we were also encouraged to claim back expenses for travelling to and from the hospital. (the bills were in excess of 60k chf)

If we decided to have another baby, I would have no hesitation in having it he, I know for lots of people the medical care in Switzerland is very invasive and you have lots of tests/scans etc, for me this was necessary and it was comforting to know that envy thing was being taken care of.

Good luck