Hi all, does anyone know of any heaith insurance companies where you don't have to pay immediately after treatment and instead an invoice is sent to you're address for any franchise payment? Similar to how car insurance works?

Cheers
Nik

I am fairly sure that does not exist for visits to doctors and pharmacies.

However hospitals and therapeutics bills are usually sent direct to the insurance company.

I could be wrong but I think it's more down to your doctor. I seem to remember filling in something at my doctor a few years ago giving him permission to send the bills direct to my insurance company but I've barely been since so I could be imagining it!

You should know that usually there is enough time for you to send the bill into the company and them pay out before the Doc's bill is overdue...

That really depends on the size and efficiency of the company you're with 'tho...

Unfortunately the bigger the company and more you pay better the service. The OKK and Helsana Groups of this world are generally fast where as some of the "i'll save myself a few bucks" solutions show what you are really paying for in such examples.

You won't be able to change your current supplier until Jan 1st 2013 with a good months notice anyhow.

That could be on the accident side of treatment to your employer?

It is a good point however that one could indeed ask their doctor directly if they would bill like this! Good idea and nothing to loose!

It's down to your doctor, I think, or maybe kanton. It might also be a function of the billing agency - different offices use different agencies to process bills. In Bern, all of my docs sent me the bills after the fact. Some docs bill monthly, others bill quarterly. In Zurich (winterthur). I'm seeing a new doc and my bills will be sent to the insurance first. My insurer is innova, by the way.

Not true. Our local pharmacy sends the invoices to our insurance companies. We still end up paying though as we are normally way below our annual franchise.

I think that it is down to your doctor as well. I know that my gyno had an option on the form when I first visited that asked if I wanted the bills to be sent directly to the insurance company or to me.

Some pharmacies will send the invoice direct to certain insurance companies which offer that service, but not all insurance companies can do that arrangement.

I assume then that if you don't reach your excess/deductible/franchise at the quarter/year-end, they send you an invoice for the pharmacy bill, plus an admin service fee, plus interest.

However, I had cheaper insurance (Assura) who didn't offer that last time I went to a pharmacy.

Generally as a industry practice in Switzerland you are not required to pay upfront for your doctor visits, checkups and treatments. And it is irrespective of the kind of insurance you have as far as you are residing in this country.

I have my health insurance coverage from Progres(expensive though) and I have never had to pay for any doctor visit, regardless to say that I receive invoices after a month.

No one was talking about paying up-front...

I'm a doctor so am familiar with this. It's not the same for a doctor's visit or for paying for prescription meds. It's also different depending on whether it's an accident or illness. It also depends on your insurance company and finally, the Canton of residence.
In Geneva, for example, if you see a doctor because of an illness (rather than anaccident), the doctor will send you a bill which you are responsible for paying. You send the bill to your insurance who will reimburse minus your deductible and the 10% 'quote-part'. The pharmacy will bill your insurance directly for any prescription drugs, but your insurance will then bill you for the deductible and the 10%. However, Assura, Intras, CSS, Supra, won't allow pharmacies to bill directly so you have to pay for the drugs upfront and then get remibursed by insurance company. Fine if it's a few pain killers, not so fine if you have hepatitis C and have to fork out 15000 a month !

Does it sound complicated ? Welcome to Switzerland

the thread title says it all... Re: Health insurance companies where you dont pay upfront costs

yes I AM being difficult this morning...

I was about to say exactly the same thing so I must be being difficult too.

We've never had to pay upfront for any doctor's visits here. The doctors and dentists have always sent the bills later. Until we changed insurers this year we had to pay the pharmacy bills and claim them back (bit of a pain as OH is diabetic and all his meds were pretty expensive) but that was the only problem.

In Belgium we had to pay upfront for doctors, dentists etc and claim it back later but the pharmacy we only paid for the franchise.

Yea sorry, what I meant by paying upfront is paying the doctors/pharmacy directly after treatment, rather than them sending a bill to the insurance company who would invoive you later.

Here is SZ a doctor/hospital is required to send the bill first to the insurance company.

Which I dislike, as it doesn't give me a chance to check the bill for accuracy before payment and I don't get a detailed explanation of charges from the insurance company. I'd actually prefer to get the bill, pay it, and then seek reimbursement from my insurance. Automatically sending the bill to the insurer seems rather wasteful, especially when one has a high franchise - but it's the law round these parts.

Not sure how it's handled with prescriptions, as I get my prescription meds directly from the doctor, and thus it goes straight to the insurer first.

There are two systems:
Tiers garant: you pay first, insurance company will pay you later. Most cheaper insurance work this way as you give the insurance company some credit.

Tiers payant: The insurance company pays the bill and will send you later a bill to cover franchise an co-payment.

Art. 42 SR 832.10 Bundesgesetz über die Krankenversicherung

Swica bills me thusly.

No. After a month or two, I get a bill from Swica requesting payment. Unless it's a small amount, then they'll request payment with a later one. I get an account statement each time though.