The Swiss healthcare system is a combination of public, subsidised private and totally private systems:
This does not apply to complementary insurance, where premiums are risk-based.Ĭhildren's hospital in Basel, Switzerland.
Although the level of premium can vary from one company to another, they must be identical within the same company for all insured persons of the same age group and region, regardless of sex or state of health. This can include complementary medicine, routine dental treatments, half-private or private ward hospitalisation, and others, which are not covered by the compulsory insurance.Īs far as the compulsory health insurance is concerned, the insurance companies cannot set any conditions relating to age, sex or state of health for coverage. The compulsory insurance can be supplemented by private "complementary" insurance policies that allow for coverage of some of the treatment categories not covered by the basic insurance or to improve the standard of room and service in case of hospitalisation. Requests for exemptions are handled by the respective cantonal authority and have to be addressed to them directly. International civil servants, members of embassies, and their family members are exempted from compulsory health insurance. In 2014, the average monthly compulsory basic health insurance premiums (with accident insurance) in Switzerland are the following: Insurance premiums vary from insurance company to company (health insurance funds German: Krankenkassen French: caisses-maladie Italian: casse malati), the excess level chosen ( franchise), the place of residence of the insured person and the degree of supplementary benefit coverage chosen (complementary medicine, routine dental care, half-private or private ward hospitalisation, etc.). For hospitalisation, one pays a contribution to room and service costs. In case of pregnancy, there is no charge. This is known as the retention, and is up to a maximum of 700CHF (PPP-adjusted $429) per year.
The universal compulsory coverage provides for treatment in case of illness or accident (unless another accident insurance provides the cover) and pregnancy. If a premium is too high compared to the person's income, the government gives the insured person a cash subsidy to help pay for the premium. The insured person pays the insurance premium for the basic plan. They are not allowed to make a profit off this basic insurance, but can on supplemental plans. Insurers are required to offer this basic insurance to everyone, regardless of age or medical condition. It is therefore the same throughout the country and avoids double standards in healthcare. Swiss residents are required to purchase basic health insurance, which covers a range of treatments detailed in the Swiss Federal Law on Health Insurance ( German: Krankenversicherungsgesetz (KVG) French: la loi fédérale sur l’assurance-maladie (LAMal) Italian: legge federale sull’assicurazione malattie (LAMal)).