I got an email from my old employer with an invoice from the hosiptal which came to approx 1000 CHF. As i no longer live or work in Switzerland or have any intention of going back do i have to pay the invoice for the care I recieved?
Will this effect me traveling to other countries?
I guess I need to know what will happen if\when i dont pay?
Thanks all
If the company had some gumption they would have called the local doctor, whose fee would be covered by all the health insurances. If an ambulance was required, the doctor could call for it and the insurance would have to pay for it.
Personally I would return the invoice to the company and explain that you did not order this expensive service, the company did, and morally you don't feel inclined to pay.
The hospital expenses will be covered by your insurance.
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Would you rather you were left on the floor to see if you came round or died? Your employer should have had some sort of insurance and so should you. If neither had it then pay it if you ever want to come back here.
Plus how do you think your none payment will play with future expats when an ambulance is called??
I know someone who had a similar experience: fainted at work, a colleague called an ambulance on her behalf. Her health insurance requested clarification (was it a sudden illness, or an accident? why that hospital instead of one in the canton where she lived?) and as soon as that was provided, they promptly paid up.
Who actually phoned for the ambulance isn't relevant; you're the one who received medical treatment so it's your bill. (If you think for even half a minute you'll see that it has to be this way: someone who needs an ambulance may not be in a condition to call for one himself, or even ask someone else to call.)
The non-payment? Hopefully, but maybe not.
Violence, lots of violence.
Go back and check what your deductible. Then if it's under 1000CHF pay the bill then send it to the insurance company for reimbursement.
I hope other expacts employers are more diligent in such situations.
I had a severe panic attack at a train station three years ago. As I was incapable of communicating what was wrong, and was curled up on the floor, a train station employee called an ambulance.
The ambulance staff managed to get out of me that I'd been heading for an outpatient session at the psychiatric hospital, took me there, and I was hospitalised for a weekend because my doctor wasn't on duty and the on call doctor wasn't willing to let me go home without her say so.
Thankfully, I had a low franchise and had already met both that and the upper limit of the deductible... but I was still sent a bill for half of the ambulance ride's cost.
Rather an expensive panic attack.... but I can understand why they called an ambulance and am thankful for the four or five people who helped me instead of just ignoring the shaking woman standing frozen half-way up the stairs.
As others have said, even if you had health insurance if you had not met your franchise you will be eligible for the full cost. If you had met your franchise but not paid over CHF 700 in the 10% contribution you make to bills after you've paid off your franchise you will be eligible for 10% plus half the cost. If you had the bad luck to be so ill during five months that you'd paid out all your franchise AND over CHF 700 10% contributions... you'd STILL have to pay half the cost.
Check what your franchise was. Pay the bill, but send it to your medical insurer here in Switzerland anyway. They should then get back to you with a refund, if you are entitled to one.
(I think the above procedure may vary from insurance company to insurance company... perhaps if you post your insurer someone will be able to give you detailed advice for your provider).
I appreciate it is hard coming from the UK system where we don't have to worry about such things... in my humble opinion, we have better care in Switzerland, but we do pay for it.
If it's going to be a real hardship paying the sum all in one go, I suggest you contact the hospital and ask if you can pay by instalments. I paid off an unexpected medical bill over 6 months because I couldn't afford to pay it all at once. I'm sure the hospital would rather you pay little by little than not at all.
In an emergency:
Call a local doctor , If there is serious danger, bleeding, convulsions: he will probably get there faster than an ambulance. He is more qualified than a medic, and has stronger drugs with him. He can then call an ambulance if necessary, the insurance will then pay 100%
If there is no serious emergency, and a doctor is not around: for fainting, broken limb, no bleeding,
Call a taxi , the insurance will not pay, but it's much cheaper than an ambulance
If anyone calls an ambulance, the patient will be charged 100% of the costs. If the patient has the necessary insurance, he will only pay 50% of the costs.
On another note, if you are in debt to your health insurance company (Betreibung, pousuite issued) the insurance may refuse to refund you the costs.
OP - why were you working in a hot sauna for an hour? (or in a hot sauna at all?)