Can you recommend a Health Insurance Company?
No, what works for one will not work for someone else. One of the best places to start looking for health insurance is
Comparis but it is worth bearing in mind that companies which are highlighted are not necessarily better or cheaper, merely that they have paid for advertising. This site is available in English and apart from showing comparisons between various insurance companies it also provides lots of other useful information about health care in Switzerland.
What is a 'franchise'?
This is an amount of money that you elect to pay before claiming on your health policy, similar to 'excess' or 'deductible' on car insurance in order to reduce the cost of the premium.
It is worth bearing in mind that the franchise operates on an annual basis and not on a per-case basis. Therefore should you have a claim that crosses two financial years then you will pay two separate amounts even if it is for the same illness or accident.
What is a 'retention'?
This is the amount you must pay towards the cost of your health care. Typically it is 10% of the cost of treatment/medication. First you must pay your franchise and then once the cost of health care exceeds your franchise then you pay 10% of the costs up to a maximum of 700 CHF. Ie – you get 90% of your bills refunded until you reach 700 CHF and then you get 100%. Read more about retention
here or see examples of calculations
here [comparis.ch].
Is having health (medical) insurance compulsory?
If you intend to live in Switzerland for longer than 3 months, yes, it is.
What about accident insurance?
If you are employed for more than 8 hours per week then your employer will cover your accident insurance costs but any dependants must be covered separately through the insurance. If you are self-employed or
registered as unemployed you are responsible for paying for your own accident cover. Read more about accident insurance
here [comparis.ch].
What is the difference between health (medical) insurance and accident insurance?
Health (medical) covers the costs resulting from illness including hospitalization, medication and GP care. With your health (medical insurance) you may elect to pay a franchise and you will have a retention payment. Accident insurance covers everything that arises from an accident, including sporting injuries, car accidents, accidents at work, etc.
What is important to remember is that if you are employed for more than 8 hours per week then your employer will cover the premium for your accident cover but if you are unemployed or self-employed then you will be responsible for your own cover. It is wise to speak to your employer about how their particular accident insurance operates and what you need to know. For instance, some will require you to inform them within 24 hours of the accident. You may also wish to have some supplementary accident coverage if your employer has only basic coverage – i.e. for a private room.
Can I get temporary insurance cover?
Not exactly. However, if you leave Switzerland permanently during the period of cover then you only need to provide evidence of deregistering with your local government office and your insurance will be cancelled with any advance monies. paid being returned to you.
What happens if I don't bother getting health insurance?
If the government discover this then they will assign a health plan to you and will not necessarily consider relative costs so you may end up with a very expensive plan. It will be back-dated to when you entered the country.
What is 'basic insurance'?
Basic insurance is what you are required to have in Switzerland. No one can be refused basic health insurance regardless of their medical history. The element of choice is quite restrictive because you may only be treated in your canton of residence (apart from emergency treatment when you are away from home). It is worth noting that there is a vast difference in the price of basic insurance from the different providers so it is worth 'shopping around' especially since what is provided by the basic insurance is identical regardless of which company you purchase from. Age, gender and location can affect premiums. Women will generally have higher premiums. You can read more about basic insurance
here or read about what is covered
here [comparis.ch].
What is 'supplementary insurance'?
This is anything you require beyond the basic insurance. You are not obliged to have supplementary insurance cover but it will broaden your choice and can include home-care, vaccinations, glasses and contact lenses, for instance. Supplementary insurance will allow you a greater choice of doctors and hospitals and will mean you can be treated outside your own canton. If you live on the border of a canton then this can be quite important because your nearest cantonal hospital may be some distance from your home and it could be easier to travel to a hospital in a neighbouring canton. Unlike the basic insurance it is possible to reject applicants for supplementary insurance because of previous illness, age, location, etc. It is possible to have your basic insurance with one company and your supplementary insurance with another company. You can read more about supplementary insurance
here [comparis.ch].
How do I change insurers/terminate my existing policy?
If you leave Switzerland and have evidence that you have deregistered with your local government office then you may terminate a policy at any time. If you merely want to change your policy then there are only certain dates in the year when you may change. If there have been no changes to the cost in your policy then you will have to give 3 months notice for leaving at the appropriate time (December/June). This means that you will have to have given notice in writing by the end of September or March. If the company has increased costs then you need give only one month's notice and must cancel in writing by the end of November. There are sample letters on the above link.
Please note that if you have light, GP or HMO model you may only change providers at the end of the calender year in December.
If you have supplementary insurance then it is worth ensuring that you have been accepted by an alternative company before terminating your agreement with your existing provider.
