Importance of Health Insurance Comparisons in Switzerland

Switzerland is considered one of the best locations in the world to live and work in and attracts lots of applications for residency. More than just the scenic beauty, the country boasts of excellent healthcare infrastructure that is one of the best in the world. 

Healthcare insurance is compulsory for all those residing in Switzerland and ensures timely expert medical care. It provides cover for illness, maternity, accidents, etc., and guarantees the same high level of services and benefits to all the insured people. This is actually an important tenet of the healthcare insurance system – that the insurers must provide equal quality treatment for everyone, without any discrimination on the basis of the individual’s health status or any other indicators, especially during enrolment, when choosing insurance type, or even for reimbursement of costs. 

Compulsory health insurance is an amazing social accomplishment that makes it possible to ensure high-quality healthcare to all citizens. It is financed by premiums paid by policyholders, co-payments which include a deductible, retention fee, contribution to hospital stay costs, and premium subsidies provided by federal and cantonal funding. 

The insurer calculates all the costs involved and the returns on their capital to arrive at the costs of the premium. 

Premiums are not based on the income of the policyholder, but rather on the insurance provider, place of residence, and which type of insurance is required e.g., optional deductible, with a restricted choice of healthcare providers, etc. 

Premium subsidies are earmarked for people on a low income, children, and young adults who are in education/ training. The decisions on eligibility are made at the cantonal level. 

Only the compulsory health insurance resources can be used by insurers for providing social health insurance. 

Choosing the right Insurance

Applicants can choose any insurance provider who offers services in their location of residence. The law makes it compulsory for insurers to accept any person who is subject to compulsory insurance. 

Applicants also have the choice among different types of insurance such as optional deductible, free or restricted choice of providers, etc. With a restricted choice of providers, policyholders pay a lower premium but require consultation with their GP who can then recommend a visit to the specialist. The free choice would mean the policyholder can choose from a list of authorized specialists, or hospitals, for the treatment of their condition. These choices play a huge role in determining the premium that the policyholder has to pay. 

Hospitals and healthcare services providers can be compensated either by policyholders or by insurers. Policyholders are in turn reimbursed by their insurer through the tiers garant system for their costs such as the physician’s bills. Insurers can also directly pay the service providers if those are the terms of their agreement as per the tiers payant system, e.g., for hospital bills or medicines. 

Comparison of Health Insurance Premiums in Switzerland

Health insurance providers calculate the premiums for the applicant’s compulsory health insurance or basic insurance, and the optional daily allowance insurance. Insurers must submit the proposed premiums to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) for approval. 

It is the FOPH’s responsibility to make sure that the premiums can cover the solvency of the insurer, and also safeguard the interests of the policyholders. Approval is subject to government regulations and statutory requirements. Premiums should be adequate to cover costs, but not exceed costs significantly or create excessive reserves with the insurer. 

Once the health insurance premiums are approved by the FOPH, they are published to the public. You can access an overview and a neutral premium calculator for compulsory health insurance at https://www.healthinsurance-swiss.ch/. You can also check the premiums for optional daily allowance insurance on the FOPH website when choosing your insurance provider for the following year. You can only change your insurance provider after one year. 

Importance of Health Insurance Comparison in Switzerland

Switzerland provides one of the best healthcare facilities in the world for its citizens, which is made possible by significant premiums. Since it is compulsory for all permanent and temporary residents, adequate care must be taken while choosing the insurance package and the insurer. 

Insurance is provided for individuals, not families, and you can also choose different policies for different members. For example, you can choose the most relevant policy for children or dependant parents, etc. 

The right policy is one that balances a host of benefits available to you with the costs of high premiums. There are great resources online for a comprehensive health insurance comparison to calculate your premium and choose the perfect plan for you and your loved ones. 

CONCLUSION

It may seem confusing when you start a health insurance comparison, but it is actually a streamlined process to ensure comprehensive health care. Since the compulsory health insurance system guarantees the same great level of care for everyone, you can reduce your premiums with due diligence and a comprehensive health insurance comparison. 

To compare the health insurance in Switzerland, you can visit https://www.healthinsurance-swiss.ch/