Switzerland law makes it compulsory for those who enter the country to avail basic health insurance within 3 months.
The Federal Office of Public Health is the main regulatory body that delegates the responsibility of providing adequate healthcare management to private but non-profit organizations.
The insurance providers offer a wide range of healthcare insurance packages to suit the requirements of individuals, dependents, and other special cases.
The basic insurance schemes, as per the Swiss Federal Health Insurance Act all provide a similar level of healthcare coverage between most of the insurers.
Since the process of health insurance comparison can be time-consuming, most visitors are advised to start their process along with applying for permits.
The law has been passed to provide high-quality healthcare for all citizens, and even subsidize it for those who cannot afford the costs.
It should be noted that Switzerland’s insurance premiums can be very high, though the assured high level of care is the main reason for the costs.
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In case of sickness, accidents, and even maternity healthcare, basic insurance is usually enough to cover the medical expenses.
The Swiss healthcare system is made possible by a combination of public and private health insurance.
The compulsory basic insurance covers adequate medical care for cases of sickness and also preventive measures involved in maternity.
This also covers basic accidental coverage, but only if you work for more than 8 hours a week with the same employer.
Otherwise, you would require additional accident coverage. Related health care such as dental or glasses is not covered in such packages.
A major aspect of Swiss health insurance is that all family members are insured individually, even children and other dependents.
You are free to choose any insurance that you find the most appropriate for your requirements, so you can do an individual health insurance comparison and choose different insurers to ensure complete coverage for you and your family members.
BASIC HEALTH INSURANCE
Compulsory basic Swiss health insurance covers outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, emergency or accidents, pharmaceuticals, childbirth, rehabilitation, and in some cases, even alternative therapies.
The insurance providers must accept all individuals who apply for basic health insurance and ensure equal quality of care irrespective of the income or the policy.
A health insurance comparison shows that monthly premiums do vary from insurer to insurer, depending on the canton or state of residence, as the healthcare system is highly decentralized.
Other factors that affect the costs of the premiums are the insurance models, age of the applicant, and the insurance company as well.
Citizens with low income are generally granted subsidies on premiums, which is regulated at the state level.
It is advisable that you do a health insurance comparison regularly since you can change your insurance provider once a year.
To know more about the health insurance comparison, search insurance companies website and compare.
Basic health insurance coverage still requires you to contribute to the cost of your treatment. You would have chosen your deductible while availing the insurance, which is the initial cost that you must bear before the insurance coverage kicks in.
Even after the deductible, you are liable for almost 10% of the medical care costs in any calendar year.
The benefits of compulsory health insurance have to be the same, but the premiums can still vary on the level of customer service and medical services offered by different providers.
That is why the government encourages all citizens to undertake an individual health insurance comparison before choosing the insurance package.
SUPPLEMENTARY SWISS HEALTH INSURANCE
Standard plans are great if you are in the excellent physical condition and rarely require medical care.
In such cases, you would definitely opt for the lowest premiums when doing your healthcare insurance comparison. However, they are intended to provide comprehensive coverage for all your requirements.
That is why you can opt for supplementary health insurance for additional benefits such as dental care, spectacles, better health care providers, etc.
These packages will vary from insurer to insurer, so can be customized as required. However, the insurer can choose who is eligible depending on their policies and the applicant’s risk profiles.
HOW TO FIND THE BEST HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance premiums are not dependent on your income, but on your individual risk profile.
Children and low-income adults are eligible for state or cantonal subsidies, which ensure adequate care but within set limits.
For example, they may have to visit only specific general practitioners for any health issues. If further care or expert opinion is required, the GP will then refer them.
Each individual is liable for monthly premiums, and additionally, contributes to the total medical costs.
However, this amount is capped by law so you know the maximum you would need to spend on healthcare. Some steps you can follow to reduce the premiums:
- You can choose more than one insurance provider to cover the basic and additional healthcare to ensure comprehensive coverage but reduce premium costs.
- Opting for a restricted choice of doctors also reduces your premium liability.
- Telemedicine is another way of reducing premiums – if you agree to a telephone counseling service before physically meeting a doctor, you can further reduce your health insurance premiums.
- A comprehensive health insurance comparison and regularly updating your health policy is the most important step to reduce your costs.
CONCLUSION
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Due diligence and care in doing your health insurance comparison is a major step in helping you balance excellent healthcare without imposing too many costs or expensive premiums in accessing health insurance.