Any thoughts welcome
I went for health check for Big Insurer who are dealing with pensions etc for the company I work for. The Doc who ran the tests asks me if he can have access to my medical records back in the uk, any advice please? I don't really have anything to hide but it somehow doesn't feel good as I'm not his client and all....
The Big Insurer wants to establish your health baseline. Not the doctor. You can hesitate and wait for their response. Either they keep quiet or they ask you to appear for more medical tests.
Highly inadvisable to conceal any known health problems. That could be an excuse for the insurer to refuse later claims.
You don't have to disclose your medical records, however I suspect the Doctor was possibly assuming that you would now be under his care.... Either that or he found something he wanted to clarify. At any rate, it never hurts to ask. Hope that helps.
This is untrue. Unlike in places such as the US, Swiss health insurers are prohibited from excluding someone from insurance cover based on their medical history. So long as you follow the basic rules laid out in your policy regarding seeking treatment (e.g. cover is for treatment within your canton only) your insurer cannot refuse to cover your medial costs. There's lots more info on comparis about what is covered under basic insurance.
Heather
It is not clear from the original post if the query concerns basic health insurance, accident insurance, or if perhaps the OP was requested to undergo a health check by the insurer of her pension fund (?).
Whilst an insurer is not permitted to reject applicants for basic health insurance, an insurer is entitled to reject coverage for treatment relating to a pre-existing medical condition. If a pre-existing medical condition is not disclosed at the time of taking out insurance, an insurer can refuse to pay a claim/medical costs in connection with this medical condition.
For accident insurance, an insurer will need to determine if the condition is indeed one that arose out of an accident, or if it is a pre-existing medical condition or related to such.
I have not heard of people undergoing health examinations in connection with their pension fund (maybe for a life insurance policy, though), but regardless of the type of policy, it could be that something you disclosed in your application form has prompted the insurer to investigate further to assess their risk in connection with your policy.
I am not sure about disclosure laws in Switzerland, but I doubt that an insurer is prevented from seeking information about your medical history. Though, ideally, you should co-operate with ther requests for medical disclosure. Otherwise, withholding information may lead to instances where the insurer can refuse to indemnify you.
(Note: I have used the term "pre-existing medical condition" above to mean a medical condition that existed prior to your current application for health insurance.)
The pension funds have a life insurance element attached.
all pension funds??
Right! Everyone is entitled to basic medical insurance. No questions asked. No medical exam.
Presumably the applicant had asked for supplementary insurance. Otherwise there was no need to see a doctor at all.
Thank you all, very helpful. Yes it was pension coverage, the provider sent me to have a check-up chez le doc with a loooong list of tests. Maybe they didn't like the sound of me....
I was under the impression that insurers could not refuse to pay for a treatment as long as it falls under the guidelines of basic health insurance, regardless of whether the condition is new or pre-existing
they don't actualy ask you to fill out medical questionaire or provide med records when you subscribe.