Ambulance and health insurance

Family, Education, Health and Pets
21
Yes - Switzerlanded! But most have insurance that will pay. Of course many get caught out on ski/snowboarding/mountain trips and find themselves with bills for thousands and more! It really does NOT pay to not be insured in CH. If you are here as a tourist from Europe make sure you have your EHIC card- and for any dangerous activity, proper travel insurance.

22
I think that would fall under the purview of accident insurance, not health insurance.

23

I think the system here is terrible. My then 2 year old had a condition that resulted in 4 ambulance trips within a month to Kinderspital. The neuro told me that each time we MUST call an ambulance I specifically asked if we could drive him in and was told no as he could have stopped breathing at any point. So I phoned the ambulance, the first 3 arrived very quickly, sirens blaring. The 4th one, I was heavily questioned by the guy on the phone (and yes, I do understand that calling 4 ambulances in quick succession looks suspicious but I did explain that the doctor had said we should). He clearly didn't want to send an ambulance but I insisted. It took 3 times longer than the other ones to arrive, no siren. I was so angry. My son starting seizing again when the ambulance officers strolled casually into the house (clearly having been told there was no emergency) and it wasn't until the saw him that they realised things were indeed serious and they stepped up into gear.

now I wished I had complained at the time, but I was somewhat caught up in my sons condition for a long time so I didn't.

And yes, health insurance doesn't pay it all - but luckily for us my son is covered by IV (the government disability insurance) so we didn't have to pay anything.

24
why dont you call your insurance company and ask them to send a detailed bill of all costs?? maybe that helps you to figure out how much everything costs, which part they paid and which part you have to pay... but as aforementioned you have to pay 50% and they cover 50% thats for the basic insurance. Good luck and hope you are feeling better and next time just call a cab!

25
It's much more of a rip-off if you have not met your deductible. My insurance told me the 50% under basic that is "covered" is not if you have not met the franchise - you pay 100% until the franchise is met.

Even with supplementary only the remaining 50% not covered by basic goes to supplementary and you pay 10% of that. So you end up paying 60% of the cost when you think you have 90% coverage. The "new math" employed is ridiculous.

Ex: insurance says:

Total bill: 600 chf

50% basic ins: 300 CHF (deductible not met)

90% supplementary: 300 CHF

To pay: 330 chf

i say:

Total bill: 600 chf

50% basic ins: 300 CHF (don't use the word "covered" if its not)

90% supplementary: 300 CHF

To pay: 30 chf

they told me swiss law prevents them from putting it all under the supplementary. makes you crazy!

the ambulance situation was totally unavoidable in this case =(

26
Did you tip the driver?

27
I don't like it, but if the ambulance is to be paid for then I understand their policy.

The ambulance is like any other cost associated with a medical emergency. You'd have to pay the surgeon and nurse up to your deductable too. It's all unavoidable really.

28
No, you take a cab, ask a neighbour, friend or whoever else you can think of. If you are still able to call for help yourself and don't look like becoming unconscious in the next thirty minutes, you don't need to use the costly and rare resource of an ambulance.

At least that's what I did when I managed to spectacularly slice up two of my fingers while cooking, I phoned the Aerztefon and asked who was on call, got a cab, end of story.

29
Just reviving this thread to ask if this rule still applies if a medical professional has arranged for the ambulance. I've been hospitalised today and was sent from Lausanne to Prangins via ambulance as there were no beds at Cery. I wasn't given a choice about it (nothing technically life threatening but well this is a psychiatric hospital). I'm sure I've read somewhere that if a doctor calls the ambulance you don't have to contribute... can someone confirm or deny this?

30
Yes, your insurance company.

Hope you are on the mend soon and it's nothing to serious.

31
So sorry to hear this and hope you get better soon.

If you have basic insurance only, you have to pay 50% of ambulance bill, and 50% covered by insurance, even if the doctor or a stranger calls for one. I am sorry.

It has caused huge upset in my area as the local hospital was closed some years back and everyone is sent to Neuchâtel or La Chaux-de-Fonds- and those with basic insurance have to pay 50%. People of course are arguing (quite rightly imho) that if there is no local hospital, it should be covered 100%.

If your insurance is paid by the social, I suppose they will pick up the bill too.

32
I year and a half ago, I had an ambulance ride ordered by a doctor.

I paid half, despite also having complementary (semi-private).

Tom

33
I guess that answers my question. I'll look forward to the bill.

34
My ambulance ride was rembursed 50% (minus 10% towards deductible) by basic insurance and another 35% by my complmentary insurance.

35
We're about to find out exactly how well we're covered for an ambulance ride.

Son is on his way to Neuchatel from Leysin in an ambulance with a badly fractured leg at this very moment.

36
Oh nooooo ...... Skiing???

37
Yes. End of his second day on the slopes.

38
All the best to your son, and to all sick people here on this thread - wish all will be better soon.

If this is considered accident (i think so), I believe the insurance will take care of all the costs.

39
Gutted! Hope he's ok!? Guess he won't be needing all that spending money (let him keep it).

40
Haha that's true. Or maybe use it towards the cost of the ambulance.

Seriously though we don't really care about the cost, we just want him back here safely and with an unstable fracture the ambulance was the best option.