Switzerland

Make an appointment with a general practitioner who is under contract with an approved Swiss health insurer (most doctors are). When you arrive for your appointment, show your valid European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. Different cantons (Switzerland has 26 cantons) have their own practices regarding the payment of doctor’s fees. In some cantons, you must first pay for the treatment yourself and then apply for reimbursement from GE KVG by submitting the receipts. In other cantons, you will only need to pay the deductible.

You can see a specialist after receiving a referral from a general practitioner.

As a rule, you must pay any dentist treatment costs yourself. GE KVG will only reimburse you for dental costs if the need for treatment is due to an accident or a severe disease of the organs of occlusion. The payment procedure is similar to that for other doctors.

When collecting your prescribed medicines at a pharmacy in Switzerland, show your European Health Insurance Card and identity card together with your prescription. This allows you to receive partial reimbursement for the cost of your medicines. In Switzerland, prescriptions are generally valid for nine months.

Hospital treatment is available with a referral from a general practitioner or specialist.

In case of a medical emergency, you can go directly to the emergency department of a hospital. Show your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card, and request treatment covered by the GE KVG on the public section of the hospital. In addition to the deductible, all patients over the age of 26 will be charged a fixed daily fee for hospital treatment. You can search for hospitals using the search engine on the Spitalfinder website (available in German and French).

In Switzerland, hospitals typically treat both public and private patients. When seeking treatment as a private patient, you will be liable for the cost difference. GE KVG will only reimburse costs equivalent to similar treatment provided in the public section of the hospital.

50 percent of the cost of ambulance transport is reimbursed. Reimbursements are only provided up to an annual limit, after which the patient is responsible for the full cost of ambulance transport. The costs of rescue services (helicopter transport) are also reimbursed at 50 percent, up to the annual cap. Apply for reimbursement from GE KGV.

If your state of health requires you to use special transport when returning to Finland, you will be responsible for covering the full cost of the transport. It is recommended that you take out travel insurance that covers these costs.

Remember to make sure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your health centre with the patient records concerning the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging that yourself.

In the event of a treatment injury, the legislation and patient insurance of the country providing the treatment will apply. If you are dissatisfied with the treatment you received, you should first try to resolve the matter directly with the treatment provider. The Common Institution under the Federal Health Insurance Act (Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG) in Switzerland can help you find the appropriate authority if you wish to make a complaint.

The Swiss healthcare system includes both public and private healthcare services. Health insurance funds in Switzerland are non-profit organisations that provide insurance under the compulsory health insurance system (KVG). The funds must be recognised by the Federal Department of Home Affairs. They may also offer top-up insurance to complement the basic insurance.

Compulsory health insurance under the Health Insurance Law (KVG) guarantees all residents access to high-quality, comprehensive healthcare. It provides the same range of services and benefits to all insured persons. Top-up insurance is voluntary and covers a higher level of amenities (e.g. care in a semi-private or private hospital ward) or additional services and benefits (treatment by naturopaths, routine dental treatment, etc.).