Dialysis coverage
 

Hi,


I am going to come to Zurich in January,2016 on L permit. I am a dialysis patient and would like myself to be covered from the day 1 of the arrival.


As the treatment continues every alternate day, how should I coordinate with insurance and hospital?


Will the local insurance company cover the dialysis treatment? Secondly, is it possible to have the insurance before arriving in Zurich?


Thanks for your advice!

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Basic (mandatory) insurance will cover you for all treatment, existing conditions and future. You need to have insurance from day 1.

Start searching through Comparis.ch now to find one that fits your budget then give them a call to talk through your requirements. They have probably dealt with cases like this before where they have to provide urgent continuity of treatment.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

In case you're unfamiliar with Swiss insurance... "cover" doesn't mean the insurance pays 100% of all costs. In general you should expect to pay:

1 - A monthly premium
2 - An annual deductible (also known as a franchise) and
3 - Co-payments of 10% of each bill for the next 7,000 CHF in costs

Because you need regular treatment, I recommend selecting the lowest deductible offered by whatever insurance company and model work best for you. Some models require you to call a doctor before doing anything, others let you have free choice, etc. Best of luck with the move. :)

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

:eek: Ours is only the next 700! Does it go up or down depending on what franchise you choose?

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

no, but 10% of 7000 is 700;)

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Yeah, I probably could have phrased that better. :o

Out of the next 7K billed over your franchise, you pay 10%. i.e. 700. But you pay it in increments. Example:

Your first bill for dialysis is 100 Francs (honestly no idea, just going for simple numbers). You choose a franchise of 300. You'll pay all of that 100 Francs the first 3 times you go for dialysis. The fourth time, you'll pay 10% of the bill, or 10 Francs. Rinse and repeat until you've paid another 700 Francs for a grand total of 1000, plus what you've paid in premiums.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

If you need dialysis every other day- you will therefore need it on day of arrival. So you really need to find a hospital or clinic or nephrology clinic- and pre-arrange to be safe- and you will probably be very tired too.

Is your accommodation pre-organised for you too? You need to find out how easy it is to get to hospital/clinic from where you will live and from work/uni, etc.

Will you be a student or work- and will you be given the time required to get to clinic/hospital and have the treatment, every other day?

I am so sorry, as I really hope your renal condition will not hamper your wish to travel- but I do hope you will discuss it with your specialists in India and ensure it is safe for you to travel- and to possibly wait several days for your first treatment. I wish you all the very best.

Is there anyone in the Zurich area who can help with advice on a renal specialist and dialysis unit?

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Note that even if it takes a few days or even weeks to sort out your basic insurance, you will be covered from the date you establish residency - you are required to have basic insurance, and all companies offering basic insurance will be required to accept you, all backdated. Swiss "basic" insurance is honestly pretty good, and certainly covers essentials like dialysis treatments.

So, even if you don't have insurance sorted out you can go to a dialysis center, pay up front and get reimbursed once the insurance is in place. The only complication that I can imagine is that the insurance might want to see a prescription from a Swiss doctor. However, the hospital or dialysis center is likely to know quite well what is required and to have suggestions for doctors covering dialysis patients. So the best preparation is to contact such a place.

Do you know where exactly you'll live? In particular, your postcode of residence can have a large effect on insurance rates. Once you know this though, the aformentioned comparis.ch will give you quotes for most health insurance companies and you probably can start the enrollment process before you actually arrive.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

OP joined EF in 2011 and been here before. So I am confused.

Anyway, regarding dialysis, try to arrange your insurance coverage before hand and hook up with a doctor/dialysis centre. Failing all else, when you are here walk into a hospital and explain. They should be able to organise the dialysis for first few times.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Also, maybe it would be a good idea to get your medical records handed over to you (or copied/loaded onto a memory stick) which you can then hand over to your new doc.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Life happens. Perhaps when OP was in Switzerland before, his/her health situation was different. I think it's wise to ask now what should be done to arrange for dialysis.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Just an FYI:

In Zürich there are several dialysis centers offering 'holiday dialysis', that is, catering to tourists who need dialysis while visiting.

While these are likely not the best long term solution for you, if you find that you are having difficulties setting up the care you need right away you might look into these as a stop-gap measure.

