I need advise on insurance and healthcare in Switzerland!
In the UK, I have been diagnosed with deviated septum. Basically, my nose is not straight and it impacts my ability to breath. My GP has referred me for a surgery. Current wait time is around 4 months here in the UK.
The problem is that I am moving to Switzerland at the end of March for work and I don't know if I should take out an insurance and do the surgery in Switzerland or I should come back to the UK for a surgery.
Would it be covered by insurance at all?
I have full faith in swiss healthcare. However, what are the average waiting times ? What recommendation would you give me? What type of insurance should I go for?
Ask your employer about health insurance. They may have their own plan, or an arrangement where employees get a deal from a particular company.
But it is mandatory, there is no option unless you are a senior diplomat.
There is no requirement to be referred to a specialist, (check your insurance policy) but it is often easier (quicker) to get an appointment with a specialist having such recommendation.
Normally there are not waiting lists BUT who knows in Covid times?
Me too, about 20 years ago. It is covered by basic. I don't recall it being that painful, just uncomfortable with the nostrils packed with bandaging and having those changed every few hours. Had a couple days in hospital as they wanted to ensure the bleeding was stopping.
I lost the nasal twang I had and my eye glasses no longer needed special fitting.
Does it matter what type of insurance or no difference at all? Such as free choice of doctor, the HMO model, the family doctor model and the Telmed model?
All this terminology is confusing haha.
I am used to GPs in the UK. Hard to come by, at least you know where to go!
Everyone's written that the basic/general medical insurance will cover this, and I agree.
However, I know two people who elected to combine the medically necessary surgery with a cosmetic correction. If you're also wanting that, then please be aware that any cosmetic (beauty) surgery will not be covered by the medical insurance. One of these persons paid the extra himself, so that he could have the treatment here in Switzerland, and the other chose to go abroad because paying for the whole procedure there was less of a burden than the extra would have been, here. Plus, in that case, there were other factors like extended family to provide post-op home-care if needed.
Another thing to consider, is when. As it is not emergency surgery and from a long standing problem, it might not be a good idea to do this during your trial period.
I did also, back in my 20s (also for a deviated septum). That was in the US. I believe they gave me a script for Percocets afterward, for the pain. (Here, they probably only give Dafalgan ). I had my face bandaged and taped up for a few weeks afterward, so I didn't even leave the house. And then I had very dark circles under my eyes for at least a year afterward. So I do suggest investing in a very good concealer!