Hi all

Just a little question, to check I'm doing this properly. I've received a bill from my doctor for the driving licence medical I had recently, along with an advice sheet for my insurance company.

I've paid the bill, and sent the sheet to the company using the helpful little 'name and policy number' stickers they supplied me with.

I have a high franchise of 2,500 CHFs (I don't get sick much), so I assume they'll just log my little old 100 CHF bill on their system on the off-chance I 'eat' through my franchise in 2009. But otherwise, I don't expect to hear anything from them.

Is that about it? Is there anything else I need to do? It's the first time I've done anything with health insurance other than pay the bills each month!

kodokan

I can add that we had a problem with ours because I sent in three bills from the pharmacy (Apotheke) with only one script - they wouldn't pay out without the script for each item...

They were efficient, though, sent me a nice cover letter (in German) and a reply-envelope, and they'd stuck the little bits of paper onto a larger piece so nothing got lost or mixed up... so I could stick the missing bits of paper onto it!

I photocopy all the papers so that I have a record - and we now have a file called 'health insurance' which is already 30 pages thick...three kids...

Sounds perfect to me. What I find helpful is to keep an excel spreadsheet tracking the bills so we have some idea where things stand. The insurance company will send you some acknowledgement telling you that that you have not been reimbursed but the amount has been recorded. You will likely end up with a lot of paper before you see any money back. In the event that you do not receive two copies of a bill, it is a good idea to make a copy for your own records, even if you just scan it - no need to print it.

I am diabetic (with some various other health 'problems' because of the diabeties). I have a low deductible, so I sent in my pharmacy reciepts every month. In addition, I write a letter (in English) stating the all the money spent for the month (I have an insurance where I have to pay for everything 1st then the insurance pays me back into my Post account) and the amount I think I will recieve back from them. I also scan all bills sent along with the payments made and my pharmacy reciepts (so I have paper trails in case something is lost in the mail or by the insurance company).

stacey

Can highly recommend keeping copies of everything and even copies of your application forms etc... for your insurance, I am currently experiencing terrible problems with my insurance company refusing to pay some very large hospital bills, I stupidly didn't make copies of everything when i first took out the insurance so now we are in a situation where we can't prove something

Just be careful, they can and will try and screw you if they can find a loop hole

...and in case you didn't get it, make copies of everything you send! When you do send stuff, send it via registered mail. It's a pain, but keep the receipt for the mail too. You'll need a shelf for all the binders you'll be amassing... goodness knows how we all survived elsewhere without copies of everything!

Me too. I have so many bills. But I hardly ever go to a pharmacy, I get everything from the doctor (I think he once said it was cheaper for aspirins) or from the company direct. I do the scanning in as well.

I don't write in the amount that I have paid, I just send the bills and my standard letter and wait for the money to hit my account in most cases:-

RE: Policy Number XXX

Dear Sir/Madam,

I enclose copies of payments made for medical related bills.

Please can you make the reimbursement for these to my bank account:- XXX

Can't you get the bills from the hospital? What is the issue?

Its complicated but its mainly because I didn't copy my second application form and I can't prove something that i think I wrote on there. Its still in early stages of dispute so hopefully the outcome will be in my favour

Good luck with it. My doctor sent me to a specialist who gave me a 1,600 CHF bill. The specialist wasn't on the insurer's approved list, but they took half the hit anyway. I didnt even ask them to, they just referenced it in the notes with the rebates. Guess it is because I am such a good regular customer...

Thanks everyone - I'll get in a couple more ring binders, then...

On the off-chance that hubby or I do go over the franchise during the year, how do insurers normally repay the money? I don't think the insurer has my bank account details..? Unless they have it recorded from the in-payments, maybe.

Sigh... it's much easier with my kids' insurance company; the doctor sends the bill straight to the insurer, and I get a little orange slip some weeks later for the 10% balance, usually around 5 CHFs.

kodokan

If they don`t have your bank details they will send you a pink slip made payable to you in the amount they owe you

Wish it was a case of about 1600CHF bill, i am looking at more like 16k - 20k!!

And again, sorry to be such a noob - is that like a cheque, do I just pay it into the bank..?

I've only done paying OUT money so far!

kodokan

Yes just like a cheque pay it into your bank

Hello

In my opinion your insurance company will pay nothing. Even if that bill is above your franchise. Why ? Because swiss obligatory insurance only works for sickness cases. Driving licence medical cost is not a sickness case.

Regards

Alexandre

I scan in all of the bills. I write a cover letter and email the scanned bills (as a PDF document) to our contact at our insurance company... If I have not sent a claim in a while, I email him before sending anything to make sure that I can still do this.

Within 2 to 3 weeks we are reimbursed. If you're paying for your insurance directly out of your bank account, then your insurer should have your bank details.

My husband had to have a special eye exam before he got his driver's license and that was covered under our insurance, so it is possible that a medical exam will also be covered.

Yes, you're right, it was covered (although not actually paid, as I was still well within my franchise). But they did send me a letter showing that the 119 CHFs cost had been knocked off my franchise.

I'm not sure if the medical exam invoice specifically said 'for a driving licence'. Maybe it just said 'medical exam' or something, and that was why it was ok.

kodokan