Hello,

Just wondering if my basic health insurance covers me if I go on vacation for a couple of weeks?... Or is this something specific per provider?

Cheers,
Alan

When I called Helsana about my basic insurance coverage to eg Sweden, they said it is valid provided that I go to a public hospital only.

I'd suggest you call up your insurer to find out.

All depends on what policy you have and with which company, so I can't really say not knowing these details. You can elect to have it, but it is generally an extra added on to your VVG and not your basics (KVG).

My health insurance card (Swica) explicitly states that it offers worldwide cover, which I don't recall having ever applied for.

I'm sure there's some small print somewhere in my contract that excludes everywhere outside Switzerland, but I'll worry about that when I'm trapped in a hospital in Surinam with monkey poisoning and the pox.

The Basic insurance policy covers you throughout Europe (look if the back of your card has the European details) and mine (Helsana Group) covers worldwide up to 200% of what the same treatment would have cost in Switzerland.

Call your insurer and ask.

One word answer: Yes.

But...I would recommend just double-checking your Maximum insurance cover if you are going to the USA.
But maybe I'm confusing with liability insurance if someone sues you if you've caused an accident.

Anyway, our little Story.

We use Sanitas for Health Insurance.

Little 2 year old got a bit sick in Salou nr. Barcelona, Spain, April 2008.
Took him down local hospital, flashed the Sanitas card.
It was recognised immediately no problems.

He was treated OK and got better in 24 hours - the main thing of course!
We paid nothing there.

Back in Switzerland some months later got a Sanitas "Bill" - they'd covered all costs of exam and medicine, ca. 100 CHF.

Hello

- Basic health insurance covers medical treatments (doctor, public hospital, drugs) in foreign countries (worldwide) in case of emmergency.
- The basis coverage (mandatory) is absolutely the same for all companies. It's not important if you are affiliate to Helsana or Sanitas or Sana24 and so on.
- Basis covers public hospitalisation cases abroad up to two times your swiss living area cost !

To be better covered would be good to contract an additional volunteer ("complementary" or "extra") insurance. Cost is from CHF 5 to CHF 15. Depends of your age and the company.
This sort of extra insurance covers :
- Hospitalisation cost above the "two times swiss cost". It could be the case in the USA, New Zeeland, Australia.
- Rescue cost.
- Transportation (ambulance) cost.
- Rapatriation (by plane from a foreign country to a swiss hospital).
- And other.

If you use to travelling that sort of extra insurance would be good for you.

Regards

Alexandre