It would be sensible to discuss the arrangements for terminating different policies during your search for a provider. These are merely broad guidelines. You can read additional important information on this subject
here [comparis.ch].
What do all the different models mean? GP Model
This form of health insurance (as is the case with HMO), obliges the policyholder to always contact his GP (gatekeeper) first in case of illness. Emergencies are exempt from this rule.
The selected GP is responsible for the policyholder's treatment. If necessary, he may refer his patients to a specialist.
It is expected that restricted access to specialists will generate less costs than traditional health insurance. This is why premiums for GP health insurance products are 5 to 15% less than those of traditional basic health insurance. Your insurance company will give you a list of family doctors who participate in this model.
HMO (Health Maintenance Organisation)
HMO is a health insurance model. The policyholder is required to consult a certain physician practising in an HMO centre, if he falls ill. This doctor is called a "gatekeeper". Emergencies are exceptions to this rule.
The HMO doctor is paid a flat monthly rate for all treatment his registered patients might need. This flat rate covers all costs for treatment provided either by himself, by specialists or during a hospital stay.
The gatekeeper principle enables the HMO doctor to coordinate his patients' treatment. The flat rate forces him to restrict treatment to what his patient needs. Thus, superfluous services are no longer lucrative. HMO premiums are up to 25% lower than traditional basic health insurance rates for the same extent of benefits.
In case of emergencies:
HMO policyholders must always consult their HMO doctor first. Should he not be available or if the patient is away from his place of residence or work, he must seek out the nearest available emergency physician. After the emergency treatment, the HMO policyholder must contact his HMO physician to discuss further procedures.
Here is a list of HMO practices:
TELMED.
With each new health problem (except for emergencies or gynaecological routine examinations), policyholders must call an information line before consulting a physician. They will either receive information about how to deal with the problem or will be advised to consult a doctor or the hospital for treatment.
Such telephone consultations aim to cut costs. Holders of the Telmed insurance model pay lower premiums than holders of traditional basic health insurance (up to 15%).
The general terms of contract envision various procedures for dealing with policyholders who consult a doctor without having called the telephone helpline. These range from coverage of the costs to demotion to the traditional basic insurance (Exclusion from the Telmed model).
A telephone consultation before seeing a doctor is unnecessary for the following benefits:
- Emergencies
- Annual gynaecological preventative check-ups
- Examinations by an eye specialist (in some cases only for children)
- Other services (depends on insurance company)
Details of providers of TELMED
Will the TELMED/HMO/GP models give adequate coverage?
Every basic insurance policy, regardless of provider, will cover the same procedures and health services. It is only the access to these services which is different.
Here is a list of what is covered with basic health insurance.
Will my health insurance cover dental care?
Not unless you request it in your supplementary cover but this will be very expensive.
I am still uncertain about choosing insurance. Can you help me?
You can use the services of an English speaking insurance broker who will help you to find an insurance suitable for you although it is worth bearing in mind that many brokers will have ties to certain companies and may not necessarily get you the cheapest deal. There are some English Forum members who have assisted people in the past, such as
jenny, who are insurance advisers. English Forum has no connection with these people other than they use this forum.
How do I make a claim on my insurance?
Obviously each company will have methods specific to their administration, but it is normal for you to be billed by your health provider/GP/hospital direct and you will then claim the money direct from your insurance company. It can take a couple of months for you to receive a bill from your health provider and it can take up to a couple of months for you to receive payment from the insurance company.
Some companies are billed directly from your health provider and the insurer will bill you for any franchise or retention payments arising. Discuss this with your chosen insurer.
I need medical treatment but haven't sorted out my policy yet. What can I do?
Your Swiss insurance policy will be applied from the date you entered the country. Most doctors won't bill you for several weeks after consultation so your cover will eventually be in place. There is an interesting
thread that deals with this issue here.
Prescription Drugs - costs.
Normally your insurer will make a direct payment to the pharmacy or GP for your drugs but you will need to provide evidence of cover (most health insurance companies provide you with a card similar to a credit card and this should be used in the pharmacy, GP practice etc). Your insurance company should then deal directly with you regarding any costs arising out of your franchise agreement. Depending on your franchise arrangement with your individual provider will determine what co-payment, if any, you will be responsible for. Most prescribed drugs should be covered but in case of doubt check with your individual insurance provider. Some providers may require you to pay for your drugs on collection and will then reimburse you.
I have a question that isn't listed here.
Try looking through the comprehensive list linked above and see if that helps or search the forum and if you still cannot find an answer post on the relevant thread. You can also find a glossary of terms
here [comparis.ch].