According to my health insurance the taking of blood samples is only reimbursed if the subsequent analyses are performed in the same clinic/laboratory. This appears to have only been applied recently as I haven´t had this experience before. My doctor said I should have been reimbursed. Has the law regarding this changed recently? Does anyone know who I can contact for further information?

We just had some samples taken for our twin boys in St Gallen, there were two labs involved, one in Berne and one in St Gallen, total was in excess of CHF1100 per boy. SWICA payed both bills and the hospital bill without any problems, we had to pay the 10% amount. However we are still awaiting the results after 6 weeks! If there is a medical need for the tests, there should be no problems with reimburment. Contact your insurance company for advise if you are in doubt, they don't bite!

The problem is I have already contacted my health insurance and they say they are not reimbursing the taking of the blood samples because the analyses are not performed in my doctor´s surgery. My doctor said that it should be reimbursed....so I have a stalemate. I don´t know where else to go for clarification of this.

Most analysis is done in a lab, what sort of money are we talking here? There usually needs to be a medical reason why the blood is tested, so I don't know why your insurance company is not willing to pay.

maybe check beobachter.ch or the ombudsman. The latter is probably your best bet. Try Ombudsmann + krankenkasse in google (I think that is how I found them once).

Thanks muze7. I will try the ombudsman.

Telandy - although the amount is insignificant, it will add up and it´s more the principle of the thing - I thought it was very clear in the law what is reimbursed and what is not, but I don´t know where to find this detailed law information. Hopefully the ombudsman can help. For me to go across town to give a blood sample, just so it can be analysed in the same lab it´s taken it makes no sense, when it can be done quickly in the doctor´s office.

Thanks for your help. If I hear back from the ombudsman I will post an update.