Basic insurance - (KVG)
Officially it is called “KVG” and is the basic insurance to be able to use health services. Anyone who moves to Switzerland has three months to be able to conclude a basic contract.
As previously announced, there are numerous insurance companies that offer health insurance as one of their products. The benefits that are reimbursed by basic insurance are the same for all companies and are prescribed by law, while the costs to be paid differ from insurance to insurance.
The basic insurance usually includes:
- outpatient care
- hospital care
- medications prescribed by the doctor
- maternity care
- rehabilitation checks
- controls for children
- emergency care (for example, if you are abroad for a short period)
- trip by ambulance
However, it should be remembered that often some of the above expenses are only partially covered by basic insurance.
For example:
→ The ambulance journey: a short ride can cost you up to 2000 CHF. And basic insurance covers only 50% of this type of expense (up to a maximum of 500 CHF per year).
→ In the event of a hospital stay, the amount charged to you is 15 CHF per day. Minors, young adults in training and women who do not participate in the costs of maternity benefits, do not pay any contribution to the costs of hospitalization.
How health insurance works in Switzerland
The Swiss health insurance fund usually involves for you a monthly fee to be paid, also called “premiums”. Those who want to save can opt for a single annual payment, if the insurance you have chosen includes this formula.
When the time comes to take out health insurance, you will have to decide on the corresponding deductible (also known as “franchise” in Switzerland). It is important to know that, even if you are required to pay a monthly premium, all health insurances have an annual deductible, or a certain amount of expenses that you will still be required to bear alone. The deductible can vary from a minimum of 300 to a maximum of 2500 CHF per year.
If you are in good health and don’t have any major problems, the most sensible way to minimize your monthly premium is to choose the higher deductible. In fact, the deductibles are divided into classes (from 300 CHF up to a maximum of 2500 CHF per year): choosing the maximum one will pay up to around 120 CHF less in the monthly premium.
In general, the premium price you pay is divided into a number of costs that can be influenced by objective factors (for example, your age) and subjective factors (which deductible you choose to pay).
It should be emphasized that the more likely you are to get sick, the more you will have to pay. In fact, the premium to be paid varies according to age, but also according to the place of residence (based on the canton and even the “Gemeinde”) and the deductible.
What if you feel bad?
You will have to pay the medical bills out of your own pocket, but then you can apply for a refund. However, you should know that the reimbursement is only up to 90% (even after exceeding the annual deductible): the remaining 10% is charged to the person and is called a percentage rate (fortunately up to a maximum of 700 CHF per year for adults, 350 CHF for minors).