Hello,

Having moved to Switzerland and now being a B permit resident, I'm trying to figure out if I need to buy additional insurance for things like rescue services in the mountains or on rivers, e.g. an accident when walking, climbing, or kayaking

I've got regular, private, health insurance but I don't think it covers a helicopter rescue.

Does anyone know what we get from being a B permit resident and what we'd have to pay for without supplemental insurance?

Just join Rega - this is about 70CHF a year and should cover the worst case scenarios. It is also wordwide cover.
http://www.rega.ch/en/start_en.aspx

Second the Rega nomination. Wouldn't leave home without it at 30 chf/yr.

A little note. If you are not Swiss, it ONLY covers you in CH. So if you are skiing in Port du Soleil for example where you may run into FR, I suggest the one day 4chf plan you buy with your lift ticket.

If you are woking here you have most of it in your accident insurance coverage (SUVA). But it is a really good idea to join Rega too. It only costs 30CHF a year. or 70CHF for a family.

This year they gave vouchers with your membership which allowed for a night in a hotel in the St. Moritz area for 35CHF and a Ski pass for 35CHF which was an amazing deal. Its well worth the money and you will be happy about it if you ever have an accident in the mountains.

Man, are you guys fast at answering!

Joined REGA moments ago online.

Thanks!

There is also Air Zermatt rescue

http://www.air-zermatt.ch/air_zermat...?content=EN056

Not entirely true. According to the Rega "conditions", you are entitled to worldwide "Medically justified repatriation flights to Switzerland for patients domiciled in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein..." so if you have a Swiss residency permit, you should be covered outside of Switzerland.

You have to differentiate between the actual SAR effort and the subsquent repatriation flight.

If you read your employer-sponsored insurance policy you should in principle be covered for airborne SAR costs up to a proportion of your salary (but usually a ceiling of 20k CHF).

is there any difference in coverage between Rega and Air Glaciers?

i ski primarily in CH but sometimes in FR and IT.

This from the FAQ page:
Benefits relating to repatriation flights from abroad are only granted to patrons who are permanently domiciled in Switzerland (irrelevant of their nationality) and to Swiss nationals living abroad. Repatriation flights to locations outside Switzerland are possible, but incur costs that Rega is not able to cover itself.

So no need for the CHF4 a day plan as far as I can see. You're already covered.

Haven't joined before but I'm thinking it would be a good idea, even though we don't ski or go to the mountains much. Just having someone at the end of phone who can help you deal with doctors/medical stuff when abroad is worth the price.

I think (may be wrong) the main difference is that Air Glaciers and Air Zermatt only operate in Valais in terms of intervention on the ground, while Rega covers the rest of Switzerland.

But they work together, so being a Rega member doesn't mean that you are not covered if you have an accident in Valais.

Rega only covers mountain rescue in Switzerland and the mandatory accident insurance has some limitations too (mine does not cover heli-boarding for example).

To be really covered, I've understood that the insurance offered by the french alpine club is the way to go as it covers pretty much everything everywhere.

hmmm, i don't understand why anyone would ever sign up for AG when Rega adds the repatriation service and is 5chfs cheaper.

also, what if you are skiing in a group, some have Rega coverage, some have AG coverage, there is an accident and your friends call their Rega but you have AG. is there some reciprocal agreement between the two to provide service? or do i need both to ensure i'm covered 100%?

I don't think it matters which of the organisations you subscribe to. If the accident happens in Valais, AG or AZ will come. If it happens in the Bernese Oberland or elsewhere, Rega will come.

And as far as I know, both of them only intervene financially to cover the difference if you are not covered by your own personal insurance - they are primarily rescue services, not insurance companies.

[QUOTE=Eire;291487]If you are woking here you have most of it in your accident insurance coverage (SUVA). But it is a really good idea to join Rega too. It only costs 30CHF a year. or 70CHF for a family.
/QUOTE]

On that subject. According to SUVA website

https://extra.suva.ch/suva/b2c/downl...ile=1807_E.pdf

They do cover rescue and transportation costs worldwide but with "certain restrictions" Any idea what those restrictions are?

Also they will not cover you if you subjected yourself to an "extraordinary" amount of risk. What is extraordinary? Is skiing off-piste or mountain biking considered "extraordinary risk"?

Finally, I do understand that Rega is cheap, but if you are already covered by SUVA, than what is the point?

It doesn't matter if you have Air Zermatt or Rega.. they cover your rescue costs regardless of which company does the rescue. Trust me, when you're in need of a helicopter you wouldn't be turning down the one that arrives because it's the wrong company.

Your accident insurance through your employer should cover all rescue/transport costs.

Basic accident insurance through krankenkasse doesn't, however if you add on ambulantversicherung you probably are covered.

Personally I like the added back-up for 30-35chf a year with Rega/AirZ… I was very glad to know I had that membership card in my pocket when the heli was being called.. one less thing to worry about.

Yes, the AirZ/Rega membership is not an insurance, but as a member if you are in the situation where your insurance won't pay out, they will waive/cover the fees.

REGA offers worldwide cover, not just Switzerland- and not just mountain accidents either.

Journey home by air-ambulance

Rega is standing by ready to come to your aid anywhere in the world. The following incident is one example of how a repatriation operation from abroad is carried out.
Accident abroad – Rega comes to the rescue

During their holiday on Corfu, Mr and Mrs M. hire a motor scooter. As they go round a tight bend, they lose control of the vehicle and are thrown off onto the ground. Fortunately, Mr M. has only suffered some grazes, but his wife’s head is bleeding and she is complaining of severe back pain. She is taken to the casualty unit at a local clinic.

Later, the doctor shows the couple on the X-ray picture that Mrs M. has broken a vertebra. As he only speaks broken English, they do not know if this injury could result in paralysis. Mr M. has his Rega patronage with him and contacts the Rega Operations Centre by calling the emergency number +41 333 333 333.

Flight coordinator Sabine Zahn makes a note of the patient’s data and finds out about the medical care on Corfu and about the hospital where Mrs M is being treated. She records the name of the doctor in attendance, takes details of the cause of the accident and the diagnosis, and asks how the couple had planned to return home. Then she informs Mr M. that the Rega medical coordinator would contact the doctor at the hospital and discuss with him the medical situation.


... and if they are not happy with the treatment you are getting, they will send a private plane with a doctor and a nurse to pick you up.... as they did for my friend on holiday in Tunisia.

FYI… SUVA is just one accident insurance provider. Not all companies accident insurance is with SUVA.

[QUOTE=LeshkaMTL;2078288] A pretty sill question for a country with lots of mountains & off piste skiing This is not UK insurance.

If there is a huge risk of avalance, and you've decided to ignore this- and get into trouble- if there is a very high risk of loss of life for REGA staff- they will not come out. Rare and extreme circumstances- but they have lost a doctor who is a father of young children in such circumstances- and others too- and enough is enough. Most of the staff are off-piste skiers, and dedicated to rescue, but if people really are totally stupid and take totally stupid risk- then why should REGA staff die for them