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HEALTH INSURANCE

Reader question: Will my Swiss insurance cover me if I catch coronavirus abroad?

Being ill is bad enough while you are at home, but getting infected with Covid-19 while in a foreign country makes the situation much worse. This is what you can expect from your insurance provider in Switzerland.

Published: 9 April 2021 15:50 CEST
Reader question: Will my Swiss insurance cover me if I catch coronavirus abroad?
If you hospitalised abroad due to Covid, your care should be paid for. Photo by Anna Shvets / Pexels

Everyone living in Switzerland is required to take out at least the basic health insurance coverage, the so-called KVG in German, and LaMal in French and Italian.

This insurance will pay for medical emergencies abroad, whether you have an accident, need urgent surgery, or —  as in the case of coronavirus — become ill and require immediate treatment.

If you do need urgent care while out of the country, you will have to notify your carrier by calling the number indicated on the back of your insurance card.

Keep in mind, however, that when it comes to insurance coverage, not all countries are created equal.

If you get sick in one of the EU or EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) nations, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — that is, your regular Swiss insurance card — entitles you to receive the same paid services as someone who is insured in that country.

But if you are unfortunate enough to contract Covid and require hospitalisation while in the United States, where the cost of medical care is notoriously high, your LaMal coverage will not suffice to cover whatever costs you incur.

READ MORE: Should you buy supplemental health insurance in Switzerland?

That’s because the insurance will reimburse up to a maximum of twice what the same treatment would have cost in Switzerland.

If, however, you have a supplemental private insurance, your carrier will cover more costs. And if you took out additional health insurance to cover the cost of treatment abroad, it would pay for most (if not all) of the costs which are unrefunded by your main insurance.

Typically, you will have to pay for your medical care immediately. Then, when you return to Switzerland, send the documents you received from a foreign doctor or hospital to your insurance for a refund.

In order to be reimbursed, you will have to fill out a form (which is available either online or which your carrier will mail you), detailing the history of your illness or accident — how and where it happened, and what medical care you received.

Then send it back to the insurance company along with the invoice from the hospital, proof of payment, and medical records showing what tests, treatment, and medication you were given, and how much you were charged for each.

Make sure you have all this paperwork before you ask for a refund. If your documents are incomplete or an important piece is missing, the insurance may refuse to pay.

Relating specifically to coronavirus, you will also need a written certificate from a foreign health authority stating that you are fully recovered and able to travel.

And, at least for the time being, you must have a negative Covid test to come back to Switzerland.

Reader question: What documents do I need to enter Switzerland?

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HEALTH INSURANCE

How Switzerland’s political parties want to curb surge in health costs

As voters in Switzerland are set to weigh in on two initiatives seeking to lower insurance premiums, the country’s politicians are proposing their own cost-cutting measures.

Published: 3 May 2024 13:02 CEST
How Switzerland's political parties want to curb surge in health costs

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).

One calls for capping the insurance rates at 10 percent of income, while the other provides for a ‘brake’ on health costs, which should evolve according to the economy and wages.

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

Each initiative has its supporters and opponents, but regardless of what happens on June 9th, the issue of health insurance premiums, and health costs in general, will remain the focus of many political debates.

But while everyone in Switzerland agrees that health insurance is too expensive for most people, opinions on how to make it more affordable  differ along the political lines.

These are some of the main views, as reported by Swiss media.

Social Democrats 

The party that has spearheaded the ’10-percent of income’ initiative to be voted on June 9th, is also calling for scrapping of multiple private carriers  in favour of a single, government-run health fund.

The party argues that such a system would help keep the costs low.

Others, however, disagree, saying that lack of competition would have just the opposite effect: instead of reducing costs, it would increase them further.

They also point out that a private insurance system offers more choices  and provides a higher quality of services — including better access to specialists and shorter wait times for medical procedures —  than a public option.

READ ALSO: Could Switzerland ever change to state-run health insurance scheme? 

The Greens

The party has also spoken in favour of a single health provider, in addition to premiums based on income and wealth.

While the idea has gained support in some circles, others, including the Federal Council, have pointed out that the current system is “already income-based,” because low-earners are eligible for government subsidies if health insurance premiums exceed 8 percent of their revenue. 

The Greens also consider the fight against global warming as a health policy, saying that in Switzerland alone, more than 2,000 people die each year from diseases caused by air pollution.

Liberal-Radicals (PLR)

The party supports the system where patients voluntarily choose generic rather than brand-name drugs in return for lower health insurance premiums.

Under the current scheme, those who choose generics are only responsible for a 10-percent co-pay, while it is 40 percent for brand medicines. 

But “if policyholders can actually choose the model they want, we can definitely consider [this option],” said health economist Willy Oggier.

Swiss People’s Party (SVP)

Perhaps the most radical proposal comes from the party that is most right-wing.

Its proposal: the compulsory health insurance must be abolished altogether.

Not only is this idea drastic, but it is not implementable under the current law.

That’s because the current legislation is the outcome of the 1994 referendum, when voters accepted a general obligation for health insurance.

To repeal it, another referendum would have to be held, with the majority voting to scrap this law.

But even if the compulsory insurance were to be abolished, people would have to pay even more for health care, Oggier said.
 

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