I have an ongoing dauerrezept (repeat prescription) with a pharmacy in Basel which works well. I just hand over my card and mumble a bit of bad German when I want to collect more smarties or gizmos.

I plan to change health insurers in January.

I'm guessing I just give the pharmacist my old and new cards, and everything in my name is changed with no fuss (but likely with a fee).

Is this the case? Will I still have my old card, or will I have had to hand it in when I left my current insurer?

Do I have to advise my new insurer about anything in advance?

Ta.

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Nothing of value kept in this post overnight.

I can't help you but would be interested to know the answer as we will be in the same situation albeit in Neuchatel (don't know if that makes a difference)

Just give the new details, thats all thats needed.
If you can only go to 1 Dr, then you may need a new perscription.

Of course you hand in your old card and use the new one after 31.12.2011

Or just throw it away.

But will my current prescription carry on OK with my new card? (I no longer have the paper, the pharmacy has it.) Or do I need to keep my old card until I've been to the pharmacy?

It should work. The card in this instance is just being used for identification. The prescription is for you from the doctor. The insurance just pay for it ... or bill you for it depending on your excess.

When you get the first refill in the new year the pharmacy may even ask, without prompting, if your insurance has changed. Just present your new card when you request or pick up the refill. Easy peasy.

If you changed to a HMO system and you're supposed to go to a specific doctor, and your prescription is from a different doctor, you may have a problem getting reimbursed.

How long have you had your repeat prescription? Must say it worries me that in CH these can last for far too long. In the UK you would have to visit your GP every 6 months or so to check the prescription is still appropriate. I'd much prefer to go to my GP and make sure.

Most people with repeat prescriptions are usually being treated for a specific condition and go back to their doctor for check ups.

My husband has been on repeat medication for the past 5 years and has a check up every three months. I've just started a repeat medication and have also just had the first three month blood test with follow up next week.

The only difference is with the birth control pill, there you just have an annual check up unless something changes.

The prescription is given by the Dr not the insurer. The insurance is about payment. Depending on who your insurer is, you may have to pay first and ask for reimbursement later, so it is simply a matter of asking.

Don't worry Mirf, if they won't give you your homeopathic medicine, I can always provide some for a small fee.

HTH

Don't change health insurance until you are certain you'll be covered for your current condition.
For instance if you have semi-private or private insurance or any kind of complementary insurance, they could tell you that you're only covered for these complementaries for other ailments than the one you have. In other words changing insurance could potentially reduce your coverage.

Changing is a good idea for completely fit and healthy people, but every change needs to be carefully analysed if the insuree has any pre-defined health conditions.

So I would say, no, it's not sure that the new insurance will automatically cover your treatment/prescription unless it falls under the category of "basic" insurance.

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"Il mondo è fatto a scale, chi le scende e chi le sale"

Crystal ball and all that. Once you have a medical condition, and you realise you cheaper insurance does not give you choice of doctor or hospital, etc, then it is too late to reinstate any complimentary insurance. Once you have any medical condition, no insurance is interested in giving you any complimentary cover and will only accept you on basic insurance (as we found out for ourselves).

Cheers guys 'n' gals.

This is just my basic insurance. My current company is stopping paying 50% of health insurance for ÖKK, but I'm moving anyway. My future company will pay 50% towards a different insurer. So I'll be changing