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HEALTH INSURANCE

Reader question: Am I liable for ambulance costs in Switzerland?

Ambulance call-out costs are a bit of a grey area in Switzerland, and there are things you should know before you dial 144 — the national number for urgent medical help.

Published: 21 April 2022 12:18 CEST
Reader question: Am I liable for ambulance costs in Switzerland?
How much you will pay for this ride depends on how ill you are. Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP

Obviously, being driven to a hospital in an ambulance is not anyone’s idea of a fun ride, but there may be situations when this mode of transport could become necessary. Who pays for this service depends on several factors.

But first…this is what you should know about calling an ambulance:

If you or someone around you has a real medical emergency (see below), dial 144, wherever in Switzerland you may be.

A dispatcher will ask you what the nature of your emergency is, as well as other follow-up questions to determine if you need an ambulance in the first place.

Based on the linguistic region you are in, the dispatcher will speak German, French or Italian; they may also speak some English, but that is not guaranteed.

Once in an ambulance, you will be taken to a nearest hospital, although, depending on the seriousness of your symptoms, you may be given first aid on the way.

This a pretty standard procedure in most countries, not just in Switzerland.

How much does an ambulance call-out cost and who pays?

The cost of this service depends on where you live, ranging from about 900 to 2,100 francs, according to consumer site Comparis.ch

The compulsory health insurance (KVG in German and LaMal in French and Italian) covers half of this amount, but only up to 500 francs a year if the ambulance is called when there is no immediate danger to life but you are nevertheless unable to get to a hospital by other means of transportation, such as a car or bus.

It is not clear what urgent medical conditions would enable you to take public transportation, but that’s what the law says.

It is more reasonable to assume that in such a case someone will drive you to a hospital, but if that is not feasible either and you feel you need immediate medical help, then an ambulance may be your only option.

However, if ambulance is required for life-threatening conditions, KVG / LaMal will cover up to 5,000 francs of the cost of emergency transportation.

READ MORE: What is not covered by Switzerland’s compulsory health insurance

What is categorised as a ‘life-threatening condition’?

This is a true medical emergency, which, if not treated quickly and immediately, puts your life at risk.

This includes (but is not limited to) heart attacks and strokes, head trauma, severe respiratory distress, severe bleeding, serious injuries, and other conditions where any delay in treatment can put your life or health at risk.

Is there a coverage for ambulance rescue costs?

Some supplemental insurance policies guarantee a higher, or even unlimited, cover of all transportation and rescue costs.

Supplemental policies offer other advantages as well by paying for treatments and services not routinely covered by the basic insurance.

However, depending on your medical history and current health, it may be expensive or difficult to obtain.

While insurance companies must offer the same obligatory KVG / LaMal  coverage to everyone, regardless of health status, carriers can deny supplemental benefits to people deemed ‘at risk’.

This includes those with pre-existing medical conditions or history of repeated treatments.

However, if you are relatively healthy and have no chronic illnesses necessitating frequent treatments, you will not have a problem getting supplemental coverage.

More information can be found here:

Should you buy supplemental health insurance in Switzerland?

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HEALTH INSURANCE

How Switzerland’s two crucial health insurance referendums could impact you

The price of Swiss health insurance premiums has been rising significantly in the past few years, prompting political parties to launch two cost-cutting initiatives. The votes will take place in June and there's a lot at stake.

Published: 24 April 2024 15:33 CEST
How Switzerland's two crucial health insurance referendums could impact you

On June 9th, the Swiss will cast their votes on two issues aiming, though in different ways, to curb the continually increasing cost of the obligatory health insurance (KVG / LaMal).

This is what’s at stake.

The ’10-percent’ initiative

In view of the high (and rising) premiums and other costs of living, which eat up a big chunk of the budgets of low- and middle-income consumers, the Social Democratic Party has spearheaded a national vote to cap the insurance rates at 10 percent of income.

Anything over this limit should be paid for by the federal and cantonal government, the party says.

While this strategy may sound enticing to everyone tired of paying high premiums, the government warns that while this proposal looks good on paper, the ‘yes’ vote could unleash some serious consequences.

Its main argument is that this measure would cost several billion francs per year, and does not provide any incentives to control health costs.

Instead, the Federal Council and the parliament have concocted their own ‘counter initiative’ that they want voters to approve.

Under this proposal, cantons will have to increase the amount of financial help they pay toward health premiums for low-income people. 

READ ALSO: How do I apply for health insurance benefits in Switzerland?

‘For Lower Premiums’ initiative

For its part, the Centre party has come up with its own proposal to reduce health insurance costs, which will also be voted on June 9th.

It provides for a ‘brake’ on health costs, which should evolve according to the economy and wages.

This brake would work in the same way as the federal spending brake. Therefore, when healthcare costs exceed wages for a given year by 20 percent, the government must take action to bring the  costs down.

The government is asking voters to turn down the Centre’s proposal because it doesn’t take into account factors such as demography, technological progress in healthcare, as well as the dependence of salaries on economic developments.

Here too, the Federal Council and parliament have put out their own counter-project, providing for more targeted measures, including specific cost control objectives for healthcare services.

Are there any other proposals on the table aiming to curb the cost of insurance premiums?

Yes.

While they are not on the ballot, two ideas have been debated in past months.

One calls for scrapping multiple private carriers  in favour of a government-run single health insurance scheme, similar to that in the EU. 

The other idea floating around is to replace the current system where rates are determined by factors such as age and canton of residence, and base them on wages instead. 

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