I have 4 moles, which are probably fine, but I would feel better having them checked.
Does anyone know if mole screening is covered by basic health insurance? Do you need to see your GP first and get a referral? (I don’t want to go to gp appointment really if they can’t actually do anything, waste of time and money).
I’d email a Derm clinic and ask, but health people in Switzerland are really weird about answering email enquiries.
Thanks
The check is included, removal will not necessarily be. If it’s for cosmetic reasons then no, if it precautionary then yes. Discuss it with the dermatologist.
I wasn’t referred I went straight to the dermatologist. It took forever to get an appointment though, it might be better with a referral.
As always, it may depend on your health insurance but in my case, checking moles was included, as was any necessary removal.
Just call them? Usually when you call to make an appointment they ask what it’s for anyway so you can then ask about what they cover under health insurance there and then.
My GP has a dermatologist who comes in once a week and he work is covered by my health insurance - Swica…
My GP is (also) a specialist in dermatology and skin surgery.
Thanks guys.
My GP was previously a Gynecologist - not sure that helps 
I’ll call a derm clinic later .
Depends on your insurance model. Mine (hausarzt) needs a referral but that was just a matter of a quick call not a visit.
What insurance model do you have?
That will be what determines whether you need a GP referral or not. You can often just ask for a bon de délégation for the insurance (not sure what it’s called in German) from the GP over the phone and make the appointment yourself but it’s often easier to get an appointment if the GP refers you directly.
Mole checks and removal were covered by insurance but it wasn’t for cosmetic reasons.
Basic insurance, standard model.
You can have a mole removed, covered under basic insurance.
If that mole is in a prominent place, like on your face, you may want it removed by a plastic surgeon in a more complicated procedure to reduce scarring.
This probably won’t be covered by basic insurance.
Depends if it’s classed as pre-cancerous or similar risk. My husband had one off the side of his temple a year ago and it was all covered.
Bit more niche, but if you are on a medication or therapy that increases your risk of skin cancer then it would anyway be covered.
As far as I know you don’t need a GP’s referral for dermatology, even when you have basic health insurance. (as you don’t need any referral for ophthalmologist for instance)
Opthalmology, gynaecology and paediatrics are the ones you don’t need a referral for irrespective of insurance model. Dermatology needs a referral if you have GP or telmed models but not if you have the standard model.
Bit naïve, but never needed a referral. How is this actually done, and how is the Insurance company informed? Do they need to approve the referral?
Make an appt with your GP (house doctor). GP will chat through your problem, examine you, etc. if a specialist referral is needed, they usually have some good recommendations on their books.
Insurance usually covers it because it’s deemed necessary.
You won’t need a referral if your insurance model gives you free choice of doctor, you can make an appointment with any specialist yourself.
If you have GP model, telmed or HMO models you either need a bin de delegation from the GP, telmed or medical centre to send to the health insurance. The GP can contact the specialist to make an appointment for you or you can make it yourself but without the referral letter ( Bon de délégation) the insurance company may refuse to pay.
Our insurer (groupe mutuel) will reimburse two specialist appointments without one but the third will not be reimbursed until they receive one.
I used to have this model a few years ago and didn’t ask for a referral to dermatology. I think the GP model has some advantages (especially if you’re of a certain age/have chronic illness) but it’s also completely frustrating when you know very well which specialist to consult.
Back to the subject, I don’t remember having to pay something from my pocket for those couple of visits to dermatology. (I’d have to check our health files from a few years back though)
You don’t necessarily have to see the GP to be able to go to a specialist, you just need the paper from the GP referring you to the specialist for the health insurance. If the GP knows you well they’ll likely provide it for you without needing to see you.
As I said in my previous post there is some leeway given by the insurance companies. If you consult directly once or twice they won’t do anything other than maybe remind you that you need a GP referral. If you do it frequently then they will stop paying for the specialist visits until they receive the necessary referral paperwork.
As far as I understand, the GP model is like an informal agreement between you and an insurance company (it’s not like the rules of GP model are defined by the government). If you don’t break this agreement often, they may tolerate it, but after a certain number of unreferred visits or a certain amount of money for such visits they may send you a warning. I’ve heard that they cannot refuse to pay for your bill, if it is covered by the conditions of the basic insurance, but what they can do is to cancel your discount and switch your contract to the standard model from the next month. Thus you will loose your discount and have to pay more from now on.
I find the GP model very useful. My GP is open to my ideas as to a specialist and I am happy for their expert opinion as for a couple of my symptoms it is not clear which type specialist is the best . Regarding the prostate I am delaying seeing a urologist - the pills are good at the moment. My Dad had Alzheimers and prostatic cancer, neither of which killed him. Both run in families and it is the former that is the most scary to me. For prostate cancer, my PSA is fine and further screening will only give a limited amount of certainty - there is a good argument to have an ultrasound done, however the ADR treatment has been linked to an increased risk of dementia. End result, a dilemma.