One such is Spital Waid:
https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/waid/en..._dialysis.html

A friend's visitor who needed dialysis went here. English spoken.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

JnK,

Looking at the link I posted above, and at some other 'holiday dialysis' centers, it seems that most do not offer dialysis on Sundays.

That underscores the need to plan your travel and treatment carefully and well in advance. Wherever you choose to be treated, be sure you understand the center's dialysis schedules. Book treatment for your first week(s) in advance - and if you need dialysis every other day, do not arrive on a weekend.

By and large, Switzerland is not a 24/7 country. Of course hospital emergency rooms are staffed 24/7, but with a known need please keep that in mind.

Do as much as you can in advance of your arrival.

Wishing you all the best, and safe travels.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Thanks for all of your response and care!

I have lived in Zurich for a long period earlier and I am aware of the goodness of insurance system of Switzerland which makes me even think of being able to do all the arrangements with dialysis situation.

Besides all the travel arrangements, I will have to arrange first with dialysis station (I am already in talk with one such facility at Klinik Im Park , seestrasse, ZH ). I am trying to setup a schedule with them. What they ask is the insurance details which I do not have as of now. Otherwise, I need to pay upfront.

I will also look for other links shared.

I spoke to Group Mutuel (My earlier insurance company) and they mentioned that anything about insurance, they will start only after my getting registered in Switzerland. ( They did mention that dialysis will be covered but very tough to get an proper answer in English for finding a way to get insured from day 1)

My concern is "Is there any way if I can initiate my insurance right from my country so that I can get the insurance number ASAP after or AT arrival"

As far as staying and other movement related is concerned, I have to make all the arrangements only after my dialysis schedule get finalized.


I do not know if it really makes much of difference in insurance amount according to the canton I live?

It is very delicate move which requires lots of planning with care especially when need to move with family with 2 kids. But I know Swiss system will take a good care of me :-)

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Jnk, your permit is already approved so I assume you/your employer has had notification of this. Ask your insurance company if this is sufficient proof that you will be a resident here soon so they can arrange cover. If so then send them a copy or get your employer to send you one which you can then pass on.

If not, then the only way to get coverage from day one is to go straight to the migration office to start the process of getting the permit issued. They should then provide you with a document saying this which you can then provide to the insurance company. Quickest way would probably be to go straight to their office if it's local and arrange it there and then.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

Answering 2. first, yes it makes a difference which Kanton and which Gemeinde you live in on insurance premiums.

As for 1. it does not matter much, because you will be covered from the day you arrived in CH, backdated, by which ever Insurance company you end up choosing. Hence, the eligible expense from that date of entry should be covered. What you MUST keep in mind is that you are unlikely to get Supplementary Insurance (pre-existing condition) hence will be covered only for Basic Insurance. Which covers costs usually only in the Kanton of residence. To simplify your process, it will be easier if all your treatments from the beginning are done in the Kanton of intended residence at hospitals which are covered under Basic Insurance.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

It may be a good idea to plan for this just in case, at least in part. You won't have met your deductible/franchise or the additional 10% of expenses on the day you arrive, so you will have to pay for part of the treatment at some point. Whether or not the hospital would expect payment at the time of service I can't tell you.

In my admittedly limited experience, the doctor, insurance and hospital all have to coordinate in advance in order for the hospital to bill insurance directly. Otherwise you might have to pay up front and then get reimbursed.

So yes, you will be covered from your day of arrival. But that doesn't mean you won't have to pay anything before treatment the first time.

What do you mean supplementary insurance? something like international insurance which can insure me if I travel for some other country for vacation or something?

So, if I stay in Zurich kanton, I can only be covered in Zurich kanton...no where else?


Not yet there.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

No, it's for things like semi-private or private room, alternative medical treatment, cover if you need to call out an ambulance, etc. If you travel to another EU country then you would be covered for emergencies only through your basic Swiss health insurance cover.

But you say you are coming in January on an L permit. So your employer must know that you're getting an L permit already.

Re: Dialysis coverage
 

The application has been submitted by my employer and as per the expectations and SLA, I should be getting the permit in coming 2 months.